Hill & Robinson Funeral Home & Cremation Centre

04/24/2026

Make this a Self-Care Day

Sometimes we get ourselves caught up in the frantic pace of today’s world and become so tied to our to-do lists we don’t give ourselves the much-needed time to reenergize and reset our internal clocks.

Why not make today a self-care day. Be a bit selfish and do what sooths your soul. Don’t feel that you have to please everyone. Own responsibility for what is yours, and not what others expect from you.

Start your day with positives and gratitude. Meditate to clear your mind. Reach out to your favourite people. Keep it simple. Go for a long walk with your dog. Have a chat with a stranger about a light hearted subject. Sit in the sun. Relax and enjoy your favourite beverage or dessert. Don’t rush because you have other matters to tend to. Slow it down.

Focus on the moment and on yourself. Be kind to yourself.

Remember this feeling… the one you get when taking a dose of self-care. Committing to a regular practice of self-care holds benefits for your mind, body and soul. Feeling good is a decision away.

True self-care is not salt baths and chocolate cake; it is making the choice to build a life you don’t need to regularly escape from.
-Brianna Wiest

© Hill and Robinson FH/CFHC Online

04/20/2026

Psychotherapist Amy Morin, LCSW shares seven things she learned about grief after her husband died. Learn how to cope with the grief of losing your partner.

04/15/2026

It’s Important to Bring their Picture

When you meet with us to make arrangements for your loved one, you will be asked to provide a photo of them to be used for the death notice. The photo chosen can be recently taken or one from the distant past. Some families bring a pic of their beloved dressed formally, while others give us a more casual image. Sometimes we receive a few pictures to use to show the deceased at different points in their life.

We primarily use images to help us complete our online obituary listing. Families can either provide a hard copy photograph or an electronic file. We will work with either format and enhance the image as needed. Sometimes we will crop it so that it presents well graphically.

Bringing a favourite photo of a loved one to the initial meeting will save some of the back and forth that often occurs, and will allow the obituary to be posted at an earlier time.

If you have questions about choosing and providing photos, contact us. We can easily walk you through what works best.

© Hill and Robinson FH/CFHC Online

04/09/2026

04/05/2026

Happy Easter

Easter is a symbol of spring and new life. As you partake in today’s festivities take some time to reflect on new beginnings as you share Easter traditions with those who are close to you.

To individuals and families in our community who are Christian in faith, today marks the anniversary of Jesus' resurrection. May you find peace and joy as you remember his sacrifice.

04/01/2026

View Marilyn Sparling's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

04/01/2026

April is Cancer Awareness Month

Spring has sprung with a mix of colourful flowers popping out of the ground, but none more significant than the yellow daffodil. For the last 65 years, Canadians have rallied around the yellow flower to make life better for people living with cancer.

Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Canada. It knows no social, cultural, religious or geographical boundary. The disease has touched everyone, whether it be ourselves, a loved one, a friend, a neighbour or a complete stranger we read about on social media. Because of its crushing physical, emotional and financial impact, a collaborative effort is necessary to reduce its burden on patients, families, communities and health-care systems.

Canadian Cancer Statistics:
• Over 1.5 million Canadians are living with and beyond cancer today.
• Nearly half of all Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
• Breast, prostate and colorectal cancers account for nearly half of all cancers in Canada.
• Approximately 64 per cent of people are expected to survive at least five years after their cancer diagnosis. This is up 55 per cent from the early 1990s and a further 25 per cent from the 1940s.

A hallmark of Cancer Awareness Month is the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Campaign. This annual initiative helps fund life-saving research to create more tomorrows and provides a support system to ensure no one faces cancer alone.

© Hill and Robinson FH/CFHC Online

03/26/2026

Free Online Memorial Pages

Surviving family members consider a variety of ways to pay tribute to their loved ones. Memorial pages provide an online venue where family and friends can share memories and pay respects over time.

There are many such platforms which offer services such as photo sharing, storytelling, uploading of personal information, life achievements, condolence wishes and videos. Some are available for a fee while others have no cost for their basic service package.

Below are six memorial page providers who offer a free page to memorialize a loved one:
• Never Gone
• Keeper
• Forever Missed
• Gathering Us
• Murial
• We Remember

This is by no means a complete list. If you seek to create a memorial webpage for a loved one, an online search will present even more providers who offer these services for a nominal fee.

© Hill and Robinson FH/CFHC Online

03/26/2026

View James Iezzi's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

03/20/2026

The pandemic has forced many of our mourning rituals online. Here are some basic rules to make sure you’re not unintentionally causing offense

03/16/2026

Longer Term Grief

Every relationship we have is unique, and the way we process the death of a loved one is a very individual experience. We can all imagine that grieving the death of a distant cousin is very different from grieving the death of a child. The relationship, the way the person died, and the way we process emotions will have an impact on the length of time it takes to heal following a loss.

No one, including the griever, can put a timeline on the duration of grief. If someone is becoming impatient about how long it is taking to move forward following a loss, seeking education about the grieving process can provide some comfort. It’s important to take the time to grieve and to not compare oneself to others.

We in the grieving profession identify ‘healthy and unhealthy grief.’ With healthy grief, the individual will experience a wide range of emotions and feelings over time, but there will be steady and continual movement towards an understanding of a new reality and life without the deceased.

With unhealthy grief, there is an inability to accept a new reality and the griever is fixated on the past. In some instances, this is all they think about, there is a preoccupation with honouring the relationship that was shared with the deceased. This can hinder current relations and can affect interactions at the workplace. Friendships can wane and sometimes those who grieve are unable to continue working. The griever becomes immobilized and isn’t able to see the possibility of a new life and reality.

With healthy grieving, the griever initially spends significant time processing their thoughts about the departed. Over time, their understanding of their loss begins to make sense and the proportion of time spent on this relationship lessens, and there is a shift to new routines and a new life.

For anyone who grieves, it is important to lean into emotions as they surface and to not judge oneself too harshly if there are periods of sadness or if difficulties are experienced. It does take time to adjust and processing emotions is part of the journey. Eventually, there will come a day when one’s grief seems less painful and the memories of a loved one bring a smile and not only tears. The grief we experience never ends, but should soften over time.

In the event someone is unable to cope with their loss and is experiencing ‘unhealthy grieving’ it is recommended to seek professional help.

Margaret Lorrie Beaton, MA, C. Hyp
Bereavement Counsellor

© Hill and Robinson FH/CFHC Online