Bocchinfuso Funeral Home Inc

04/23/2026

Grief looks different for everyone.
This Mindfulness for Grief Support session offers a calm space to pause, reflect, and be supported.
No fixing. No pressure. Just presence.
💙

04/23/2026

04/21/2026

This is not about “moving on.”
It’s about making space for what you’re carrying.
🌿 Mindfulness for Grief Support
A space to pause, reflect, and be supported.

04/19/2026

That first year, you’re mostly numb.
You’re doing what needs to be done.
Holidays. Paperwork. Phone calls.
Figuring out how to sleep. Remembering to eat.

You move through it one hard day at a time.
Checking things off because that’s the only way forward.
You tell yourself that once you get through all the firsts,
maybe the pain will finally ease up.

Then the second year shows up.
And the shock wears off.

You’re not running on adrenaline anymore.
There’s no crisis mode to hide behind.
The truth settles in:
this isn’t temporary.
This is your life now.

By then, everyone else has moved on.
They think you have too.
They don’t realize this is when it really starts to sink in.

The calls slow down.
The check-ins fade.
And you begin to understand just how isolating grief can be.

At some point, it becomes obvious—
life didn’t pause with you.
People are making plans, laughing, moving forward.
And you’re standing there trying to figure out where you fit now.

Nothing feels the same, no matter how hard you try to force it.

And eventually, you stop waiting to feel like your old self again.
You stop looking for the version of you that existed before the loss.

You start learning how to live as who you are now.

This is the after.
After the shock.
After the support.
After the world expects you to be “okay.”

Written by: Aimee Suyko - In Their Footsteps

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04/19/2026

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Life Stories with Cobblestone Gardens Retirement Home returns April 21! This interactive, intergenerational program runs once per month and engages all ages in conversation with provided prompts. Register under the programs tab on our website. 💕🥰💕

04/19/2026

“How are you?”

I’ve been asked that question a thousand times since they died.

And I hate it more every single time.

Not because people don’t care. But because they do. And they expect an answer.

“How are you?”

What am I supposed to say to that?

The truth? That I’m barely surviving? That I cried in my car this morning? That I can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t think straight? That every single day feels impossible and I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this?

Yeah. That’ll go over well.

So, I lie.

“I’m okay.” “Hanging in there.” “Getting through it.” “Day by day, you know?”

And they nod. Relieved. Because my fake answer lets them off the hook.

They asked. I answered. Everyone can move on now.

But I’m screaming inside.

Because I’m not okay. I’m not hanging in there. I’m falling apart and no one actually wants to hear about it.

“How are you?”

It’s not really a question. It’s a social ritual. A polite greeting. A box to check.

And I’m expected to play along. To give the right answer. To make them comfortable.

Even though I’m the one who’s drowning.

Some days I want to answer honestly just to see what happens.

“How are you?”

“Terrible. I’m barely functioning. I don’t know how to keep living without them. I’m angry and exhausted and so damn tired of pretending I’m fine.”

But I don’t. Because that’s not what they’re asking for.

They’re asking for reassurance. For permission to stop worrying. For confirmation that I’m handling it and they don’t need to do anything.

And I give it to them. Because it’s easier than the alternative.

But it’s exhausting.

Every “How are you?” feels like a test. A performance. A reminder that I’m supposed to be getting better by now.

And when I’m not? When I’m still struggling months later? Years later?

The question changes.

“How are you?” becomes “Are you still...?”

Like my grief has an expiration date. Like I should be over it by now.

So, I keep lying.

“I’m okay.”

Because the truth is too heavy. Too messy. Too much for casual conversation.

And I’m tired of being the person who makes things uncomfortable.

So, I smile. I nod. I say I’m fine.

And I walk away feeling more alone than I did before they asked.

“How are you?”

I don’t know anymore.

And honestly? I don’t think you really want to know.

04/19/2026

Don’t miss the KofC2319Thorold today at the Holy Rosary Hall parking lot, from 9 AM to 1 PM. A fun community event for a great cause!

Knights in action. We're wrapping up another successful Saturday. Back in action Sunday 9am to 1 pm. Get fertilizer, compost, grass seed.

04/19/2026

“At least…”

These are two words you probably never want to hear if you lost someone you love.

If somebody sends you an email, card, or starts off a conversation with these two words stop listening.

I’ll give you some examples:

“At least they didn’t suffer.”
“At least you still have other children.”
“At least they’re in a better place.”

The problem with these statements is that they imply that you should actually be grateful for what happened. They belittle your pain. People that say these things to you want to point out to you how your situation could be worse.

Seriously…when you lose someone you love could your situation be worse?

I think not.

Here’s the thing…all these statements do is make it worse.

I heard many “at least they’re not suffering anymore” comments after my losses. But for me, there were no “at leasts.” There was only one thing that overshadowed everything else, including every reason to be grateful and every reminder of how my situation could have been worse, and that was the loss of the people I love.

My spouse…my dad…and so many others. And their absence (despite sometimes knowing it was coming) was extremely painful. It brought an end to all that could have been and now would never be.

And there were no "at leasts” in that.

I didn’t even think there should be any.

There should be no shame in loss or pain. We shouldn’t be made to feel guilt for being sad someone we love died.

In my opinion, it’s just not okay to tell someone grieving how they should or shouldn’t feel.

You aren’t weak just because you’re mourning someone you love.

“At least”…that’s what I think!

Gary Sturgis
Author: ‘SURVIVING GRIEF – 365 Days A Year’

04/19/2026

04/19/2026

Thank you to The Funeral Chronicle and Families First Funeral Home for the reminder regarding funeral processions. Although the suspension of this tradition is disappointing, it is done in the interest of safety. Please remember to follow all MTO rules and regulations when traveling with a funeral.

A funeral home in Windsor, ON is renewing its safety messaging around funeral processions, reminding drivers they must still stop at red lights, even as more red light cameras are installed across the city.

Families First Funeral Home says the reminder is not in response to a surge in complaints, but rather a proactive effort to raise awareness as the number of camera-controlled intersections continues to grow. “With red light cameras for us, the reason for the post … is simply that the volume of cameras has increased,” said funeral director Jessica Sylvestre.

The city originally launched its red light camera program with 10 cameras in 2021. As of November 2025, that number has grown to 20 at intersections across Windsor. Sylvestre said the funeral home has worked to adjust mapping routes and planning ahead to minimize disruptions, but acknowledges it has become more difficult to avoid camera-controlled intersections altogether. “As they’ve increased … it’s become really difficult to avoid them altogether, and so we’ve had to make a little bit of an action plan to spread some awareness,” she said.

While funeral processions are a long-standing tradition meant to bring people together, Sylvestre said they do not override the rules of the road. “Our mission is safety … families are grieving, they’re not paying attention — nor should they be,” she said. “They’re focused on exactly what they need to be focused on … honouring and saying goodbye to their loved ones.”

The funeral home says it is not opposed to red light cameras, noting they play an important role in road safety, but wants to ensure families are aware of the rules before they get behind the wheel. “We just want people to be safe, obey all traffic rules at all times … and be present as a family,” Sylvestre said.

To help, Families First provides drivers in a procession with route maps, instructions and reminders, and staff keep track of vehicles to ensure everyone arrives safely — even if the group becomes separated.

Sylvestre said staying together during a procession still holds deep meaning for families. “It encourages you to just be present in that moment … and prepare yourself,” she explained. “As you’re arriving at the final resting place, you have feelings, you have emotions — and it’s important to make space for them.”

Some Windsor residents, however, say the rules should be more flexible. "I think they should be exempt … you’re honouring the person that passed away,” said Gloria Boudreau.

Others agreed, saying funeral processions should be allowed to continue uninterrupted. “If it’s a funeral, they should have the honour of letting them go through,” said Ray Kingsley.

The City of Windsor was contacted for comment, but was not available for an interview.

04/18/2026

That'll you to Ted Liddycoat for the reminder. You can always come pet Dora!

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