Cook Southland Funeral Chapel

02/14/2026

The Transformative Power of Love

Although people don’t always recognize it, grief and love are two sides of the same coin; you cannot have one without the other. The same love that provides the initial joy and connection that brings people together is also what makes death so painful, giving grief its ultimate meaning and purpose.

The power of love is demonstrated in the days following a loss through the actions of remembrance and the honouring or paying tribute to a loved one, and the relationship that was shared. While it may not always seem possible during times of intense grief, love provides a path forward to finding meaning after loss.

By acknowledging the love that was present, those in grief can begin to heal, opening their hearts to once again give and accept love from others. By reaching out to others for support and accepting their acts of kindness, emotional comfort can be found, providing a reminder that those who grieve are still loved and not alone.

There is an old saying: “Love conquers all.” This is especially true for grief, because beneath all the layers of sadness, love will always remain.

© Cook Southland Funeral Chapel/CFHC Online

02/12/2026

02/12/2026

The way families honour life are changing and we are here to lead the way in embracing the change.

02/10/2026

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 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

02/10/2026

Writing a Eulogy, a Helpful Approach

It’s an honour to give a eulogy, but it can be a stressful undertaking during a time of immense grief. There’s so much to say, but it’s often hard to turn thoughts into words. While there is no easy way to summarize a life, following are a few tips to help write a beautiful eulogy to honour your loved one.

1. Start with a meaningful quote, a brief anecdote or a heartfelt memory to set the tone.
2. A eulogy shouldn’t read like an obituary timeline. Instead, focus on the rich life experiences that mattered most: career achievements, personal accomplishments, personality traits and the impact the person had on others. Through colourful memories, you are essentially bringing the loved one’s legacy to life.
3. Stories are much more meaningful than facts, so share some favourite memories, their best qualities or what made them happiest. Don’t be afraid to use humour or pull at the heartstrings.
4. Conclude with a lasting memory, such as a favourite quote or a final story to leave everyone with a sense of closure and maybe even a smile through their tears.
5. Time-wise, a well-delivered eulogy is delivered in five to 10 minutes and is equal to between 700 to 1,200 words. Care needs to be taken to be concise, so that the message is clear and captivating.

A eulogy isn’t just a speech; it’s a heartfelt tribute to someone who is no longer with us, celebrating both their life and the legacy they have left behind. It’s also an opportunity to bring comfort to those who are grieving, providing a moment of togetherness and reflection, which, if done well, will leave a lasting impact.

© Cook Southland Funeral Chapel/CFHC Online

02/09/2026

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel had been given the honour to look after the funeral arrangements for the following families. For more information about these services please visit our website at www.cooksouthland.com/obituaries

Howard Biech
Catherine Bonagofsky
Randolph Jackle
Loverne Mapstone
Kenneth Westwood

02/06/2026

Genealogy – Keeping Family History Alive

Genealogy, the study of family history and lineage, has become a popular pastime in recent years. With the interconnectedness of today’s world, it can also be a fun way to bring generations of the family together in a cohesive group activity – exploring and sharing new discoveries, while keeping past history alive.

As each generation passes, history is often lost. But this doesn’t need to be the case. With multiple online resources available, it has never been easier to share research and photos, documenting important details in a permanent way.

In the process of recording your family history, you might even learn some new and interesting details about your family lineage. Tracking your ancestry can add to the colourful picture that emerges of your family. Looking for a new hobby to bring family together? Maybe give genealogy a try!

© Cook Southland Funeral Chapel/CFHC Online

02/04/2026

Interment of an Urn, Winter Considerations

There are a number of options when seeking a final resting place for an urn at a cemetery. Depending on the size of the cemetery and how active it is will determine the choices families have to choose from.

A standard option which is universal, is placing an urn in an existing family plot. With this choice, the interment rights owner will need to authorize the interment. Permissions may be needed.

Cremation options which will accommodate one or two urns include urn gardens and niches (or columbaria). Urn gardens are an inground interment option with a flat memorial or marker. They are typically designed to hold one or two urns. Niches are ‘memorial wall’ type constructions with compartments within them for urns. Memorialization is achieved in a variety of ways on the front face of the niche.

Anyone visiting a cemetery at this time of year, will likely opt for a niche location as it is visible during winter months. Urn gardens are flat to the ground and hence are covered with snow. That being said, urn gardens typically have more room to add memorialization on the marker when personalization is desired.

If you have questions on interment options for an urn, please contact us.

© Cook Southland Funeral Chapel/CFHC Online

02/03/2026

We, at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel are honoured to serve the family of Loverne Mapstone. Our thoughts are with Loverne’s family.

It is with a heavy heart that Raymond announces the passing of his loving wife, Loverne Caroline Mapstone (nee Wardberg). She passed peacefully at St. Joseph’s Home - Carmel Hospice in Medicine Hat on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the age of 88 years. Along with Raymond, her beloved husband of 67...

02/03/2026

We, at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel are honoured to serve the family of Stewart Kennedy. Our thoughts are with his Stewart’s family.

With heavy hearts, the family of Stewart Ross Kennedy announces his passing in Medicine Hat on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, following a brief illness with cancer.

02/03/2026

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel had been given the honour to look after the funeral arrangements for the following families. For more information about these services please visit our website at www.cooksouthland.com/obituaries

Earl Carlson
Edward Heino
Helen Jobb
Stewart Kennedy

01/30/2026

Funeral Fare
Home Made Butter Tarts

Sometimes a personal gesture is just what’s needed, to console a grieving family as they mourn the loss of a loved one. This easy to prepare dessert item offers of benefit of individual servings. Each butter tart is prepped in its own individual foil shell. These tarts are a welcome dessert item or can be served as a stand alone at tea or coffee time.

Ingredients:
30 pack of premade tart shells
2 cups of brown sugar
½ cup of butter
2 eggs
4 tbsp of milk
1 tbsp of vanilla extract

Directions:
Soften/melt butter in microwave. Mix butter with brown sugar. Cream mixture 1 minute and then add eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix well. Place tart shells on 2 cookie sheets. Fill shells half way with mixture, adding remaining batter as a top up, once all shells are filled. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Wait 30 minutes for tarts to set before serving.

© Cook Southland Funeral Chapel/CFHC Online