Highland Hills Funeral Home & Cemetery
12492 Woodbine Avenue L0H 1G0 Richmond Hill, ON, Canada

Do you know the difference between a traditional funeral and A Time to Remember? Here's a FREE eBook for you on the concept of A Time to Remember. http://ow.ly/T3hv50Ek23Q

On World Health Day, Arbor Memorial appreciates all the efforts taken by the Doctors and Nurses and stands in support of building a fairer and healthier world, especially for #palliativecare. http://ow.ly/O4wr50EiOew

Did you know that there are eight million Canadians who are caring for their family and friends. Arbor Memorial recognizes the Canadian caregivers more than ever as the COVID-19 pandemic has created additional pressures with much uncertainty and unrest. This #NationalCaregiverDay, here is an interesting read for all- Caregivers in challenging times. http://ow.ly/JJpF50Ei4QE

This Easter explore how technology can support us through the stages of grief. Take a look at a few online resources that offer advanced support, connect to other people grieving, and coordinate practical and emotional support among friends. http://ow.ly/klDs50EeRrQ

Through The Royal Canadian Legion - National Headquarters long standing annual Poster and Literary Contests, Canadian school children honoured Canada’s Veterans through creative art and writing, and help perpetuate Remembrance. Take a sneak peak into some of the incredible submissions. http://ow.ly/Ewei50EdT5y

Join us for a FREE informative online seminar on April 8, 2021 and April 11, 2021, on Pre-Planning your final arrangements. Register now to receive your free Estate Planning Kit and get a chance to win an Ecobee Smart Thermostat. http://ow.ly/7bKq50EdRpn

By planning ahead, you can create unique arrangements based on your specific needs. Read now. http://ow.ly/gFm150CuOhp

Pre-planning alleviates the need for family to make uncertain decisions at a time of confusion and grief. Read more here. http://ow.ly/Ue3b50CqMaJ

Established in 1999, Highland Hills Memorial Gardens features 77 acres of immaculately manicured traditional gardens, including 3 Chinese Gardens, a Korean Garden, a Macedonian Garden, a Greek Garden, a Romanian Garden and an Armenian Garden. Two tranquil ponds also lend to the peaceful environment. Rich in cultural ornamentation, our gardens are home to one of particular interest, the Chinese Wall titled "Eternal Feature". Highland Hills is the ideal setting to honour a loved one with dignity and quiet beauty. For more information: https://bit.ly/3g04T7E

It's time to order your Winter Wreaths. Please reach out to place your order for your loved one.

Grief is a process, not an event. Here is a beautiful story from Humans of New York about how being supportive at the time of grief can truly impact someone's rest of the life. http://ow.ly/XOPH50Cog81

Whether you are celebrating virtually or in person, we wish you and your family a happy and safe Thanksgiving .. . Gobble, Gobble!

Here are a few suggestions from Dr. Bill Webster on Self Care for Caregivers: Set aside some quality time every day to look after your own needs. Try to eat regularly, even if you don’t feel hungry. Healthy foods, rather than fast food or snacks, will help to keep your system going.... Drink lots of fluids like water or juice to help prevent dehydration. Limit your caffeine intake, especially coffee, tea, chocolate or soft drinks, which may only make you feel more stressed. Try to get periods of rest and sleep. There are many strategies which can assist relaxation, but if sleep is still difficult, speak to your family doctor. Try to slow down. Take periods of time to stop, think and process your feelings in order to calm the confusion within. Try to do something for yourself everyday. Take time out to go out for a meal, see a movie, play golf, or even go for a walk or visit friends. Try not to feel guilty about taking a break from the responsibility of caring for your loved one. Let someone else take over from you for an evening or even a weekend. Work through your feelings. You may feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster, up one day and down the next. Your feelings are an expression of your inner turmoil, so let yourself feel them and try to figure out what they are teaching you. Ask for and accept other people’s offers to help. Let your employer and your co-workers know what is going on in your life. Speak to your doctor if you need to arrange for time off, or a leave of absence, or a lighter workload. Above all, give yourself constant encouragement and positive feedback. Just because you are unable to fix the problem does not mean that what you are doing is not significant and successful. You are doing your very best in an impossible situation.

Today is World Mental Health Day. It comes at a time when our lives were interrupted by COVID-19 and the challenges that it has brought to all of us. It has been an especially stressful time for anyone who has struggled with the grief of losing a loved lone during the pandemic. Although, there are restrictions in place to keep us all safe, please know that we are still here. All families that have been served by Arbor in the past or present are encouraged to take advantage... of our ArborCare Bereavement Assistance Program. Please reach out to your nearest Arbor funeral home location to request access as well as learn about additional resources that may be available to help you and your loved ones. We are in this together.

By pre-planning your final arrangements, you can determine your own budget and reduce the risk of your grieving loved ones spending more than necessary. Read more here. http://ow.ly/nCG250Ci0Ib

The following article shares 5 changes that you might go through in the ongoing cycle of grief and loss. http://ow.ly/UEs150BDymr

Just like you plan for retirement or revisit your Will, pre-planning final arrangements is an important, yet often overlooked way to ensure you’ve taken care of family. This week, we will be sharing some WHYs to preplan.

The New Normal? Written by: Laura Van Sprang, Manager at Sands Funeral Chapel Victoria This is a statement we are hearing more & more each day as time passes while trying to navigate our lives during this pandemic. Are we doing everything we can to stay safe? Are we becoming too relaxed? When will we be able to travel & visit people farther away? Families are faced with so many new ways of doing things & figuring out how to cope & find joy in this new world. How stressful of... a time for us all. During such a complicated & ever changing time there are still some things that are out of our control. Things we are unable to put off until a less already trying time, or postpone until we can have the community support we will need. I am speaking about death & losing someone you love during this time. The funeral profession has also been impacted extremely hard because of COVID and have worked around the clock to figure out ways to assist our bereaved community members who have had a significant loss during this time. Our trained funeral professionals take time with each family to ensure all their wishes are expressed & they are guided through the very difficult first days of their grief. We are still able to gather safely in smaller numbers for an intimate service and livestream to those who cannot attend. We too, are not used to masks & the distance we must keep between each other and those we want to comfort, but we are still here to support you, listen & assist. No matter what happens in the uncertain future, we want you to know that we will do everything we can to ensure you & your family are cared for when someone you love passes away. We will continue to work hard to adhere to the health guidelines and keep our buildings, teams & communities safe. We will keep finding new ways to bring the support to those in need & promise there will always be someone to answer your call if and when the time comes, no matter what the new normal looks like.

Publishing an online obituary allows a family more opportunities to share about their loved one. Photos, special moments and a life story can all be centralized in the guestbook, as well as allowing for digital condolences. It can also act as a permanent memorial that the family can revisit on occasion to re-read some of the messages left by other family members and friends. Many online guestbooks also offer the opportunity for guests to share a photo along with the condolence. Below are some tips to help you craft your message of sympathy and support.

Social Media can play an important part in the healing process in many individuals who are dealing with grief; especially during the pandemic. Annie Horton has created emerging.grief, an Instagram account aimed at providing bereavement support in an online community setting. She's shared her own stories of loss, including the death of her brother-in-law Nick Cordero. http://ow.ly/L8Kc50Cbwrt

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians remember.

October 1 is a day for all Canadians to celebrate the achievements and contributions of older adults across the country. From all of us at Arbor, we thank Canada’s seniors for all they have done and continue to do for their families and communities. Resources for Canadian Seniors : http://ow.ly/SHcu50By0jK... #NationalSeniorsDay #NationalSeniorsDay2020

Should you choose cremation or burial for your loved one or yourself? To make the right decision, the first step is to fully understand each option. Cremation is the process of incinerating a deceased body, ultimately reducing it to a granular substance referred to as cremated remains or "ashes." A casket or suitable container is still required when cremation is chosen. Burial is the act of placing the deceased into a casket which is lowered into a grave and covered with eart...h, or entombed in a crypt above ground. Factors to consider include: Personal choice: Are there positive or negative feelings about each process? Range of options: The style of permanent memorial may influence your choice. There are a wide variety of creative solutions for both burial and cremation memorials. Comparing cost: While cremation is often considered the less expensive choice, the final costs can vary depending on the options chosen. Religion or tradition: Some cultures or religions specify how the deceased is to be interred. Spouse’s wishes: When preferences differ, there are options for couples who want to be together forever. For more information, please reach out.

The New Normal? Written by: Laura Van Sprang, Manager at Sands Funeral Chapel Victoria This is a statement we are hearing more & more each day as time passes while trying to navigate our lives during this pandemic. Are we doing everything we can to stay safe? Are we becoming too relaxed? When will we be able to travel & visit people farther away? Families are faced with so many new ways of doing things & figuring out how to cope & find joy in this new world. How stressful of... a time for us all. During such a complicated & ever changing time there are still some things that are out of our control. Things we are unable to put off until a less already trying time, or postpone until we can have the community support we will need. I am speaking about death & losing someone you love during this time. The funeral profession has also been impacted extremely hard because of COVID and have worked around the clock to figure out ways to assist our bereaved community members who have had a significant loss during this time. Our trained funeral professionals take time with each family to ensure all their wishes are expressed & they are guided through the very difficult first days of their grief. We are still able to gather safely in smaller numbers for an intimate service and livestream to those who cannot attend. We too, are not used to masks & the distance we must keep between each other and those we want to comfort, but we are still here to support you, listen & assist. No matter what happens in the uncertain future, we want you to know that we will do everything we can to ensure you & your family are cared for when someone you love passes away. We will continue to work hard to adhere to the health guidelines and keep our buildings, teams & communities safe. We will keep finding new ways to bring the support to those in need & promise there will always be someone to answer your call if and when the time comes, no matter what the new normal looks like.

It is not always easy to find the right words to express how you feel when writing a condolence to a loved one. Our latest blog post offers some helpful suggestions on how to write a message of sympathy and support on an online obituary. http://ow.ly/gJbx50BxVZ7

The following article gives some helpful suggestions on how help children with the death of a loved one during the pandemic. http://ow.ly/ALKn50BtLuQ

As most pet owners share an intense love for their pets, it’s important that they’re considered in one’s end-of-life planning. Our Arbor Memorial blog post offers some helpful suggestions to help you prepare for your pet's future after your death. http://ow.ly/NX5250BuULG

Have you ever wondered why we grieve the death of someone we didn't know? The following article explains the reasons and shares ways to honor the loss. http://ow.ly/gKc950BgfLZ

Today we are sharing the final article from Dr. Bill Webster's series on handing your own grief. The final recommendation - Be good to yourself - spiritually Bereavement can shake and challenge your entire belief system. For those who have a faith in God, loss can bring a critical turning point in that faith. You may feel angry that God has not answered your prayers, and question why He has allowed this to happen.... You may wonder what is the purpose in all this. Many do not have a faith in God, yet their beliefs about life itself may be affected by the death. Life is not always fair. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. This death may have meant not only the end of the relationship but also the death of many of your hopes and dreams. The death of someone you care about can challenge some long held beliefs about the way life should be. In the days ahead you will need to work through some of these issues. Hopefully you have a spiritual advisor who understands the grieving process, accepts you as a hurting person, listens non-judgmentally to your grief questions, and assists you to find meaning. Remember, there are no easy answers. Faith enables us to accept what we may not understand. - Dr. Bill Webster

Today we are sharing the final article from Dr. Bill Webster's series on handing your own grief. The final recommendation - Be good to yourself - spiritually Bereavement can shake and challenge your entire belief system. For those who have a faith in God, loss can bring a critical turning point in that faith. You may feel angry that God has not answered your prayers, and question why He has allowed this to happen.... You may wonder what is the purpose in all this. Many do not have a faith in God, yet their beliefs about life itself may be affected by the death. Life is not always fair. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. This death may have meant not only the end of the relationship but also the death of many of your hopes and dreams. The death of someone you care about can challenge some long held beliefs about the way life should be. In the days ahead you will need to work through some of these issues. Hopefully you have a spiritual advisor who understands the grieving process, accepts you as a hurting person, listens non-judgmentally to your grief questions, and assists you to find meaning. Remember, there are no easy answers. Faith enables us to accept what we may not understand. - Dr. Bill Webster

Our latest Arbor Memorial blog offers some helpful suggestions on writing an Eulogy for a loved one. http://ow.ly/SMvg50BmlpO

Today we are sharing the sixth article from Dr. Bill Webster's series on handling your own grief. The sixth recommendation - Be good to yourself - Socially After being out of your social circle for a time, it may not be easy for you to return. You may find it surprisingly difficult to go back to work, to face friends, or to attend your place of worship. You may think that people are regarding you differently, perhaps feeling sorry for you. If you were married and are now sin...gle, others may find it difficult to relate to you now you are on your own. Such adjustments are not easy, either for you or for them. During this transition, attending a support group can help bridge the time between the loss and your return to full social involvement again. However, it is important not to shut yourself away. Social relationships are healthy, and especially so after a loss. Thus, if you are invited to a party, a wedding, or indeed any social function, go if you want. To ease the pressure, however, leave a way of escape by saying: I’d love to attend, but I’ve been going through a grieving time. If I decide not to come at the last minute, would you understand? Even after you arrive you can say: I’m happy to have been invited, but if I find I’m becoming too emotional, I know you’ll understand if I excuse myself." Friends will understand. - Dr. Bill Webster