Ettinger Funeral Home

03/28/2026

Our sympathies are with Eva’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Eva's life will be celebrated on April 2, 2026, at Ettinger's Funeral Home, with a Celebration of Life starting at 6:00pm until 8:00pm. Family, friends, and all whose lives were touched by Eva are invited to gather in her memory, to share stories and remember her remarkable life. To read the full obituary please refer to our website.

View Eva Maude Van der Riet's complete obituary, share memories, and explore 3 tribute posts from the community.

03/27/2026

Care to take a seat? If you’ve visited our Shubenacadie location for visitations or services you might’ve noticed these odd pair of chairs sitting off to the side. Just by taking a look at them you might wonder why they’re missing their right armrest, well for this Funeral Fact Friday we’re going to tell you and share their importance and value!

These chairs are often referred to as a widow’s chair, parlour stool or a one-armed stool. Designed with one armrest (typically on the left side) and tall in length, these chairs are intended to be placed beside a casket so the widow/next of kin may sit beside their loved one as visitors came to pay their respects to both the deceased and the family. Made with comfort in mind, they are typically more padded than standard chapel chairs to provide support for someone who might be sitting for long periods of time. Some versions are built with a 30-inch seat height (similar to a stool) intended for better visibility or posture during a viewing, this allows for conversations/condolences and the receiving of hugs with visitors to be held at eye level.

But the big question is… Why is their only one armrest? The widow’s chair was made specifically so the person seated could lean their weight to the left of the chair and keep their right hand free so they could easily shake hands with visitors.🤝

03/26/2026

You’ve got mail!✉️ This Throwback Thursday we’re going back 86 years to the Shubenacadie Post Office 1940. Pictured is postmaster Danny Miller (right) and his staff who are hard at work sorting through letters, postcards and packages.

Although nowadays sending a text message is the preferred method to communicate between friends and family, we often forget that at one time the only way to communicate with someone a distance away was to write a letter and to mail it.

The postal history of Nova Scotia began in the 1750’s with the unofficial post office of Benjamin Leigh in Halifax and the official post office established by Benjamin Franklin in 1755, which connected Halifax to the Atlantic colonies and England. These early services remained under British control until 1851, when Canada assumed administration. Over the centuries, Nova Scotia's postal service grew with the establishment of numerous local post offices and a network of postal routes in 1867. (We’ve included some local post offices below with their dates of service.)

The Shubenacadie post office has been a key institution in the Hants County community, operating under federal and provincial systems since 1851. In the 1960’s all postal service began operating under the name "Canada Post”. The Shubenacadie Post Office opened its current location in 1967 as a centennial event; prior to this the office was located down the street where the Violet Rose Thrift Shop is today.

On June 18th, 2009, a cancellation stamp was unveiled at the Shubenacadie post office, featuring a Watson Smith milk can, the date and two lines that read; The Milk Can Capital of Canada. You can still find it this stamp on cancelled mail to this day.

Below are the local Post offices and their dates of service:
Shubenacadie 1843-current
Milford 1875-?
Hardwoodlands 1867-1933
Carrolls Corner 1864-1939
Antrim 1863-1929
Wyses Corner 1876-1949
Chaswood 1901-1938
Admiral Rock 1877-1966
Urbania 1870-1966
South Maitland 1876-1966
North Salem 1865-1910
Maple Grove (Latties Brook) 1888-1947
(Sourced from the Nova Scotian Postal History book, volume 1 by L.B. MacPherson)

03/26/2026

Our sympathies to Lesia’s family and friends during this difficult time.

View Lesia Marie Syliboy's complete obituary, share memories, and explore heartfelt tribute posts from the community.

03/26/2026

Our condolences are with Patrick’s family and friends during this difficult time. To read the full obituary please refer to our website.

View Patrick Pieri's complete obituary, share memories, and explore 1 tribute posts from the community.

03/25/2026

Our condolences to Scott’s family and friends during this difficult time.

View Scott Edward Sanford's complete obituary, share memories, and explore heartfelt tribute posts from the community.

03/24/2026

Our condolences to Eric’s family and friends during this difficult time.

View Eric Joseph Pierre Beriau's complete obituary, share memories, and explore heartfelt tribute posts from the community.

03/24/2026

It doesn't have to be a dark suit event. "Services As Unique As Life" isn't just a motto; it's our promise. From favourite songs to displaying cherished collections, a service should look and feel like the person it honours. Let's tell their story, not just read a eulogy.

https://ettingerfuneralhome.com/funeral-etiquette/

03/20/2026

This Funeral Fact Friday we’re learning about the value and importance of music being played during funeral services!🎶

Did you know that music has been played/performed at funerals for over thousands of years, dating back to pre-historic times when early humans used wails, chants, and rudimentary instruments to express grief and guide the spirit. This practice is nearly universal across many cultures and has evolved from ancient laments to modern tailored playlists.

Hymns are traditionally sung at funerals to provide comfort, hope, and emotional support to those grieving. They serve as a communal act of remembrance, allowing friends and family to honor the life of the deceased through familiar melodies and meaningful lyrics. The most popular funeral hymns often offer comfort, hope, and a reflection on life, with Amazing Grace, Abide With Me, How Great Thou Art, and The Lord's My Shepherd.

While some families prefer the traditional hymns to be played funeral services more modern mainstream music has been used, songs such as See you Again by Wiz Khalifa, My Way by Frank Sinatra, Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran and even Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd being a few among the most frequently requested.

Each of these choices focus on themes of peace, salvation, freedom and eternal love.❤️

03/18/2026

Our sympathies are with Bill’s family and friends during this difficult time.

A Funeral Service will be held at Ettinger’s Funeral Home on Saturday May 9th, 2026, commencing at 2pm. To read the full obituary please refer to our website.

View William Carter "Bill" McMullen's complete obituary, share memories, and explore heartfelt tribute posts from the community.

03/18/2026

We’re all waiting for the first signs of spring this week. Whether the sun shines or the shadows linger, the seasons always turn eventually. Just as winter gives way to spring, grief eventually gives way to memory. We are here with you through every season of life.

03/17/2026

Wishing our community a peaceful and meaningful St. Patrick’s Day!🍀

Today is a time to reflect on heritage, remembrance, and the connections that continue to guide us. At our funeral home, we are honored to support families in celebrating the lives of their loved ones with care, dignity, and personalization. We also offer a selection of thoughtfully chosen memorial keepsakes, including pendants like the one shown here. Each piece is crafted with quality in mind and selected by families to reflect the unique life and memory of your loved one.