Park Memorial Funeral Homes | Edmonton and area, AB
9709 - 111 Avenue T5G 0B2 Edmonton, AB, Canada

In light of today’s announcements regarding changes to restrictions on gatherings, Park Memorial funeral services and ceremonies will be limited to 10 guests. This number does include clergy but does not include members of our staff team. Guests who are not part of the same household will be required to maintain a distance of 2 metres / 6 feet from one another. Receptions are not able to be held at this time. These measures are in effect for at least the next three weeks. The... safety of the families that we serve, our staff team, and our community at large continue to be our highest priority. We empathize with our bereaved families at the impact that these restrictions have on their ability to mourn and grieve together, as well as to receive the hugs and comfort of family and friends. One of the ways that we are helping to connect our families with the support of their loved ones is through our live-streaming services which remain complimentary through the pandemic. We know that nothing replaces a hug, but we have seen and experienced that connection is still possible via the gift of technology. See more

When we have a friend or loved one walking loss and grief, it feels impossible to be able to bring any kind of comfort. This post and video share some practical ways and why's of how to support the grieving. Thank you, Refuge In Grief for sharing this wisdom.

November 12, 2020 Covid-19 update on funeral restrictions: Effective November 13th, funeral ceremonies in Edmonton and all areas of the province that are in a "watch" mode, meaning they are under enhanced covid measures, are to be restricted to 50 people. This includes services in our Edmonton chapel, tas well as all graveside services. Funerals held in faith-based venues are being restricted to 1/3 capacity of that specific venue. We understand that this brings additional d...ifficulties for many families. We will continue to offer live-streaming at no charge to help bring connection to those wanting to support their family and friends who have lost a loved one. We are available to answer your questions at any time. Please see the link below for more specific information on the new restrictions. https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx

Snow. Wind. Cold. Alone. Fighting for our freedom. We honour and remember the fallen men and women whose lives were the price of our freedom. We honour their families and their loved ones whose sacrifice is still felt in their grief today, tomorrow, and always. We honour the men and women whose battles for our freedom and safety caused them to pay the ultimate sacrifice at the hand of mental illness and ptsd. And we hold their families and loved ones as they grieve.... To those who are serving at home and abroad for our safety... we salute you with our proudly flying Canada flag and our utmost gratitude. #parkmemorialcares #CanadaRemembers

We were honoured to have a sweet puppy dog at one of our services today. The person whose life was being honoured was his ‘person’... and he’s been very aware and anxious as she has been absent. He needed to say his good-byes, too There are times when having a pet present for a farewell ceremony brings added comfort and personalization - both for the guests as well as the pet. Our team can talk you through the circumstances that you will need to consider if this is of int...erest to your family. This article from Frazer Consultants, LLC is a great place to start... https://frazerconsultants.com//pets-and-funerals-a-guide-/

Language, faith, & traditions may differ, but we all speak love, loss, & grief... #ParkMemorialCares

If you missed the Facebook Live stream of the Speaking Grief documentary, you can now stream it on demand at speakinggrief.org. Never has there been a time when grief has been so universal, and when talking about grief has been so important.

Out of an abundance of caution and care for the families that we serve, our staff team, and our community at large, Park Memorial has temporarily adjusted the capacity of all ceremonies that take place in our Edmonton chapel to a maximum of 75 people. This change is effective immediately. Safety continues to be our priority as we move through the pandemic together.

For those who are grieving, the Thanksgiving holiday that lies ahead can be filled with dread, pain, and denial instead of being filled with a thankful heart. The pain of grief tends to rob us of our gratitude, and the glaringly empty space at the family table certainly doesn't help. Does this resonate? The tricky thing is... gratitude has been scientifically proven to have positive effects on grief and anxiety. The giving - and receiving - of gratitude release serotonin and ...dopamine, two powerful neurotransmitters that influence our hormones to make us feel instantly 'good'. But how to create gratitude in one's grieving heart? Kindness. Showing kindness to others begets both the giving and receiving of gratitude. There is NO SHORTAGE of people in need of small acts of kindness in our world; seeing their need simply requires looking outward away from our own grief and pain to see theirs. Something as simple as leaving a note on a colleague's desk... raking the neighbour's leaves (bonus serotonin from the exercise!)... or leaving a card of encouragement for a senior neighbour or relative can help rewire your brain to feel more happiness and lessen grief and anxiety. Kindness is a superpower. Wear its cape to help heal your heart. #KindnessMatters #ParkMemorialCares #KindnessIsASuperpower #Thanksgiving2020

Flowers are a traditional expression of compassion, sympathy, and respect at a funeral. Often there are multiple floral arrangements on display: the ones chosen by the family of the deceased as well as the ones sent by friends and family. Many families opt to keep a few flowers, particularly from the casket spray, as keepsakes. Some families wish to take their funeral flowers home to enjoy in the days following the funeral, and others choose not to do so. Sometimes flowers ca...n be an emotional trigger after the loss of a loved one. There is a meaningful option for families who wish that their loved one's funeral flowers are repurposed to bring joy to others. A local organization, https://www.stemsfromtheheart.org/, will pick up your flowers from our funeral home, then reconfigure and deliver them to brighten the days of those in senior's facilities and to charitable organizations. To use this service, simply let your funeral director know at the time of making arrangements. https://www.facebook.com/StemsfromtheHeartedmonton #ParkMemorialCares #floralarrangement #DonatingFlowers

We gather today not because Dad died, but because he lived. This quote was part of a daughter’s opening welcome at her father’s celebration of life at which our team had the privilege to serve. It serves as a gentle reminder that funeral ceremonies aren’t meant for those who have died, but rather for those left behind to remember, mourn, and grieve. And that we gather when someone dies to mourn together and find meaning in the loved one’s life through the sharing of stories... and memories. There is sometimes a perception that planning a funeral ceremony is a burden on those left to do so. While the planning process is definitely riddled with a range of emotions to feel and decisions to be made, it also allows for those mourning the loss to connect and remember together - which often brings comfort amidst the pain. If you have been thinking that you wish that no service or ceremony be held in your memory when you die so that you aren’t burdening your loved ones, perhaps consider that doing so might instead be the gift of comfort and healing for those who love you.

9/11. It was a day that changed our world. Those of us who were alive on September 11, 2001 will never forget where we were when we heard the news that the twin towers in New York had been hit by terrorist airplanes and had fallen with thousands of souls inside and below. And that a terrorist-hijacked plane had landed in a field in Philadelphia, its goal of hitting the Pentagon foiled by the passengers on board. It started like any other day: moms, dads, uncles, aunties, gran...dpas, grandmas, and friends making their way to work for the day. Some stopped for coffee, others got caught in that dreaded morning rush-hour traffic and later that morning their world went sideways. As people rushed down the stairwells of the world trade centre towers, men and women who took their roles to serve and protect to the highest level made their way up the stairs to rescue as many souls as they could before losing their own lives. A normal, every day flight carrying normal, every day passengers flown by a terrorist crew became a threat to the safety of thousands. But these normal, every day passengers stepped up and with the words Let’s Roll they sacrificed their own lives to save the lives of countless strangers. Not all heroes wear capes. Our flag flies at half mast today as we remember those who lost their lives on that dark day. As we hold their grieving families and friends in our hearts. As we honour the funeral professionals who cared for the fallen and their families, doing their best to provide compassion and professional service in the midst of such trauma and fear. And to the resilience of those for whom each day since has required their highest efforts to recreate a semblance of normalcy. We will never forget. #ParkMemorialCares

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. It is estimated that in Canada 10 people die by suicide every day. Over 500 of those per year are from our Edmonton and area community. Prevention is dependent on awareness, conversation, and a willingness to connect and ask those hard questions: Are you doing ok?... You seem to be very burdened right now. Can we talk about that? I don’t see the same enjoyment of life in your world as of late. Can I check in on that with you? And then listening... not with advice or judgement... but with compassion and grace. One of our #FindingGraceInGrief facilitators, Kristy Wolfe Photography is sharing her family’s #SuicideSurvivors story in hopes that others may not travel the same road as her Dad did when he died by suicide in 2015. If you or someone you know is battling thoughts of suicide, you can find support at 1-800-SUICIDE.

#BackToSchool can be a blazing reminder of wishes and dreams that will never be fulfilled for parents who have walked through pregnancy, infant, and child loss. If you know someone on this lonely and painful road, consider reaching out to them with some comfort this week. Speak their child’s name. Give them space to grieve, wish, and remember. #ParkMemorialCares #ChildLoss #InfantLoss #PregnancyLoss #childlossawareness

Our hearts are with all of the students, parents, educators, and support staff who are walking into this very different school year this week in the best way that they can... may we all show and share some grace and hope for better days ahead. We all just need to put a little extra love in our hearts... #ParkMemorialCares ... https://youtu.be/S3J_3mcOwdQ

Corona may have divided us... it has caused so many restrictions to how bereaved families could mourn and grieve. Restricted funeral attendance, restricted hugs and contact - and an even bigger need for connection. Park Memorial shifted in answer, offering complimentary live-streaming of funeral ceremonies to our families during the pandemic. And something positive happened amidst the crisis: friends and family from across the globe could 'attend' services here in Edmonton an...d area that they would have otherwise been unable to attend. Hugs are virtual, but connection is real. Since the world came to a stop in March 2020, Park Memorial has live-streamed 145 services for our families, and those services have been viewed a total of 26, 652 times. We are learning new skills to offer bereaved families options for connection during Corona because we understand that what grieving families need most is connection, compassion, and the ability to mourn together, no matter the miles nor the circumstances that divide. #parkmemorialcares #COVID19 #pandemic2020 #connectionsmatter #yeggrief #livestreaming

Personalization is something that our team encourages and facilitates when assisting bereaved families in all areas of planning a ceremony to honour their loved one: obituary, eulogy, service, and reception. A family that we served ended the obituary with "In memory of ................., please be kind to someone. Call a friend or a relative that you have not reached out to recently. Forgive someone. All acts of kindness are appreciated" where normally instructions for flower...s or memorial donations might traditionally be. What a beautiful tribute... #ParkMemorialCares #KindnessMatters #FuneralPersonalization

If you have ever driven by Park Memorial and noticed our flag flying at half mast, you may have wondered about the reason for it. Here are some of the reasons why you might see our flag at half mast: 1. We have a veteran, a retired first responder, or a member killed in the line of duty in our care 2. We are paying our respects following a community (or global community) tragedy 3. We always fly at half mast on Remembrance Day ... 4. Our flag was lowered in October, 2017 when our Park Memorial patriarch and President, Jerry Smolyk passed away See more

As more families decide to bring their palliative loved ones home from hospital and care centres because of COVID-19, there is one very important document that many people aren’t aware of. There is an Alberta Health Services ‘Expected Death in the Home’ form that the palliative care physician can fill out to assist families in this circumstance. Normally when there is a death in the home, the police must be notified, and the deceased may be released into the care of the Medic...al Examiner’s Office instead of into the care of the funeral home. This can lead to extra stress following the death, as well as potential funeral delays. Having this document allows for the time following the death to be filled with less disruption, less uniformed strangers in attendance, and more control to make choices regarding the time that is spent with their loved one. If you have further questions, please contact Park Memorial and ask to speak with a funeral director.

We amended our website's COVID-19 Update today regarding the City of Edmonton Bylaw coming into effect on August 1 mandating the use of masks by all individuals in indoor public spaces and how it affects the families that we serve. To fully understand how this affects families being served by our Park Memorial team, please visit: https://www.parkmemorial.com/Covid-19_Updates_1619424.html