Needham-Jay Funeral Home

03/23/2026

Ireland’s Newgrange Tomb
An Ancient Example of Ceremonial Importance

Constructed by Stone Age farmers in approximately 3200 BC, Newgrange is a large grass mound covering one acre of land in the Boyne Valley of Ireland. Constructed more than 500 years before the Great Pyramids of Giza and 1,000 years before Stonehenge, it is revered as Ireland’s crown jewel of the Ancient East.

Comprising a circular mound of stones 85 metres in diameter and 13 metres high, Newgrange is classified as a passage tomb, although some archeologists believe it to be more of an ancient temple. A narrow passageway leads into a chamber where it is believed the bodies of priests and other important community members were laid to rest close to 5,000 years ago.

Above the passageway lies a small opening called a roof-box, incorporated to allow the sun to pe*****te the chamber on the shortest day of the year during the winter solstice. It is believed the annual occurrence marked the beginning of a new year, while connecting the dead to their celestial bodies and serving as a powerful reminder that life wins over death. Similar to modern-day cathedrals, Newgrange was a place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance.

First discovered by local farmers in approximately 1699, excavation of the site did not start until 1962. Newgrange was named a World Heritage site in 1993 and can be accessed via the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.

How we choose to honour and remember members of our community dates back millennia. Newgrange offers a glimpse into our past and is a reminder that remembrance is best served in a tangible environment with ceremony and ritual.

© Needham-Jay Funeral Home/CFHC Online

03/21/2026

William “Bill” Stewart Cadman, of Petrolia, passed away suddenly at home with his beloved wife Jane by his side, on Friday, March 20, 2026. He was in his 90th year. Bill was the loving and devoted father to Bill (Lisa) Cadman and the late Steven and the late Gerald. Proud grandpa to Brandon (Miranda...

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03/20/2026

Funeral ceremonies serve as a way to honour and celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed away. In recent years, there has been a shift toward personalising these ceremonies to reflect the i…

03/19/2026

Danny Boyd, 73 years, of Petrolia passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Danny was the loving husband and best friend of the late Shirley Boyd (2024). He will be missed dearly by his children David and Stephanie (Ken Broad). Dan was a proud Grandpa to Amy, Faith, and the la...

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03/16/2026

Choices for Today’s Families

At Needham-Jay 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 surrounding the 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. In this case, clergy will preside over the service with a graveside committal. Sometimes following a traditional funeral, 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 present 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 is 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 a beloved.

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.

Steven Mailloux
Managing Funeral Director and Owner

03/15/2026

With his family by his side, Calvin Murray Fowler passed away peacefully on March 14th,
in his 58th year, after a year long battle with brain cancer.
Calvin grew up in Dawn Township on a farm as the youngest of four siblings. It was
there that he learned the value of hard work and the importan...

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03/11/2026

Peacefully at Bluewater Health, Sarnia, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Stephen Lee Strangway passed away at the age of 62.
Born to the late Ross and Norma Strangway, he will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his siblings, Sandy (Rodger) Archer and Michael (Earla) Strangway. Stephen was pred...

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03/11/2026

National Funeral Directors and Morticians Recognition Day

The importance of professionals who support us when a loved one dies… and the services they provide, were formally recognized by governments across our nation in recent years. During the pandemic, both federal and provincial jurisdictions designated the services provided by the funeral profession as being essential.

This was a trying time for all families who had experienced a loss and was a challenging time for the professionals who supported them. Working with families to ensure the legacy of a loved one is honoured with respect and dignity can be difficult at the best of times.

Today we say thank you to our colleagues in the death care profession, funeral directors across our nation who provide care and compassion at a time when most needed.

03/09/2026

Wendy Elson-Laurenzi, of Petrolia passed away peacefully at Bluewater Health on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Wendy will be dearly missed by her husband Jon Laurenzi and her fur babies Case, Dio, and Timmy. She will also be missed by her sister Laura. She was predeceased by her parents Florence and Leslie ...

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03/06/2026

03/02/2026

Finding Meaning after the Death of a Loved One

We can all agree that the death of a loved one is one of life’s most challenging experiences. With grief and pain, emotions such as anger, sadness, and guilt surface. There is a feeling of hopelessness as the griever questions life's meaning and purpose.

Often well-intentioned advice is given to the griever; they are counselled to "find meaning" from their loss. Sometimes this advice is misinterpreted or misunderstood. It's not that someone finds meaning in the event itself, but rather what’s meaningful to them. It's about making sense of loss in one’s own unique way.

Finding meaning in life after loss doesn't happen overnight; it's a process that takes time and it includes self-reflection. Through grief, we learn valuable lessons about ourselves and the world around us. We may become more understanding, empathetic or compassionate.

Perhaps we focus on personal growth, learning a new skill or we devote time to causes which are dear to our hearts. By doing so we may discover new meaningful ways to channel our inner thoughts and emotions, subsequently integrating our loss into our lives. The goal is to convert the feelings associated with loss into a positive force, one which gives us a sense of purpose and hence helps provide meaning to our lives.

While we may never know exactly what our loved ones would have wanted for us, focusing on finding joy and happiness can be a healthy and helpful way to process our grief. It's essential to give ourselves permission to experience joys and to honour loved ones by living our lives fully.

Anne DeButte
Grief Coach and Podcaster
“Let’s Talk About Grief with Anne”

© Needham-Jay Funeral Home/CFHC Online

02/26/2026

Marilyn Marie White, 77years, of Sarnia died peacefully on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at Lambton Meadowview Villa. Born in Petrolia, Marilyn was the daughter of the late Harold and Pauline White. She will be missed by her sister Ruby (the late Joe) Haskell, her brother Ross (the late Linda) White,...

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