Sonja Smith Elite Funeral Group

12/01/2026

Evening funerals are becoming a thoughtful alternative for families who want a more intimate and meaningful farewell. They offer a quieter atmosphere, softer lighting, and a sense of calm that many people find comforting. An evening service can also accommodate guests who cannot attend during the day, allowing more loved ones to be present.

With the flexibility in timing, the gentle ambience, and the opportunity for a more personal gathering, an evening funeral can create a beautiful and deeply respectful way to honour someone special.

if you want to learn more about our evening funeral service or our other unique funeral options, feel free to reach out to us: sonjasmith-funerals.co.za/contact-us/

Elite in Service

10/01/2026

When the Shock Wears Off…

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

09/01/2026

Give the Gift of Life…

I see a lot of confusion around the types of organ and tissue donation, so hopefully I can explain it! 😁

Organ donation 🫀🫁🫘 (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys) happens before death, not after.

This only occurs when someone is declared brain dead in a hospital setting, on life support. The body is still being oxygenated and perfused so the organs remain viable. Death is legally declared before recovery, but the body has not yet experienced cardiac death.
This is rare, highly regulated, and very specific. It does not happen at home.

Tissue, bone, and cornea 🩻✋🏻🦴👁️donation happens after death.

This includes:
• corneas
• skin
• heart valves
• long bones
• tendons and connective tissue

These are the donations occur AFTER cardiac death, often hours later, and can happen after a home death, hospice death, or hospital death. The body is treated with care, and families can still have viewing, services, and burial or cremation.

The difference is Organs need oxygen and blood flow to survive. Tissues do not.

You can:
• donate organs
• donate tissues
• donate both
• donate neither
All are valid choices.

No one “takes organs after you’re gone” unless very specific medical and legal criteria are met. And no one is rushed to death because of donation. That fear is understandable but it isn’t how the system works.

Deathcare is already heavy. Clear information helps people make choices without fear. 🖤

09/01/2026

A different kind of grief…

There’s a kind of grief that starts long before the funeral.

It begins in exam rooms and waiting areas.
In conversations you don’t want to have.
In words that land heavy and stay there.

It shows up when you notice the change in them.
The tiredness they can’t hide anymore.
The look in their eyes that tells you things are worse than they’re saying out loud.

You start grieving while they’re still here.
Still holding their hand.
Still saying I love you like it might somehow help.

You learn how to smile while everything inside you is falling apart.
You help them eat.
Get settled.
Take their meds.
You focus on the small things that get you through one more day.

You act strong because you don’t want to scare them.
You listen while doctors talk.
You write things down you never wanted to know.
You survive on caffeine and nerves and whatever keeps you standing.

Time does something strange.
You watch the clock, but you don’t want it to move.
You stay close.
You don’t leave.
Because there is nowhere else you want to be.

You’re exhausted in ways you didn’t know were possible.
But you keep showing up anyway.
You hold their hand.
You make sure they’re comfortable.
You whisper you love them.

You give everything you have left,
because this is the last stretch of loving them like this.
You hold on while the rest of the world starts to loosen its grip.
And you pour every ounce of love you have into the space between now and goodbye.
Written by: Aimee Suyko - In Their Footsteps

09/01/2026

If there is a funeral cover policy in place for your loved one, the funeral director will require a few key documents to process the claim smoothly. Having these on hand can help ease some of the practical stress during a difficult time:

🕊 ID document of the loved one who passed away
A certified copy is usually required to verify the details of the person covered.

🕊 ID document of the Claimant
This confirms who is legally submitting the claim.

🕊 Original Policy Contracts
These help the insurer confirm the benefits and terms of the cover.

🕊 Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
Required when a spouse is the claimant or beneficiary.

If you ever need guidance, we’re here to support you with clarity and care.

Reach out to us if you want to learn more: sonjasmith-funerals.co.za

Elite in Care

07/01/2026

Did you know that taking out funeral cover today helps ensure your loved ones are protected when the time comes?

It can relieve them from unexpected financial stress while allowing them to focus on saying goodbye. Funeral cover is more than a policy – it’s peace of mind for your family.

Reach out to us and find out more about your options at sonjasmith-funerals.co.za/contact-us/

Sonja Smith Funeral Group is an Authorised Financial Services Provider, FSP No. 47204

Elite in Service.

06/01/2026

The Perfect Gift for a Dementia Caregiver? It’s Not What You Think. The past holiday season was a time of giving, but for one vital group in our communities, the most meaningful gifts are often those that can’t be wrapped in a box. Caregiving is one of the most demanding and profoundly loving ro...

05/01/2026

Q: Our loved one’s wish was to be cremated. Can Sonja Smith Elite Funeral Group assist with a cremation?

A: Yes. We provide the full range of cremation services needed to honour your loved one with dignity and respect. You may choose a full cremation service or a memorial service, with or without the ashes present. Our team will guide you through every step, ensuring the arrangements reflect your family’s wishes with care and professionalism.

To learn more or request a quote, visit our website: sonjasmith-funerals.co.za/contact-us/

Elite in Support

05/01/2026

When you’re ready, Sonja Smith Funeral Group will handle the next steps. “Until then, this space belongs to you, not paperwork, not timelines, not logistics.”

This is what it can look like after someone dies on hospice at home.
An empty bed.
A quiet room.
Lights off because nothing else needs doing yet.

Death doesn’t immediately trigger urgency the way movies suggest.
There is time.
As they teach us in death doula classes, "Put the kettle on...". There is time.

After death, hospice will confirm it, either in person or by phone, depending on your care plan and the state rules. Once death is pronounced, the body is legally allowed to remain in the home for hours. You are not required to call the funeral home right away.

Here are some things that may happen in that space between death and removal and all of them are normal:

• The body will begin to cool
• The skin may become pale or mottled
• The jaw may relax and the mouth may open slightly
• The eyes may remain partially open
• There may be small releases of air or fluid
• The room may feel very still, emotionally and physically

You can take this time if you want it.
You can sit on the bed.
You can hold their hand.
You can wash their face, brush their hair, say prayers, talk to them, or say nothing at all.
You can open a window.
You can let the room be exactly as quiet as it needs to be.

There is no rush unless you want there to be one.

When you’re ready, hospice or the funeral home will handle the next steps. Until then, this space belongs to you, not paperwork, not timelines, not logistics.

No alarms.
No countdown.
Just the pause after a life has ended and before the world starts moving again.

If you’ve never seen this part before, that’s okay.
Most people haven’t.

02/01/2026

Every new day and every New Year is a fresh chance to begin again, reflect, and move forward with hope and gratitude.