Sunbury Funeral Home

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

Celebrate the life of Eric Chappelle and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

04/05/2026

Happy Easter

Our management and staff wish you a Happy Easter holiday shared with family and friends.

To members of our community who are Christian in faith we wish you peace and joy as you celebrate Easter and commemorate the resurrection of Christ which is celebrated worldwide as one of the fundamental holy days of the Christian calendar.

04/01/2026

When an Urn is Left Unclaimed at a Funeral Home

Typical cremation arrangements have next of kin signing paperwork to proceed with the cremation process. Following cremation, the remains are placed in an urn, which is subsequently returned to the family to either inter at a cemetery, scatter or keep at home.

Sometimes there is a plan for the urn… and it is kept at the funeral home in safe keeping for a short period of time. Perhaps the family is waiting till spring to place the urn in the local family plot.

However, from time to time, next of kin will not follow up with the funeral home after cremation, and the urn remains at the funeral home, unclaimed. This is not an ideal situation. Some urns will remain for periods of time greater than one year.

Most funeral homes have policies to await instruction from next of kin. There will not be any further actions with respect to the urn until further instructions are provided. In the meantime, the remains of a relative or friend are stored on a shelf, or in a cupboard. The location is secure, but it is by no means an ideal “final resting place.”

When an urn is not retrieved by next of kin efforts are made to contact them, and sometimes these caretakers of the deceased are unreachable. Essential communications need to occur or the urn is left in a state of “limbo.”

It is important to have a plan which includes the disposition of the urn and the final location where the cremated remains of the deceased will be placed. This may be a traditional location such as at a cemetery where the dearly departed can be visited in the future, or perhaps a meaningful location in nature where the urn can be scattered. Be sure to talk with your director to find out what is legally permitted.

The urn will be kept in safe keeping in the meantime. Know more about your options and, step by step, what is possible with an urn following cremation. Please contact us.

© Sunbury Funeral Home/CFHC Online

03/25/2026

Overcoming Grief Triggers

When we are grieving, even something as simple as a trip to the grocery store can bring on an unexpected trigger which leads to an emotional outburst. The song on the radio, witnessing couples holding hands, a child laughing, or the smell of freshly baked bread can create an emotional grief reaction that makes us feel very out of control.

Thoughts generated in our brains send messages to our bodies and these create a physical reaction. When grieving, we are more sensitive and vulnerable to our thoughts. The rational side of our brain is often replaced by the emotional side.

Heightened senses can lead to a sensory overload and an unexpected sight, sound, smell, or taste can trigger us. Painful memories surface, sometimes we remember a traumatic event or we experience a surreal feeling of the loss of our loved one.

When in the midst of an episode firstly make sure you are safe. If you’re driving find a suitable place to pull over. If you are in a grocery store, leave your cart and find a place where you can begin to feel comfortable within yourself.

Remember the following:
1. Give yourself permission to experience these feelings. This is a natural response, and your outburst is not a bad thing and shouldn’t be feared.
2. Trust that this emotional outburst will pass. Time is needed to process feelings.
3. If panic has set in, remember to slow down your breathing. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
4. It may be helpful to share the episode with someone close. Discussing these feelings helps you to better process them and can be cathartic.
5. Over time, these episodes will occur less frequently and be less intense.

Lastly, these memories which are bittersweet in the beginning of the grieving journey will often bring comfort later. Events such as these help us to recognize our loss which is part of the healing process. It may be awkward and perhaps even embarrassing for some, but it is a sign of the love we shared with a special person in our live. Don’t avoid, but rather acknowledge and embrace moments such as these.

Margaret Lorrie Beaton, MA, C. Hyp
Bereavement Counsellor

© Sunbury Funeral Home/CFHC Online

03/20/2026

Step-by-step guidance on how to settle an estate in British Columbia. Free legal information for the public.

03/17/2026

Celebrate the life of Paul Harris and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

03/16/2026

Telling their Story

When a loved one passes and we think about them and reflect on how much they meant to us, we experience many emotions. We remember special moments and difficult times that were faced together. They shared the road of life with us, its joys and struggles.

We recall the good, the bad, the happy and the sad. A funeral is not only about the best of times. There may have been many life-changing events that shaped your relationship with them. What did these times show you about their character?

When telling their story, if we look back on those experiences, it won’t be hard to recall those times when they made some seemingly insignificant gesture which helped others. Maybe they helped financially, or perhaps they gave emotional support, they were a good listener, they had an uncanny sense of humour… they cared.

Share their story. Acknowledge them for who they were and for what they meant to you.

© Sunbury Funeral Home/CFHC Online

03/11/2026

National Funeral Directors and Morticians Recognition Day

Losing a loved one is a difficult time for everyone involved… and across our nation a dedicated group of professionals provide support to families, and care for our departed 24/7 each and every day of the year.

Funeral directors work with surviving family members in a variety of scenarios. Sometimes the circumstances surrounding a death are tragic and emotions run high. Some say being a funeral director is a calling, and many in the profession would agree. It takes a certain type of personality to choose a career in the death care profession.

We would like to take this opportunity to extend our best wishes to directors across our nation today. Your efforts truly do make a difference!

03/02/2026

Online Memorial Tributes

Families seeking to memorialize a loved one online have a variety of options available to them. Memorial tribute sites offer a range of services which allow users to upload pictures, videos and audio files, creating a life story which can be shared with others.

The details of the decedent’s life such as vital statistics, a biography, photos, poems and condolences can be uploaded to build a touching online memory.
When exploring various alternatives, consider whether the service provided includes the features you desire and whether the fees are one time or recurring. While some providers offer a tribute which never expires, others require annual maintenance fees.

Today’s technologies offer us another opportunity to remember a loved one and platforms to share valued memories.

© Sunbury Funeral Home/CFHC Online

02/25/2026

Kids and Grief, an Online Resource
KidsGrief.ca

Your spouse is diagnosed with a serious illness; how do you tell your children? Or your teenager dies in a car accident and your other children are struggling. Or someone dies by su***de and your child asks what happened.

KidsGrief.ca is a free online resource that helps parents, guardians and others talk to and support children and teens when someone in their life is dying or has died. KidsGrief.ca contains three sections that explore common bereavement themes and provides information on supporting children up to the age of 18.

In its easy to navigate menus, users gain insights to help them better understand how children process grief, what parents can do to support children who are grieving and what are some of the best ways to talk to them about death and dying.

As parents there are a number of topics which are difficult to talk about with our children and sometimes, we lack the knowledge to give accurate information which will help them. KidsGrief.ca is an invaluable resource to help families address the challenges that arise from loss.

For more information, please visit: www.kidsgrief.ca.

© Sunbury Funeral Home/CFHC Online