Mattatall - Varner Funeral Home

02/27/2026

Ode to 1926, Celebrating Life 100 Years Ago

The year 1926 was a time of economic prosperity for Canada and around the world. Domestically, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police base was established on Ellesmere Island – the northernmost part of Canada – asserting its claim in the Arctic region. Canada also moved back to the gold standard in 1926, a monetary system pe***ng the Canadian dollar in relation to gold. In global relations, Vincent Massey was appointed Canada’s first foreign minister to the U.S.

On a lighter note, the Great Stork Derby kicked off in 1926, in Toronto when proceeds from Charles Vance Millar’s will spearheaded a ten-year contest to see who could have the most babies. The $500K prize was split between four women with nine babies each.

In science and technology, Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fuelled rocket in Massachusetts, kicking off what some believed was the start of the space age; the modest flight saw an altitude of just 56 metres. Other inventions of the year included the aerosol spray can developed by Norwegian chemical engineer Erik Rotheim and the gas fridge patented by Electrolux-Servel.
In the world of entertainment, Thomas Edison held firm to his belief that Americans preferred silent movies and would never support the “talkies.” He would be proven wrong, with the airing of the movie “Don Juan” at theatres a few months later. It was the first feature-length film to use the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system with a synchronized musical score and sound effects (although no spoken dialogue).

Other world news included:
• NBC launched operations.
• A.A. Milne published “Winnie the Pooh.”
• Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio became Walt Disney Studio.
• American Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel. Her time of 14 hours, 31 minutes was a record for both men and women, at that time.

An interesting quote from that year came from Nikola Tesla: “We shall be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance. Not only this but … we shall see and hear one another as perfectly as though we were face to face … a man will be able to carry one in his vest pocket.”

© Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

02/27/2026

Elizabeth Ann

02/25/2026

Learn how to write a eulogy with our step-by-step guide, offering tips and tools to honor your loved one with authenticity and emotion.

02/23/2026

Would you Like to Hear How we are Helping Others with Their Preplanning

For some families and individuals preplanning is about clarifying wishes and needs. It’s about making choices so that a clear path is established and a ‘blueprint’ is created, one that details step by step what is to be included in the service and what is not wished for.

For others, we help them choose between options so that this responsibility is not placed on surviving family members. An arrangement is put in place so that at the time of need, a simple phone call will initiate instructions, leaving those who tend to this responsibility a role of verifying decisions rather than starting from scratch.

Some families we support wish to prefund their service; by doing so, they save the estate or surviving family members from having to make payment. Prefunding also has the added benefit of avoiding the effects of inflation. Prices no longer rise over time on paid services.

Another way preplanning benefits families is that decisions do not need to be made under pressure. Information is provided, time is given to discuss and come to a consensus with family, a luxury that is not often available when no arrangements are made. From this process peace of mind is possible and an optimal solution is found.

If you have questions about the process to prearrange, please contact us and we can provide options to fit your needs.

© Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

02/20/2026

Renewing Life with Purpose

Losing a loved one changes life forever, and with that often comes the challenging task of finding a new purpose. There is no cookie-cutter way on how to accomplish this, but the process will take an open mind and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone.

Finding a new purpose will be different for everyone. You may still have work and/or family commitments, but returning to the same old routines and set patterns doesn’t work for most people. Instead, devote some time to soul-searching to consider the things you have always wanted to do but never had the time.

Everyone needs something to do; something to look forward to. To ensure your continued engagement – and to make new habits become a part of your routine – make sure you choose an activity or a cause that is important to you. Maybe it’s renewing a commitment to a family project or volunteering time to a favourite charity. Perhaps it’s supporting others going through a challenge you’ve overcome. Or maybe you want to devote time to “you” growing as a person, whether that means starting a new hobby, signing up for a class or taking your dream vacation.

By embracing new goals and objectives, you can find fulfilment in life. This is an opportune time to redefine your purpose and feelings of self-worth. As your journey following loss unfolds, you’ll have the potential to become a “new” person, capable of pursuing new hopes and dreams.

© Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

02/18/2026

Darlene Elizabeth Garnhum – 58, Oxford, passed away suddenly, as a result of natural causes, on Monday, February 16, 2026, at home. Darlene was a deeply private person ...

02/18/2026

Why Bury a Sardine on Ash Wednesday?

The “Burial of the Sardine” is a traditional festival celebrated on Ash Wednesday in different parts of Spain. While foreigners may find the ritual odd, the symbolic ceremony moves the community beyond previous deaths to rebirth with a new outlook and vigour.

The festival begins with a mock funeral procession – characterized by music, dancing and costumes – and ends with setting fire to a fake fish made from paper or cardboard. While no one is sure of its exact origins, the colourful event brings together thousands of participants each year in companionship and laughter to signify the end of carnival season.

Some maintain the tradition originated in the 18th century when Spanish King Carlos III gave a shipload of sardines to his servants as a treat before Lent. Rumour has it the shipment went bad and had to be buried in a local park. Others contest the festival started when a group of students held a satirical funeral march in 19th century Madrid.

Whatever the true origins, the burial of the sardine marks the last time to gather in a light-hearted atmosphere before the abstinence of Lent. For those who attend, this is a fascinating and unusual event rooted in the essence of funeral ritual: the coming together of a community to honour the dead and embrace the future.

The Burial of the Sardine is yet another ritual based on a foreign culture’s acknowledgement of death and the importance of ceremony.

© Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

02/17/2026

Margaret Marquita (MacLeod) Margwardt – 90, Bible Hill. Our beloved Margaret passed away on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in the Palliative Care Unit of Colchester East Hants Health ...

02/16/2026

Michael Stewart "Mike" Shaw
1962 - 2026

Visitation Information
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 5-8 PM
St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, 387 Lower Truro Road
(McClures Mills)

Michael Stewart

02/14/2026

Patricia Norma

02/14/2026

The Song Of Grief

By the walk of the willows I pour'd out my theme,
The breath of the evening scarce dimpled the stream;
By the waters I stood, like an image of Woe,
And my tears, like the tide, seem'd to tremble and flow.

Ye green scatter'd reeds, that half lean to the wave,
In your plaintive, your musical, sighs, could ye save
But one note of my charmer, to soften my doom,
I would stay till these willows should arch me a tomb!

For ye know, when I pour'd out my soul on the lute,
How she hung down her head, so expressively mute!
From my hand she would take it, still breathing my pain;
She would touch it - return it - and smile at the strain.

Ye wild blooming flow'rs, that enamel this brink,
Like me could ye feel, and like me could ye think,
How sadly would droop ev'ry beautiful leaf!
How soon would your sweetness be wasted with grief!

She is gone, in a cloud, like the star of the night!
She has left me, heart-broken, to mourn at her flight, -
To think of the hours she endear'd by her love.
To sigh till again I shall join her above!

By John Carr (Sir)
1772 – 1832

02/12/2026