Britton Funeral Home, 2 High Street, Hartland, NB (2026)

02/15/2026

Please Share: Petition (read below)
In a practice commonly referred to as obit scraping or obit piracy, third party websites are copying obit information from funeral home websites and adding modified death notices to their own platform. This practice is done without the family’s or funeral home’s approval.

Additionally, they are selling online memorial products and profiting from this practice.

A petition is underway to gauge public interest to see if this practice should be ceased. To indicate that you wish current legislation changed to protect grieving families, please see the below link and sign: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6997

02/15/2026

Half Mast – What does it mean and why do we do it?

Coming together for a service or memorial when someone passes is an important part of honouring them and their impact on our life. When commemorating important dates that memorialize certain groups, or honouring someone who was important to the governance of Canada, flying the Canadian flag at half-mast is a perfect symbol to unite us as we mourn.

The only flag authorized for half-masting is the National Flag of Canada.

Half-masting is mandatory for the passing of: the Sovereign, Sovereign’s spouse or heirs, Governor Generals present or former, Prime Ministers present or former, the Chief Justice of Canada, lieutenant governors, privy councillors, senators, members of the House of Commons, and accredited heads of state while on mission for Canada.

Special days where all federal buildings and establishments half-mast include: Workers’ Mourning Day, National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, Firefighter’s National Memorial Day, Police and Peace Officer’s National Memorial Day, Remembrance Day, and the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.

To learn more about half-masting in Canada, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-masting-rules.html.

© Britton Funeral Home/CFHC Online

02/12/2026

1976, a Year of Firsts and Starts

It was a busy year in Canada with the CN Tower opening on June 26 in time for Canada Day celebrations. Parliament voted to abolish the death penalty, the Timbit made its debut and Montreal welcomed the world to the Summer Olympics, an unforgettable games that saw 14-year-old Nadia Comaneci receive the first ever perfect gymnastic score. On the international front, the G6 became the G7 with the inclusion of Canada as a member.

In science, space travel witnessed the successful landing of the Viking 1 on Mars and the release of the famous “Face on Mars” photo captured by this space craft; later in the year, Viking 2 would also arrive at our planetary neighbour and take the first close-up colour photographs of the planet’s surface.

Technology was big news in 1976 with the formation of many tech giants that continue to be successful to this day. Apple Computer Company was formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak with the first personal computer, the Apple I, available to the hobbyist market. Later that year, little-known company, Microsoft, was officially registered as a company and IBM introduced the first commercial laser printer.

In entertainment, moviegoers flocked to see Redford and Hoffman in “All the President’s Men,” Sylvester Stallone in “Rocky” and Robert De Niro in “Taxi Driver.” The most popular tv shows of the year were Happy Days, MASH and Laverne and Shirley. In literature readers flipped the pages of Alex Haley’s “Roots, The Saga of an American Family.” In music, Paul McCartney’s “Silly Love Songs” topped the charts.

© Britton Funeral Home/CFHC Online

02/10/2026

Choices for Today’s Families

At Britton Funeral Home we are regularly asked, what are my choices? What are my options when deciding on which type of funeral service to have?

Times are changing and there are an increasing number of options for families, depending on factors such as religious affiliation and circumstances following a death. Let’s talk about a couple of the main ways families are having a service for their loved one.

The traditional funeral, as its name implies is a funeral service which we are all well acquainted with from our past. Historically, this was a 3-day service, two days of visitation or viewing followed by a service on day three and then interment at a cemetery. With this type of service, the deceased is placed in a casket which is present at all the phases of the service.

Present day modifications to a traditional funeral include: sometimes a family will opt to not have a full three-day funeral, abbreviating it to a two-day service. Sometimes a family will choose to have a graveside service with clergy presiding, only. Sometimes following a traditional funeral, final disposition is changed from burial of a casket to cremation and placement of the cremated remains in an urn.

A second option for families is a memorial service. With this choice, an urn is used and the service is performed after cremation. A memorial service can unfold in the exact same manner as a traditional service, the only difference being an urn being present, rather than a casket. There can be visitation with the urn, a memorial funeral service and then interment of the urn at the cemetery.

With this choice, because the body of the deceased is not present at the service, often a portrait, a floral display and mementos are introduced, highlighting special moments and personal passions from the life of the departed.

Talking with a funeral director about how these decisions affect the funeral is always recommended. Based on our experience we are able to advise what will and will not work well.

Whether a family chooses a traditional-type service where a casket is present or a memorial-type service with an urn present, a recent trend we are witnessing is more personalization. The ways we decide to pay tribute to a loved one is important and this adds meaning for all in attendance.

Britton Funeral Home

02/06/2026

Evelyn Alice Long (nee Culberson) passed away on February 4, 2026, at the Central Carleton Nursing Home in Hartland, NB where she has been a resident for the last several years. Evelyn was born to George and ...

02/04/2026

What is a Memory Table?

Making a visitation or funeral service unique with a personal tribute area offers another opportunity to remember and reflect on the life of a loved one. What was it about a spouse or family member that made them special? Did they enjoy playing or watching a particular sport? Were they a musician or did they enjoy listening to a particular type of music. Did they like to garden? There are so many things we do that define us as individuals and human beings.

Using a memory table to display items which were near and dear to a loved one is an ideal way to bring focus to what interested them and brought them joy. These special objects inspire conversation, lead to storytelling and the sharing of fond memories. On one memory table sits a hole in one plaque with golf ball, score sheet and picture embedded. On another memory table, a gardener’s spade and hoe are strategically placed around individual packets of seeds. Those visiting are encouraged to take these seeds home and plant them, which then become a living legacy. What we have enjoyed doing in our life needs mentioning as we celebrate it.

© Britton Funeral Home/CFHC Online

01/28/2026

How old are Funerals?

Evidence has been gathered which points to dates approximately 65,000 years ago to the time of Neanderthal man. Honoring their dead included rituals where the deceased was placed on a bed of flowers.

Source: Cambridge Archaeological Journal: The Shanidar IV "Flower Burial" A Re-evaluation of Neanderthal Burial Ritual

© Britton Funeral Home/CFHC Online

01/23/2026

Providing Comfort

Individuals experiencing grief may find very little comfort without the assistance of family and friends. The joys, the daily rituals, the interactions and companionship they had are gone and filling the void sometimes proves difficult.

It’s surprising how simple acts of kindness can help aide those who grieve. Compassion is the key in any dealings with the bereft. Understanding there is no right or wrong way to grieve and that the timeframe for grieving varies from person to person is a good starting point.

By listening carefully to a mourner’s feelings, and not offering advice, they become aware of your support and your intention to understand what they are experiencing. By not minimizing their loss and offering reassurance, your intention for their well-being is shown, and they come to recognize that while life will change, they will not be alone to cope with the loss of a beloved.

The simple act of sharing is, in of itself, a source of comfort.

© Britton Funeral Home/CFHC Online

01/20/2026

In her dresser drawer, they discovered a hand-written note that read, "When I die, please do nothing." She had just taken her last breath. And so began the distressing dilemma that many families face: Honouring their loved-one’s request to do nothing or honouring their own desire to do something t...

01/18/2026

Funeral service for the late D. Jane Hovey.

01/12/2026

Staying Informed
Online Obituaries

Rising costs associated with placing a death notice or an obituary in a newspaper have resulted in some families deciding to place abbreviated notices. Newspaper readership has declined in recent years with increasing numbers seeking information and receiving news online. How does this affect sharing obituary information?

As individuals many of us go online to find information because of the timeliness and convenience offered. Funeral homes have offered online notifications to their families for many years now and continue to adapt. Subscription forms are available where anyone wishing to be kept informed can be added to an email notification list. Similarly, by following funeral homes social media pages, you can be kept up to date with the service details and obituary notices of individuals.

It’s all about staying informed. As print media is read less and less, how do we make sure we know about the passing of a close friend or loved one? What can we do to ensure we have access to timely communications?

© Britton Funeral Home/CFHC Online

Britton Funeral Home

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