Belvedere Funeral Home

Obituary for Barbara Mary Theresa Flood | June 19, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Five death rituals to give you a new view on funerals Every culture has a different death ritual – some involving levels of intimacy that would be unthinkable to people in the West. Here are just five of them

Obituary for Edward Murray | June 17, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Mary Waddell | June 17, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Funeral Services
Sometimes Adapting and Pivoting is Required

As the service unfolds, there are many elements of it that fall into place. These are coordinated behind the scenes. Clergy and laypersons are scheduled, food is planned for the reception afterwards. Transportation is tended to, as required. Facilities are prepared with mementos of the loved one on display. There are many behind the scenes on goings.

And sometimes, these well laid out plans don’t progress as anticipated. Perhaps a close relative experiences car problems on the way to the service, maybe someone is having a hard time saying their goodbyes. Perhaps the internet is down, which may have a trickle-down effect on aspects of the service. Maybe clergy has laryngitis. There are many moving parts to a service.

Behind the scenes, we are watching and monitoring to ensure a smooth flow through the service. Sometimes we make small revisions and adjustments, which the general public is unaware of. Yes, there are times we pivot.

From our experience, we understand that not every aspect of the service will unfold exactly as desired and in the anticipated timeframe. This understanding helps us address issues, well before the service, when we first meet to discuss details of the order of service with next of kin. Our experience helps us to suggest the best ways for a service to proceed. We know what works well and what doesn’t.

The vast majority of services take place with no issues. That said, sometimes challenges present themselves. Rest assured, we are here, behind the scenes, ready to adapt and pivot if needed.

© Belvedere Funeral Home/CFHC Online

Obituary for Jean Raymond | June 15, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Happy Father’s Day

Our team at Belvedere Funeral Home hope that today brings happiness and joy to all fathers. Your kindness and dedication have made a meaningful impact on our lives which we appreciate each and every day.
To our fathers who are no longer with us, your support and encouragement will always be a source of inspiration.

Dad, wherever you are, you are gone but you will never be forgotten.

Obituary for Marjorie MacLauchlan | June 15, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Roma Ewles | June 7, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Memorial Items for Men Growing in Popularity

Memorial items such as jewelry and keepsakes were once believed to be more suited to women. That has all changed in recent years with the addition of memorial items designed and created specifically for men.

Keepsake memorial manufacturer Eternity’s Touch offers a selection of personal memorial items including golf divot tools, key chains, pocket knives, guitars picks, Zippo lighters and money clips. All can be customized with a loved one’s name, fingerprint or signature while some can even include a loved one’s profile image. In addition to these mementos, a variety of pendants and keepsake urns are available which hold a small amount of cremated remains. Many families have selected keepsakes not only as a personal item, but also as a gift for another family member.

Memorial items can be ordered conveniently through our funeral home. Modern-day technologies allow for the capture of biometric data, such as fingerprints of a loved one, creating a truly unique memento.

Whether remembering dad, mom or another family member, memorial keepsakes allow us to keep our loved ones close for many years to come.

Please contact us for more information about these memorial products and how these personalized items can be designed and ordered.

© Belvedere Funeral Home/CFHC Online

Obituary for Irene (Gail) MacLeod | June 10, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Kevin McKeigan | June 9, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Donalda Kenny | June 8, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Pet Cemeteries: A Lasting Tribute to Our Furry Friends

Pets are part of our family and are part of our emotional and physical well-being. They are our best friends and when they die, they leave a huge hole in our homes and in our hearts. What happens next? Deciding what to do with a fur baby’s remains is a decision many have to face. Do you just leave them with your veterinarian to dispose of? Do you choose cremation and scatter their remains in a favourite park? Perhaps you decide to dig a hole in the backyard? But what happens when you move and have to leave your pet behind?

For those looking for a secure, peaceful and permanent final resting place, a pet cemetery might be the perfect choice. This becomes a place to visit, if you wish, and a marker can be placed to locate where they are and honour the relationship that was shared.

Historically, humans have long buried their animal friends. The ancient Egyptians mummified their cats, believing them to be deities. The oldest pet cemetery on record, located in a seaport on the Red Sea, is believed to date back to the first or second century. In Siberia, evidence of dogs having been buried alongside their human owners dates back 8,000 years.

Most cemeteries do not allow pets to be buried where humans are buried, thought attitudes towards this are changing. Hence, pet cemeteries are, for many, an ideal disposition solution. There are many such pet cemeteries across our country, located near many larger metropolitan areas. Often these gated, parklike properties provide several options, from private or communal plots to locations to place an urn of a beloved pet. Most importantly, pet cemeteries provide peace of mind; they become a place where you can visit time and time again, in much the same way we would visit a beloved family member.

© Belvedere Funeral Home/CFHC Online

Obituary for Donald (Don) Brander | June 9, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Kenneth (KEN) Gillis | June 7, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Requiem for my Loved One

The music that is played at a service needs to have special meaning. It may be about the relationships that have been shared or perhaps a special piece of music that was, in some special way, significant to a loved one.

What is chosen can come from any musical genre: classical, pop, rock, country music or some other category. Perhaps live music is played or recorded music is inserted into the service at key moments. Images of a loved one are often shown as this music is played. It’s important that whatever is decided on honours their memory and is a reflection of who they were or what they liked.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines requiem as: a musical setting of the mass for the dead or a musical composition in honor of the dead. What single piece of music truly defines their essence? Is there a selection of songs or hymns that will create the perfect tone for the service.

We’ve supported many families who have been tasked with making service arrangements, and their decisions reflect a broad range of music. Every aspect of a service is meaningful and music is sure to strike at the emotional chords of many who attend.

© Belvedere Funeral Home/CFHC Online

Obituary for Robyn Crane | February 25, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Beverly (Bev) Brown | June 4, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Shirley Jordan | June 4, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Sandra MacKinnon | June 3, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Carol Larter | June 3, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Grief and Dealing with Self-Pity

Grief is as unique a journey as you are a unique individual. Whatever you are feeling is okay. Suffering a significant loss will trigger emotions that you never thought were possible. You may have lived your life as a grateful person and now you are feeling sorry for yourself because of the life changing loss you now face.

Self-pity is a normal initial response expressed by many who grieve. As someone begins their grief journey, this is not the time to be self-critical.

At a physical level, know that over time, there will be a gradual shift in your body chemistry that will allow you to enter into a new normal, so trust that you have the capacity to move forward.

Some who grieve may have to create their own path forward. Practicing gratitude for the small things is one strategy to help them in their journey. As one griever put it, I forced myself to step outdoors once a day and look at the sky. Baby steps. Playing favorite music or watching comedy are known to help a griever shift away from negative self-thinking.

If you are a person with a tendency to normally stay in a state of self-pity, the move toward being better able to cope and embracing gratitude may be more difficult for you, but … this is a choice only you can make. If stuck in a cycle of perpetual self-pity, counseling may be needed to assist you in exploring how to journey towards finding joy.

Bertha Brannen
Bereavement Group Leader

© Belvedere Funeral Home/CFHC Online

Obituary for Lorraine Wheatley | May 28, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Jarvis Mill | May 31, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Muriel Demers | May 30, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Obituary for Rita Murray | May 27, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Share memories & support the family

Canada’s Peacekeeping Monument, The Reconciliation

Located in the ByWard Market in downtown Ottawa, the Peacekeeping Monument is a unique tribute to all Canadians who have served as peacekeepers, both living and dead. Through its artistic renderings and the words etched in stone, the monument tells a story of which every Canadian should be proud.

Former prime minister Lester B. Pearson played a key role is establishing the United Nations peacekeeping force during the Suez Crisis. He was recognized for his efforts with a Noble Peace Prize in 1957 and he was instrumental in solidifying Canada’s role in future global peace missions. More than 125,000 Canadians have served as peacekeepers on international missions, contributing approximately 10 per cent of the UN peacekeeping forces. In the pursuit of preventing violence and reducing civilian and battlefield deaths, approximately 130 Canadians have died during operations.

In 1988, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to all United Nations’ peacekeepers. In response, the Department of National Defence and the National Capital Commission unveiled Canada’s peacekeeping monument, aptly named The Reconciliation, in 1992. The monument depicts three Canadian Armed Forces personnel, two men and one woman, standing on two sharp edges of stone, cutting through the rubble. Behind them lies the debris of war, while ahead is the promise of peace.

A focal point of attention on International Day of UN Peacekeepers, the monument stands as a lasting tribute to all those seeking peace.

© Belvedere Funeral Home/CFHC Online