Mattatall - Varner Funeral Home

09/05/2025

The Canadian Virtual Memorial

Honouring close to 120,000 armed forces personnel, the Canadian Virtual War Memorial is an online registry dedicated to remembering the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in both world wars and all other conflicts since Canadian confederation.

Each digital record has the name of the deceased, their military service, some personal data, the location of their burial plot, and digital files including photos if available. This is a searchable database. Entering a surname, first name and initials will retrieve all registered personnel that match the criteria inputted. Note: RCMP officers have been killed in the line of duty are also part of this record.

Another feature of this war memorial is that it connects to the Books of Remembrance and the daily honour roll. Each and every day of the year, the book of remembrance is opened that date, containing the inscribed names of all of our fallen who died on that date in history.

For more information on this memorial or to search for a family member who lost their life in combat, please visit: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial

© Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

09/04/2025

Ross Smith Roberts – 72, Debert, passed away peacefully, following declining health, on Tuesday morning, September 2, 2025, at home. Born in Highland Village, he was a son ...

09/03/2025

Donna Margaret Rushton - 74, Truro, passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, August 28, 2025, at Halifax Infirmary, QEII, Halifax. She was surrounded by her family and friends ...

09/02/2025

What are Funerary Rituals?

Rituals are defined as any stylized and repetitive actions, words, or performances that are done within a group or by an individual. Some will visit the grave of a loved one each year on the anniversary of their death; sometimes families will set aside time to honour one of their own on occasions such as Christmastime. Rituals can also be based on religion, honouring practices from the past.

Funerary rituals are based on saying good-byes and paying tribute and are used when it comes to mourning a loved one. One common ritual is wearing certain tones of colour, which in Canada is typically black or other muted colours. Other present-day rituals involve singing particular songs, reading certain passages, displaying photos of a loved one and gathering for refreshment after the service.

What is the importance of ritual and why do we perform them? Rituals typically involve very pro-social behaviour, which means, they bring a community together; this holds many intangible benefits for all in attendance, especially during tough times. Funerary rituals provide a setting to remember and grieve someone special, and an opportunity to express emotions in a safe and supportive environment. Lastly, these rituals help mourners to come to terms with a new reality, one where a beloved is no longer there. This is especially significant when it comes to mourning the loss of a spouse, parent or child.

In conclusion, with shared actions and words, rituals provide an essential space for collective mourning, emotional expression, and remembrance. They not only provide an opportunity to honor the deceased but also allow the living to find support in times of grief.

© Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

08/29/2025

The Significance of Black Armbands

For over four centuries, in many cultures and religions, black armbands have been used to signify the wearer is mourning a recent death or commemorating the anniversary of a passing.

A portrait dating back to 1614 shows Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, wearing a black armband after the death of her brother Henry Frederick, the Prince of Wales. The armbands were also common during the Victorian period, where it was a tradition for affluent British families to provide entire mourning wardrobes to their servants. At the request of Queen Victoria, royal servants wore black crêpe armbands for eight years following Prince Albert’s death in 1861.

The tradition spread to the Western world where mourning armbands gained popularity during the Great Depression, being cheaper to buy than a set of mourning clothes. Chinese culture also embraced a similar custom, using white armbands – the symbol of death – as demonstrated by the Chinese military following the passing of Empress Tzu-Hsi in 1908.

Today, athletes in the sports world wear armbands or a strip of black tape to mourn the loss of a teammate, owner or coach. The armbands can also be seen in the police and military communities. For over 400 years, the black armband has represented a symbol of mourning and grief, a way to inform the public of the honour being bestowed on someone special.

© Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

08/28/2025

Laurie Byron Thomas, age 69, of Truro, passed away peacefully on the evening of Thursday, August 14, 2025 at Colchester East Hants Health Centre with his daughter by ...

08/27/2025

Funerals are commonly held as soon after the death as possible. In North America, that usually means about one or two weeks later.  Why the rush? As soon as a person dies, their...

08/24/2025

Is There a Good Age to Introduce a Child to their First Funeral Service?

This is a difficult question for many families and there is no right or wrong answer. The age of a child will influence the decision on whether they will attend in some instances.

To begin with, what was the relationship of the child to the deceased. Is it a grandparent, a parent or a sibling. If a grandparent has passed, the death can be perceived as more natural; in a child’s eyes, “they were old.” If a parent or sibling has passed the loss is likely to be much more traumatic. The death of a younger adult or another child may introduce the fear of dying to the child.

If a friend or classmate has passed, the surrealness of their death can provide a stress and anxiety to a young developing mind. Care needs to be made to ensure that an honest dialogue occurs and the feelings of the child are considered. Ask this question: “Is it important that they have the opportunity to say their goodbyes?”

If the decision is made that they attend the service. What if they have an emotional outburst? This is ok. Young people like adults have feelings and they are allowed to share these in a public venue. These emotions need to be validated.

One aspect of childhood that needs mentioning is resilience. Yes, at the time of a service there may be awkward moments, but over time children seem to bounce back to a state of normalcy quite well. Some would say even better than some adults.

© Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

08/24/2025

Leslie Russell Mosher - 86, Truro, passed away peacefully, on his own terms, on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Truro. Born in Stewiacke ...

08/23/2025

Frank Adam Nicholson – 61, Truro. It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of Frank Nicholson on the morning of Wednesday, August 13, 2025, ...

08/21/2025

Ruby Edna Adams – 95, Truro. We are sad to announce the passing of Ruby Adams (nee Campbell) on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Cedarstone Enhanced Care, Truro. ...

08/21/2025

On This Day
It’s been 20 Years Since the Airing of the Last Episode of ‘Six Feet Under’

This television drama series spanned 5 years telling the story of Fisher & Sons Funeral Home. Season One had patriarch Nathaniel Fisher dying unexpectedly, leaving the family run business to his two sons. What ensues is a challenging, if not at times chaotic series of events.

Episodes weave together the day to day lives of funeral directors and the quirky if not dysfunctional backstory of a family funeral home. Though they always maintain a professional demeanor in public, their personal lives are anything but. Scripts are written that explore a variety of themes using the often complicated and unconventional traits of Fisher family members.

This show was nominated and received numerous Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards. This drama is regarded by many as one of the best television drama series of all time with numerous incredible scripts and acting portrayals. The last episode aired on this date in 2005. This episode is also considered one of the best finales ever written.

‘Six Feet Under’ is a favourite with many funeral directors as it shines a light on some of the challenges faced by the profession and how solutions to these are found; it also has its fair share of entertainment value. This series is a must watch for anyone who is interested in behind the scenes look at a family funeral home. It is intended for mature audiences only.

© Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

1h | TV-MA