Belvedere Funeral Home

04/15/2026

Celebrate the life of Helen Dunbar-Weir and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

04/13/2026

View Roy Joseph Doucette's complete obituary, share memories, and explore heartfelt tribute posts from the community.

04/13/2026

Living Funerals: What Are They?

Have you ever heard of a living funeral? The concept, believed to have originated in Japan, has gained popularity in recent years. While not a replacement for a funeral, living funerals can be the first step toward closure, helping to express feelings, share memories and say goodbye through music, speeches and tributes.

A living funeral is a ceremony held for a person who is alive but nearing death. Unlike traditional funerals that tend to focus on mourning and support of the bereaved, living funerals are more celebratory, centred on bringing to light the positive impact of the person’s life, accomplishments and relationships. It allows the person to be present to hear tributes that would otherwise be said after their death. But even more important, it provides an opportunity for them to speak with loved ones and friends, in the process imparting final words, thoughts and messages they might not have otherwise been shared.

When a life ends, it is common for people to have wished they’d said more; to have told their loved one how much they meant one more time. Living funerals provide this opportunity. Although tinged with moments of sadness, this time together can be uplifting, allowing families one last chance to share feelings and bid farewells.

To discuss if a living funeral might be an option for you and your family, contact one of our funeral directors.

© Belvedere Funeral Home/CFHC Online

04/10/2026

View Updated Service Info for Elizabeth (Webster) Warwick's complete obituary, share memories, and explore 11 tribute posts from the community.

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

Celebrate the life of Ronald (Ronnie) Kenny and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

04/08/2026

Celebrate the life of David (Campy) Gallant and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

04/08/2026

View Catherine (Katy) Thorburn's complete obituary, share memories, and explore 1 tribute posts from the community.

04/08/2026

Celebrate the life of Sterling Younker and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

04/08/2026

View Dorothy May (Matheson) MacEwen's complete obituary, share memories, and explore 10 tribute posts from the community.

04/08/2026

View Susan Lea Manning's complete obituary, share memories, and explore 1 tribute posts from the community.

04/07/2026

Remembering Billionaire Howard Hughes

On the anniversary of his death 50 years ago (April 5, 1976), we reflect on Howard Hughes, one of the world’s most eccentric billionaires.

There is an old saying that everything is bigger in Texas, which seems to be true for Hughes. Born in the Lone Star State in 1905, Hughes inherited the family’s business, becoming a millionaire at age 18. Over the course of his 70-year life, Hughes grew a business fortune which spanned the aviation, real estate holdings and film production sectors. Not only a businessman, Hughes had a passion for flying, setting numerous records and risking his life in the process.

Some Fun Facts About Howard Hughes:
• A young Hughes showed an aptitude in science and technology, building Houston’s first wireless radio transmitter at the age of 11 and becoming the first person in the city with a motorized bike, which he built from steam engine parts the following year. His fondness for how things worked eventually led to many innovations in the production of commercial aircraft, an industry in its infancy at that time.
• Hughes was obsessed with flying faster and survived four airplane accidents, including a near fatal crash in 1946. He was credited with breaking both the landplane airspeed record and the transcontinental airspeed record.
• Hughes produced several big-budget and often controversial films, including “The Racket,” “Hell’s Angels” and “Scarface.”
• Hughes won the Harmon Trophy (twice), the Collier Trophy and the Congressional Gold Medal for his contributions to aviation. During the Second World War, his company operated as a major U.S. defence contractor.
• Hughes has been credited with transforming Las Vegas from a gangster paradise into a more refined tourist destination.

Sadly, Hughes was troubled with mental illness, stemming from an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and became an unrecognizable recluse in his later years. He died of kidney failure on board a Learjet headed from his Mexico home to Houston. He is buried alongside his parents at Houston’s Glenwood Cemetery.

© Belvedere Funeral Home/CFHC Online

Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American aviator, aerospace engineer, business magnate, film producer, and investor.[2] He was one of the richest and most influential people in the world during his lifetime. He first became prominent as a film producer, and then...