Cremation by Denning's
234 Queen Street N7M 2H1 Chatham, ON, Canada

This evening and tomorrow morning Denning's of Lambton-Middlesex in Strathroy are so happy to be able to host Dr. Alan Wolfelt, world-renowned grief therapist, counsellor and author in two inspiring workshops. We invite you to attend our free event this evening (Wednesday, November 20th) about Hope and Healing at the Strathroy East Christian Reformed Church from 7pm-9pm (Doors open at 6pm). Whether you have suffered loss in the last year, a decade or many decades ago or are p...reparing for a loss in the future, Dr. Wolfelt will undoubtedly bring you comfort. Tomorrow (Thursday, November 21st) Dr. Wolfelt will be speaking about the Art of Companioning at Denning's of Strathroy from 9am-Noon (Doors open at 8:30am). Companioning is about being present to another person's pain; is it not about taking away the pain. This certificate earning workshop will help you enhance your knowledge and skills related to supporting people experiencing grief and loss. Learn how mourning is a necessary journey of the heart and soul. For tickets, please visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-art-of-companioning-the-mou Please consider attending these events. Follow the link below for details. https://strathroyfuneralhome.com/1344/Events.html

Next week on Wednesday, November 20 and Thursday, November 21 Denning's of Lambton-Middlesex in Strathroy is looking forward to hosting Dr Alan Wolfelt on at 2 inspiring workshops. For more information, please visit, https://strathroyfuneralhome.com/1344/Events.html

Today and every day, we are thankful for those who served and sacrificed for our freedom and country. We are grateful for their bravery and will always honour it.

Old enough to love. Old enough to mourn. A few months ago, our family was blessed with 4 new farm kittens. These kittens instantly brought joy to our family as we watched them grow. Our 5-year-old son named the little orange and white kitten Jakey and they quickly formed a powerful connection. He would become full of smiles and giggles whenever Jakey would follow him to the bus in the morning. They became best buddies as he pushed Jakey around in his big trucks and shared sto...ries about the day. Sadly, yesterday, Jakey passed away. When I heard this news, as a mom, my first instinct was to protect my child. To shield him from the pain he was going to feel from this loss. I also wondered since he is so young would he be able to understand what grief is. I reconsidered that perhaps acknowledging Jakey’s death could allow my son to mourn and heal properly. As much as I knew I had to tell him the truth, I had no idea how to do it. That is when I reached out to Jill at Denning’s. She comforted me and spoke to me about how to be of support when I told him about his beloved furry friend. She also gave me a colouring book about grief, healing and pet loss written by Dr Alan Wolfelt. Having these tools, my husband and I were encouraged to have this hard conversation with our child. He cried. He asked questions. He smiled. He mourned. Yes, it would have been easier to lie and to shield him from this pain. However, because he was able to be apart of Jakey’s death, he began to understand death, grief and healing in his own wonderful 5-year-old way. The journey towards healing after a loss can be overwhelming without support. At Cremation by Denning's, we understand this, and that is why we have invited Dr Wolfelt from the Center For Loss to speak to our community at two workshops about grief in Strathroy on November 20 & 21. I will always be grateful for Jakey and the beautiful gift of hope and healing he gave my son. For more information, please visit, https://strathroyfuneralhome.com/1344/Events.html By Jessica Rombouts

Have fun dressing up, getting candy and spending time with your loved ones this Halloween.

This Thanksgiving's weekend, we are remembering to be grateful, spend time with our family and friends, and counting all of our blessings. From everyone at Chatham Kent Cremation, we wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The Song has Ended (But the Melody Lingers on) A few years ago, my friend Ashley’s daughter died. Brianna had health challenges essentially her whole 12 years that made it impossible for her to live a full life. My friend was super mom. She made sure that her daughter had everything she needed and most importantly, was loved. Like any parent, when our kids are born we dream of what they will do and where they will go, never expecting that they wouldn’t get the chance to g...Continue reading

Denning's is hosting 2 inspiring workshops to offer support, hope and healing with Dr. Wolfelt of Center For Loss. Our FREE workshop on November 20, 2019, is an evening of hope and healing for anyone who is now facing the difficult, but important, need to mourn. This compassionate program will outline some practical touchstones that can assist you as you mourn the death of someone in your life. Our certificate-earning workshop on November 21, 2019 will help to enhance your k...nowledge and skills related to supporting people experiencing grief and loss. This will be helpful to anyone who wants to learn more about essential caregiving principles while caring for grieving persons. For more info and to register for either or both these events, please visit https://strathroyfuneralhome.com/1344/Events.html

Thank you Rotary Club of Chatham! It was an honour to share my story of the history and evolution of the Undertaker. If you have a service club or group looking for a guest speaker, let us know! We would love to join you! ... This short presentation includes photos from the horse drawn hearse days and tales of how our traditions were born and how and why they have changed.

Funeral Directions by Bill Denning A transition that matters The first time I visited a residential hospice was in 2012 when my friend’s wife Alice died. I knew of her illness and I also knew that my friend had been travelling over an hour every day to be with her. Bill talked about this hospice as an amazing place that provided a homelike setting for family and friends to feel comfortable while they cherished their last bit of time with their loved one.... When I walked in the front door to do my sacred duty, I knew things were going to be different. I wasn’t ushered to the back door or looked upon as an inconvenience to the workings of the day like I had at some others places of care. I was welcomed. I was invited to lead this transition of care with the hospice team who had spent the past month connecting deeply with my friend’s family. The family was invited to bear witness to what I do and we all had a role in the transition of care from the hospice to my family funeral home. My friend and I talked about this moment for years to come and how it accomplished so much. His family felt their matriarch was loved by the people caring for her and they felt like they had witnessed the handing of the baton to the next set of caregivers. Since that experience, there have been more hospices built and many more visits by our funeral staff to do what we do. Many hospitals and nursing homes have embraced this family-centered movement and it shows. After caring for someone for many years, it just doesn’t seem right to turn your back on them at the end. These compassionate caregivers invite families to be a part of these moments and walk with them through the beginning of the grief journey. In the presence of the one who has died and the family who loved them, we are given permission to carry the torch. As a society, we are changing. No longer are we denying death, ignoring it or brushing it into the corner. We now mark death by celebrating life. My friend Bill has since died but he never forgot how that hospice allowed him and his family to be a presence at that moment of transition. I am proud that we have done our small part to bring this subject back into the light.

Fingerprints. As unique as you. For a number of years now we have been offering our families the ability to select custom one of a kind keepsakes with fingerprint engraving. We are fortunate to have a company locally in Chatham-Kent who we work with called Eternity's Touch. Pendants, keepsakes even images for tattoos are available through Chatham-Kent Cremation. Message or call if you would like any more information.

When you want simplicity. That's when you call us. We are the most affordable cremation service in Chatham-Kent. Call or message us to inquire about how easy it is to pre-plan your wishes so your family doesn't have to.... Appointments available wherever you are most comfortable. 519 352-4166