Needham-Jay Funeral Home

04/13/2026

Norma Jo Ewen, 65 years, of Petrolia died surrounded by family on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at Bluewater Health Sarnia. Norma Jo was the loving wife of the late Brian Ewen (2015). She will be missed by her children, Brent Ewen and James (Zoe) Ewen, and her grandson, Theo Ewen. She was the daughter of t...

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04/09/2026

04/05/2026

Wishing you a Joyous Easter

We hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend enjoying family traditions and sharing special moments. May your children have fun and find happiness as they partake in the day’s festivities.

For members of our community who are of Christian faith, let us take a moment and reflect on the significance of this day, the resurrection of Christ. In remembering by prayer, we acknowledge his truth.

04/02/2026

Spirituality

We are sentient beings. We perceive; we appreciate and comprehend; we question events and aspects of our lives. We feel; we experience happiness, sadness, jubilance and embarrassment. We seek to understand and to find meaning.

In its broadest sense, spirituality is the inner feeling that something larger than us is part of our world. It is a sense of belonging to a way of thinking and a community which is for the betterment of humankind.

Traditionally, religion has been at the center of spiritual thought. Whether a person chooses to follow and practice a specific faith or if they engage an inner dialogue, it is not for others to judge. If we strive for the betterment of others, is salvation not already present?

Sometimes when we struggle with life challenges such as grief, we find we are overwhelmed and are not able to cope. Sometimes even with the help of our family and friends we remain trapped in our grief. Finding spiritual meaning and purpose may be what, deep down inside, we seek.

© Needham-Jay Funeral Home/CFHC Online

03/30/2026

Clarence Keith Drope, 87 years old, of Petrolia died at C.E.E. Hospital on Sunday, March 29, 2026, six weeks after his loving wife and best friend Marjorie Drope (nee Rundle)(2026). The son of the late Ken and Margaret Drope. He will be missed his children Dave Drope of Petrolia, Darlene and Darren ...

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03/29/2026

Peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, March 27, 2026 at St. Josephs Hospice in Sarnia. Wayne Lassaline, 71 years, of Arkona and formerly of Oil Springs. Wayne will be missed his wife of 46 years Karen (nee Downie). He will also be missed by his daughters Angela (Robert) Clouse and Monica (Dave)...

03/29/2026

Rochelle Whiting (Shelly) 55, passed away, peacefully surrounded by her loving family, and dear friends, on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the Elgin General Hospital in St. Thomas.
Loving mother to Alyssa Viscount, and Taylor Gerrits. Adored, grandmother of Keanen, , Payton, Bentley, Izaiah, and Kami...

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03/29/2026

With the love of her family surrounding her on Friday, March 27, 2026 at Lambton Meadowview Villa, Jane Charlotte Stevenson, passed away in her 80th year. She leaves behind a devastated wake of family; her daughters Sarah (Greg) Hunter and Kate (Mike) Benedikovic, who were her pride and joy. She was...

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03/27/2026

An Investment in Peace of Mind

Individuals who have completed the planning of their funeral service often tell us they are very glad to have taken care of these matters.

The prearrangement process includes a number of steps and decisions. A dialogue develops between the person or persons making the arrangements and family members. Ideas are presented and discussed by all who have a vested interest in how these good byes are to be said.

A funeral director has a key role in this process. They provide advice on which options need to be explored and which scenarios work best. Their involvement will lead to an optimal solution for the family. It is always a good idea to take advantage of this expertise. They’ve worked with countless families over the years, meaning there is not much they haven’t seen when it comes to how a service will unfold.

Peace of mind is that feeling of satisfaction that is arrived at after all of the details have been settled. Any unease or anxiety that may have been present beforehand is gone. Having arrangements in place is a comfort to many.

© Needham-Jay Funeral Home/CFHC Online

03/23/2026

Ireland’s Newgrange Tomb
An Ancient Example of Ceremonial Importance

Constructed by Stone Age farmers in approximately 3200 BC, Newgrange is a large grass mound covering one acre of land in the Boyne Valley of Ireland. Constructed more than 500 years before the Great Pyramids of Giza and 1,000 years before Stonehenge, it is revered as Ireland’s crown jewel of the Ancient East.

Comprising a circular mound of stones 85 metres in diameter and 13 metres high, Newgrange is classified as a passage tomb, although some archeologists believe it to be more of an ancient temple. A narrow passageway leads into a chamber where it is believed the bodies of priests and other important community members were laid to rest close to 5,000 years ago.

Above the passageway lies a small opening called a roof-box, incorporated to allow the sun to pe*****te the chamber on the shortest day of the year during the winter solstice. It is believed the annual occurrence marked the beginning of a new year, while connecting the dead to their celestial bodies and serving as a powerful reminder that life wins over death. Similar to modern-day cathedrals, Newgrange was a place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance.

First discovered by local farmers in approximately 1699, excavation of the site did not start until 1962. Newgrange was named a World Heritage site in 1993 and can be accessed via the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.

How we choose to honour and remember members of our community dates back millennia. Newgrange offers a glimpse into our past and is a reminder that remembrance is best served in a tangible environment with ceremony and ritual.

© Needham-Jay Funeral Home/CFHC Online

03/21/2026

William “Bill” Stewart Cadman, of Petrolia, passed away suddenly at home with his beloved wife Jane by his side, on Friday, March 20, 2026. He was in his 90th year. Bill was the loving and devoted father to Bill (Lisa) Cadman and the late Steven and the late Gerald. Proud grandpa to Brandon (Miranda...

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03/20/2026

Funeral ceremonies serve as a way to honour and celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed away. In recent years, there has been a shift toward personalising these ceremonies to reflect the i…