Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium

11/11/2025

Remembrance Day Observance

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. –Christopher Reeve

We stand and remember the sacrifice made, the courage summoned, the loss of life and the hardships experienced by our men and women in uniform (and their families) on this, our National Day of Remembrance.

You are our heroes, putting your lives in harm’s way to protect the liberties and freedoms we enjoy. Your courage and commitment are nothing less than extraordinary.

11/08/2025

A Story of Sacrifice
“Praying Hands”

The legacy of famous German Renaissance artist, Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), is in part due to his younger brother Albert. Both these siblings aspired to take art lessons at “The Academy.” However, as they were part of a large family (18 children), their parents were unable to afford to send them.

To achieve their dream, the two brothers decided to make a pact. They would flip a coin, the winner would enroll in art school to complete a 4-year program while the other worked in the local coal mines supporting their schooling. Albrecht would win the coin-toss and enroll in art studies. At the end of 4 years, he and brother Albert would switch places and the art educated Albrecht would support Albert as he pursued his studies.

Four years would pass and at a celebratory dinner it was revealed to Albrecht that his younger brother has sustained significant injuries to his hands while working in the mines. The damage was so significant that he no longer possessed the fine motor skills needed to perform the delicate work of an artist.

Albrecht would later sketch his brother’s hands, the hands that showed healed broken bones, the hands that had helped him complete his studies. The sacrifice of young Albert had helped pave the way to the success of this soon-to-be well known artist of that time.

© Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium/CFHC Online

11/06/2025

11/06/2025

Bring your kid to work day was yesterday.
David’s son Benjamin joined us at the funeral home for the day.
He showed lots of interest in the business and stepped right up to help with cleaning.

11/05/2025

Regrets are a Part of Loss

There are a lot of emotions that surface after someone dies. Regret is a normal part of the grieving process, and just like any other emotion it needs to be processed and released. Regret is what we experience when we look back on an event and feel we could have handled it differently. Usually, the event would seem minuscule, but when a loss happens these little events become huge. They seem bigger because they are attached to an outcome that we experienced, the death of a beloved.

An example follows. Your sister is palliative and is expected to die within a short time period. You made a promise to her to not leave her side, but while she was resting you took breaks. While on one of these breaks you spoke to friends, checked social media, and enjoyed an episode of something on Netflix. When your sister dies you begin to regret taking those moments you did. The time that you took for self-care propels you into a series of should haves. I should have stayed by her side like I said I would. I should have cherished every moment I had with her. I should have never left the room.

In grief, our minds fill in the blanks with things we wished we had done differently. We second guess ourselves, and challenge our perception of events. Sometimes, regrets turn into how we label and define ourselves. I was a terrible sister; if I truly loved her I would have not left her side.

1. How so we break this destructive cycle of thought?
It is important to have a reality check and ask ourselves if our current beliefs ring true. The reality may be that we had been by their side day and night and we needed a break to help us remain present to their needs. The reality is that even caregivers to the dying need a break.
2. How can dealing with regret be a valuable gift when healing after loss?
It is important to embrace one’s regret, to learn from it, and remember that nothing will ever prepare us for the finality of loss. Learning to shift perspective to stop punishing oneself, is important in the healing process.
3. What can I do to help myself heal from this experience?
Sometimes writing a letter to the deceased that explains why you did what you did and what you would have done differently is helpful. Write down everything that you wish you could change, and then look for the lessons you have learned from this experience. When you are having a rough day pull the letter out and read it. Self-forgiveness is important in the grieving process.

Learning from our feelings of regret can be important in healing after a death. Choosing to live a better life, and making positive changes in how we view life after experiencing a loss can be transformative and healing.

Margaret Lorrie Beaton, MA, C.Hyp.
Bereavement Counsellor

© Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium/CFHC Online

11/05/2025

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Jean Matilda Doak, on Sunday November 2nd, 2025, at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital at the amazing age of 94.

Born in Maxwell, New Brunswick on July 14th, 1931, to the late Hugh and Susan (Bustard) Graham.

Jean is survive...

View Jean Matilda Doak's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

11/04/2025

Today Carleton Funeral Home made donations of $250.00 to each of the following in honour of all veterans and for the poppy campaign.

Centerville Legion Branch 84, Florenceville Legion Branch 37, Hartland Legion Branch 24, Woodstock Legion Branch 11 and the Woodstock ANAVETS unit 95

11/03/2025

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Samuel Mark Johnston of McKenna on Sunday November 2, 2025, peacefully surrounded by his family at the Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville at the age of 62.

Samuel was born at the Carleton Memorial Hospital in Woodstock on March 2...

View Samuel Mark Johnston's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

11/03/2025

Choices for Today’s Families

At Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium 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 during all parts 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 committal service. 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 to the service, highlighting special moments and personal passions from the life of the departed.

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.

Art Smith
Managing Funeral Director

10/31/2025

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Yvonne Greta (Ibbitson) Wright of Woodstock NB on Thursday October 30, 2025, at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Perth at the age of 84.

Yvonne was born in Woodstock NB on December 27, 1940, to the late David and Hilda (Pickard) Ibbitson...

View Yvonne Greta Wright's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

10/26/2025

Visit a Cemetery Day

Over the years, many special commemorative days have been introduced to annual calendars. Since 2011, the last Sunday in October has been declared “Visit a Cemetery Day.” The proximity of this day to October 31 and Halloween is uncanny. Perhaps it’s an effort to dispel the spooky air which surrounds cemeteries at this time of year. In any case, cemeteries do seem to get increased attention in the days leading up to the thirty-first.

Cemeteries are visited numerous other times during the year: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, the birthdays and anniversaries of the deceased, Remembrance Day and Decoration Day. Those who work at cemeteries, regularly witness the annual rituals of visitors which include cleaning away winter debris and flower planting in the spring. And in winter months, the laying of Christmas wreaths in remembrance. Those who visit, leave keepsake mementos; they talk and pray, they cry and smile.

There was much hype and interest by many in instituting this as an official day, which has since waned. The intent was to not simply to honour our departed loved ones, but to also learn more about the people who are interred, those who in the past helped shape the community.

Do we need another day to reflect and remember? What harm can become of this?

On a sunny day, the landscapes of cemeteries are quite beautiful. If you have some spare time, visit a local cemetery, take a stroll, and look at some of the names and dates on the headstones. Go into an older part of the cemetery, visit the graves of past generations, all of those resting at a cemetery were once valued members of families, groups and clubs, and the community at large.

© Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium/CFHC Online