Tompkins Funeral Home

12/26/2025

View Penelope "Jane" Leung's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

We at Tompkins Funeral Home wish you a joyous holiday season, spent with loved ones, enjoying time honoured traditions. Christmastime is said to warm the soul. May you find peace and comfort as you take part in this season’s festivities.

"Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand." - Dr. Seuss

12/19/2025

Grief and the Holiday Season
Coping with Their Absence

The holidays are a time when traditions and celebrations are commonplace. When grieving the loss of a loved one, sometimes the bereft may feel that it is difficult to attend these festive events, given their grief. What can those who grieve do to navigate the season?

• Given the multitude of events this time of year, it is recommended to plan which of these festivities you wish to attend. Focus on the spending your time on events that provide heart-felt joy or special meaning to you. There is no need to attend every celebration you are invited to.
• Know that it is ok to express feelings of sadness. If you are uncomfortable showing emotions in public, step away to a private location to allow yourself time to deal with these emotions. If you have a trusted friend, lean on them should these emotions surface.
• Old and new traditions: honour your loved one by keeping old traditions in place or by beginning new ones. Including meaningful reflection helps with healing. Make time to acknowledge them.
• Rely on your internal compass to guide you through festivities. Know that others, though mindful of your loss, may not be grieving as you are. There will be times when others are quite festive, despite the feelings you are dealing with.
• If you are unable to cope, seek out those who you trust to assist or support you, whether it be family, friends or professional counsellors.
• Be kind and gentle with yourself.

© Tompkins Funeral Home/CFHC Online

12/15/2025

12/14/2025

View Gary Albert Evans's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

12/12/2025

Finding Peace and Joy through the Little Things in Life

With the loss of a beloved, those who grieve often find that their lives are forever changed. Sometimes they struggle with day-to-day tasks. Often their inner monologue becomes filled with sad thoughts and a negative or stress causing narrative.

If facing this type of situation, it’s important to introduce change into everyday activities. A great place to start is to begin doing those things that bring peace and perhaps even joy to each day. Having a positive outlet is important for all of us.

Peace can be found with family members and close friends. Making a point to create opportunities to connect is important for many reasons. As these well-meaning people share parts of their lives with you and as they listen to what you are experiencing, the focus shifts in the thoughts of the griever. This is needed, the alternative is that the focus can remain solely on one’s grief.

Joys can be found in special activities. It may be an individual undertaking, such as reading a book, painting or going for a stroll in the park. Participating in group events is also a way to break up negative thought patterns. While in the company of others, thoughts shift to the present, as opposed to lamenting on the past.

The key is to look for ways to introduce these little things, with them peace, happiness and joy are given a chance to once again enter one’s life.

“It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.”
-Arthur Conan Doyle

© Tompkins Funeral Home/CFHC Online

12/12/2025

View Cecil Wesley Bailey's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

12/09/2025

View Daniel "Booner" Jackson's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

12/05/2025

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

12/05/2025

International Volunteer Appreciation Day

Today we say thank you to those who volunteer their time to make a better life for others. It was back on this date in 1985 that the United Nations declared December 5th a day to celebrate the efforts of those who volunteer.

There are so many ways that people help one another, donating their time, organizing, listening and aiding in a multitude of tasks.

We would especially like to thank those who are involved in matters pertaining to death and grief: the bereavement counsellors who oversee groups, those who assist at palliative care homes, and the many volunteers who donate their time in support of causes such as cancer, or heart and stroke. Your compassion for others truly does make a difference.

Thank you for all you do!

© Tompkins Funeral Home/CFHC Online

12/01/2025

Our 75th Anniversary – A Note of Thanks

Our funeral home opened its doors and began providing funeral services to Gananoque and surrounding communities in 1950 and this year marks 75 years of service. We are incredibly pleased that we have been able to achieve this monumental milestone!

Over the years countless people have shared a journey with us and have made contributions at our funeral home. In addition to our family, numerous funeral directors have joined us and supported families as they honour and pay tribute to loved ones, administration personnel have helped process and manage the many paper trails that are necessary to ensure legalities are tended to, part-time and casual employees have assisted and supported where necessary, and community partners have helped us in many capacities.

Though the Tompkins family has been at the forefront, there are many, many local residents and individuals who have helped us tend the needs of the families we serve.

I thank everyone who has helped us along the way, ensuring that the services we provide are based on compassionate care and adhere to the highest of professional standards. Lastly, thank you… to you the community we serve, for your trust and support over the years. You have made this possible and we are forever grateful.

Dave Tompkins
Managing Funeral Director and Owner