Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium

02/23/2026

Prefunding your Funeral Arrangements
Why this Makes Good Sense Financially

When a family decides to prefund their funeral service, the cheque they write, and the funds they provide… are deposited into a trust. This is done with a third party, such as a bank or trust company. These funds earn income over time, and as such, offset the effects of inflation.

With a prepaid funeral plan, at the time someone passes funds become available for these expenses. No further payment is due for any services which have been prepaid.

That said, sometimes the family will choose to prepay part of the arrangement, leaving some items for what we refer to as … the “time of need.” An example of this is purchasing a burial plot or paying for the opening or closing of the grave. These can be paid at the time of need at the prevailing prices of the day.

Over time, pricing for funeral services can increase, so monies placed in trust can be viewed as somewhat of an investment. In addition to relieving the emotional burden on surviving family members, you are also alleviating the financial burden.

If you have any further questions about prefunding a funeral or other questions about preplanning, please contact us.

© Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium/CFHC Online

02/22/2026

March Break is coming soon
Here are some free activities for the kids to take part in.

02/21/2026

Blair Sampy Tompkins
Oct 8, 1953 – Feb 20, 2026

It is with deep sorrow, yet unwavering faith, that we announce the passing of Blair Tompkins a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a truly godly man. He passed away peacefully on Feb 20,2026, surrounded by the love of his family.
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View Blair Sampy Tompkins's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

02/20/2026

The Last Right
A Movie about Respecting a Dying Person’s Wishes

A man dies while on an overseas flight and nominates the person sitting beside him to be his next of kin.
This Irish drama-comedy has Michiel Huisman, as Daniel Murphy, coming to terms with whether he should help fulfill this stranger’s wishes. As next of kin, there are many responsibilities he will need to tend to, the most notable of these, being transportation of the body to Rathin Island, located on the opposite end of the country.

Along the way two more people join Daniel, his autistic brother and a local mortician’s assistant. Their journey is about not only honouring a dying man’s final wishes, but also it is a journey of personal growth and discovery. What are their secrets and why do they react the way they do to what life presents them?

There are also, many comical circumstances that evolve based on the decisions they have to make. Why are the police involved? Is this really an “international incident” and are they really fugitives?

This movie is as much a comedy as it is a drama. A key message is learning from the challenges we face by looking at them from all angles. It is sure to entertain many. Finally, what is the Last Right?

© Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium/CFHC Online

1h 46m

02/16/2026

Grief and Our Online World

Those of us in the bereavement world could have never imagined that social media would be taking on such a considerable role in the way people grieve, and therefore changing the way we connect with others after a death.

Social media is replacing the way we connect with loved ones. I hear it again and again that family members heard of a loved one’s death through social media, but it does not stop there. Families from all over the world are now able to stream their favourite Uncle’s funeral, which makes sure that every family member worldwide can be virtually included.

Families are staying in touch, supporting each other, and mourning the loss by posting photos and sharing stories of the deceased on private memorial pages, which is helping families to grieve together and stay connected.

When you are feeling a burst of grief at 3 am, you can now log into blogs, Facebook groups, and other online resources that are directed at those who are grieving. This can help the griever feel less isolated, provide education about the grieving process, and can impart a platform to honour and remember a loved one. The bereaved can share their story and feel supported when they need it, which is good news for those who are feeling alone in their grief.

Margaret Lorrie Beaton, MA, C.Hyp.
Bereavement Counsellor

© Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium/CFHC Online

02/14/2026

02/13/2026

Please Share: Petition (read below)
In a practice commonly referred to as obit scraping or obit piracy, third party websites are copying obit information from funeral home websites and adding modified death notices to their own platform. This practice is done without the family’s or funeral home’s approval.

Additionally, they are selling online memorial products and profiting from this practice.

A petition is underway to gauge public interest to see if this practice should be ceased. To indicate you wish current legislation changed to protect grieving families, please see the below link and sign: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6997

02/11/2026

Reminder of visitation on Sunday February 15, 2026 from 2 to 5PM at Carleton Funeral Home

Linda Ann Ward (née Rollins) passed away after a short battle with cancer on the evening of January 27, 2026, at the Upper River Valley Hospital. She was 74 years of age. Our ‘’Ama’’ was known for her o...

View Linda Ann Ward's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

02/10/2026

It is with deep sorrow and broken hearts we announce the passing of June Dickinson at age 84.

Born June 30 1941 in Bedell, June was the daughter of Thomas Matthews and Nina (Kinney) Matthews.

Although named Edith June at birth, her father and mother thought that June sounded better, ...

View June Dickinson's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

02/10/2026

Repatriating the Remains of a Loved One who Dies Abroad

With many Canadian snowbirds residing in the south for extended periods of time to escape winter months, the likelihood of death abroad increases. When someone passes away in a foreign country there are a number of protocols which need to be addressed. Proper documentation is vital to this process.

The first decision that needs to be made is whether the body will be transported without cremation occurring, from the place of death and then repatriated or will the body be cremated abroad and the cremated remains be transported to Canada in an urn.

Repatriating the remains in a casket requires that a number of conditions be met. The family will need to coordinate this process with two funeral homes: a foreign funeral home who will issue a death certificate and deliver the body to an air carrier for transportation to Canada, and a local funeral home who will receive the body once repatriated and attend to local needs. With your approval, your local funeral home can act on your behalf, taking care of and ensuring foreign requirements are met.

Of primary concern to the airlines and the Canadian Border Services Agency is the risk to public health. The body must be placed in a “hermetically sealed container" (air tight), and the death certificate must clearly state that the deceased did not die from a communicable disease.

Each airline has policies on the transportation of human remains. Containers for transportation must adequately protect contents from damage.

If transporting cremated remains in an urn into Canada, they must be declared, must be accompanied by a cremation certificate and the urn should be made from a material which will allow proper airport security screening.

Families may wish to contact the Canadian embassy or consulate abroad to answer questions pertaining to local requirements and it is advisable to request extra copies of death certificates.

Though this is an uncomfortable and unsettling event for any family to have to endure, it needs mentioning that this is not uncommon and regardless of the decisions that are made, your wishes and needs can be accommodated.

For additional guidelines please visit the following links:
https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/emergency-info/death-abroad
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d19/d19-9-3-eng.pdf

© Carleton Funeral Home and Crematorium/CFHC Online