Mattatall
PO Box 751, 55 Young St. B2N 5E8 Truro, NS, Canada

Carving a Name I wrote my name upon the sand, And trusted it would stand for aye; But, soon, alas! the refluent sea... Had washed my feeble lines away. I carved my name upon the wood, And, after years, returned again; I missed the shadow of the tree That stretched of old upon the plain. To solid marble next, my name I gave as a perpetual trust; An earthquake rent it to its base, And now it lies, o'erlaid with dust. All these have failed. In wiser mood I turn and ask myself, "What then?" If I would have my name endure, I'll write it on the hearts of men, In characters of living light, Of kindly deeds and actions wrought. And these, beyond the touch of time, Shall live immortal as my thought. By Horatio Alger, Jr. January 13, 1832 - July 18, 1899

Minimizing What my Family has to Take Care of Surviving family members must tend to many matters when a spouse, parent, sibling or child dies. This is a difficult time, and regrettably these responsibilities require immediate action, regardless of the emotional state of surviving family members. This is one of the reasons, planning in advance makes so much sense. Many decisions can be made beforehand, and subsequently, next of kin no longer needs to start from scratch when t...ending to the tasks that are associated with the passing of a loved one. Many checklists indicate that between 50 and 100 responsibilities, tasks and decisions need to be made. Sometimes not all survivors agree on a course of action and this can lead to conflict at what already is an emotional time. Lessen the burden on your family. We can help. Please contact us if you wish information on what decisions you can make today. Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

Good Grief: A Comedy about Loss and Being Bad at It Stand-up comic Glen Tickle loses his brother unexpectedly in an automobile accident. Despite considerable experience delivering monologues to audiences on a variety of subjects, the idea of talking about his brother in the past tense is something he struggles with. That being said, Glen’s given talent as a stand-up comic naturally leads him to writing and presenting a comedy tribute to honour his brother. ... Tastefully presented, this sketch touches on many of the awkward moments those who grieve encounter. Audience members have commented to Mr. Tickle that attending his show has helped them in their personal journeys with grief. Sometimes we need to lighten up a situation. Sometimes, when we grieve, we need a reprieve and humour can be a great tool. Glen Tickle’s Good Grief reflects on both personal and societal experiences: My brother was always cooler than me If you send a condolence text, make sure to leave your name If you’ve experienced loss and are looking for some lighter entertainment, Good Grief navigates both the thoughts and emotions of someone who is grieving and presents them in a humourous, yet respectful manner. It’s sure to touch on topics that a griever can personally identify with and will remind the griever that they are not alone in the way they choose to react to their loss. Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Every October the pink ribbon calls awareness to the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. The month also honors those in the fight, and those that have lost the fight against the disease. The research into breast cancer is very in-depth and has yielded progressive testing and monitoring processes. For example, biomarkers like genes and DNA can be measured in body fluids and help predict a prognosis and determine a course of treat...ment. A MammaPrint test assesses the activity of 70 breast cancer genes and helps identify early stage and low-recurrence breast cancers. Radioactive seed localization helps target suspect areas that cannot be felt in the breast. These are just a few of the innovations used in the fight against breast cancer. Awareness and donations help fuel ongoing research, with the hopes that one day our celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month will become about how we finally wiped out the disease. To learn more, visit www.cancer.ca. Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home/CFHC Online