W J Dooley Funeral Home

11/20/2025

Share memories & support the family

11/17/2025

Finding New Ways to Honour Old Traditions

Paying respects to a beloved is one of the oldest customs witnessed by humankind. Honouring a loved one dates back millennia. History is full of examples of ritual practices from every corner of the world: Egyptians used the sarcophagus; Vikings honoured their dead with a ship burial and Romans built elaborate statues to honour their nobility.

At this point in history, we are transitioning to a time when many options are available to families seeking to pay tribute to a loved one. Traditional casket burials are still chosen by many; that being said, families who opt for cremation are finding new and sometimes very creative ways to say goodbyes.

Some send their ashes into outer space. Some have their cremated remains infused into ecological ocean reef structures. Butterfly releases are a popular option. There are many more present-day ways to remember loved ones.

Essentially, these options centre on the concept of personalization, where the type of service chosen provides a meaningful tribute to the individual. And there are so many approaches to achieve this. We have supported countless families as they include special metaphors to define the life of someone close.

If you have questions about how to achieve a truly meaningful and memorable service for a beloved, please contact us.

© W J Dooley Funeral Home/CFHC Online

11/14/2025

11/14/2025

Share memories & support the family

11/11/2025

Remembrance Day Observance

To the brave and courageous who have died in conflicts around the world; to their families who continue to mourn their loss; we acknowledge your sacrifice. We are thankful for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy and we continue to remember as we pause in silence.

11/07/2025

A Solitary Reminder of Our Past: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Chosen from among 6,846 unknown Canadian soldiers buried on European soil (their bodies recovered but identities never confirmed), Canada’s Unknown Soldier represents all the missing and unknown service personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice. They not only gave their lives but also their identities to protect Canada’s freedom.

On May 23, 2000, a Canadian Forces transport arrived in France to bring home Canada’s Unknown Soldier, who had formerly been laid to rest in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery near Vimy Ridge. Their body had been exhumed and, in honour of the legacy of this person, a delegation comprising of a 45-person guard, a bearer party and a chaplain were present at this reclamation ceremony.

Upon arrival in Canada, the casket rested for several days in the Hall of Honour on Parliament Hill, allowing citizens to pay their respects, before being interred in a granite tomb on the upper plaza of the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The ceremony was attended by Canada’s top-ranking dignitaries and watched live on TV across the country.

The tomb consists of a three-tiered bronze sarcophagus with a sculpture on top boasting three key elements of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial: a medieval sword, a First World War helmet and branches of maple and laurel leaves to symbolize both victory and death.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a focal point of annual Remembrance Day events at the National War Memorial and a stark reminder of the price of war.

"Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it." – Unknown Author

© W J Dooley Funeral Home/CFHC Online

11/04/2025

Share memories & support the family

11/03/2025

Share memories & support the family

11/03/2025

The Children’s Grief Foundation of Canada
Helping Young Grievers Mourn Well

Children are often the forgotten grievers. With family support systems under great strain and the adults around them emotionally distraught, children are often overlooked during the funeral planning process and in the days, weeks and months that follow. Perceived as resilient and able to bounce back, many people don’t understand the emotional turmoil they are going through when someone close to them dies.

One in fourteen children will lose a parent or sibling by the age of 18. Childhood bereavement can have a significant impact on both their emotional and cognitive development. Without proper support, these young people may struggle with mental health challenges and have trouble coping in the future.

The Children’s Grief Foundation of Canada works to raise awareness on the issues children face when grieving. By sharing existing resources and reducing financial barriers, the foundation assists with creating and expanding programs across the country that benefit the needs of grieving children and their families.

The mandate of the Children’s Grief Foundation is to ensure that no child goes without grief support. Together, we can help children grieve and mourn in healthy ways. For more information on the foundation, please visit: https://childrensgrieffoundation.org.

© W J Dooley Funeral Home/CFHC Online

10/31/2025

Delayed Grief

Delayed grief occurs when grievers are unable to respond to the changes that occur following a significant loss. The difficulty may be related to diminished emotional or cognitive capacity or factors in everyday life that interfere with the process of grieving.

Examples of significant loss include: trauma associated with the loss of a child, loss from su***de or murder, or multiple losses within a short period of time. These losses are often too much for grievers to bear, causing them to engage in protective mechanisms to avoid the pain and suffering they are experiencing.

If normal grieving is prevented from happening, some symptoms that may occur include: frequent periods of physical exhaustion, poor concentration, disorganization and a gradual withdrawal from social activities. The happiness a griever once found in joyful and fun activities may no longer be there for them and is often replaced by negative self-thinking and emotions.

It’s important to face the emotions and feelings that accompany grief. In order for a griever to access healing resources within, stories of sadness must be told. Finding a non-judgmental listener is a great place to begin. Additionally, self-care is of the upmost importance during this period. Some examples of activities that will stimulate the body’s happy hormones include: rest and sleep, healthy and enjoyable food, adequate water intake, regular exercise, time in nature, sunshine, laughter and music.

Once grief is acknowledged, it is important that the griever doesn’t delay facing their loss and that they embrace the feelings they are experiencing. In doing so, they will be able to process the impact of this loss, come to an understanding of their new reality and ultimately begin their journey towards healing.

Bertha Brannen
Grief Recovery Specialist

© W J Dooley Funeral Home/CFHC Online

10/27/2025

Share memories & support the family