ARTICLES

Range of articles related to death and dying topics

glowing purple crocuses against green grass.

HAPPY SPRING – Cleaning!

March 26, 2025
Spring is a season of renewal—an ideal time to refresh your important life documents. Just as you tidy your home, reviewing and updating your end-of-life plans ensures everything is current and accessible. Here’s a quick guide: 1. REVIEW YOUR WILL Major life changes—marriage, divorce, new family members, or loss of loved ones - can affect your will. Ensure it reflects your current wishes and beneficiaries.   2. REFRESH YOUR POWER OF ATTORNEY Your enduring power...
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a small red candle lights a larger candle in a small pot.

Hindu End-of-Life Beliefs and Practices

January 15, 2025
Hindu End-of-Life Beliefs and Practices As part of our series on diverse cultural beliefs and practices on death and dying, we are grateful to the Sri Sadashiva Subramaniya Swamy Temple Foundation for an enlightening article on Hinduism. For more information, visit https://www.subramaniyaswamytemple.ca/  In Hinduism, beliefs and practices surrounding the end of life are deeply rooted in the concept of reincarnation and the cycle of birth and death, known as samsara. Here are some key principles...
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Hindu End-of-Life Beliefs and Practices

Hindu End-of-Life Beliefs and Practices As part of our series on diverse cultural beliefs and practices on death and dying, we are grateful to the Sri Sadashiva Subramaniya Swamy Temple Foundation for an enlightening article on Hinduism. For more information, visit https://www.subramaniyaswamytemple.ca/  In Hinduism, beliefs and practices surrounding the end of life are deeply rooted…
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Alkaline Hydrolysis i.e. Aquamation

Alkaline Hydrolysis i.e. Aquamation Thank you to AquamationBC Coalition for this informative article on Alkaline Hydrolysis. This article re-posted from January 2023. As a member of the Memorial Society, you are likely someone who has already given some thought to your own final disposition. ‘Disposition’ is just a fancy way of saying legally caring for…
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Reflections on Deathcare Superconference 2024

Reflections on Deathcare Superconference 2024 Peter Toppings, Executive Director, Memorial Society of BC I had the opportunity to attend the Deathcare Superconference in Seattle this past September. It was organized by a number of partners, including the Funeral Consumers Alliance, the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance, and the People’s Memorial Association, Washington’s equivalent to the Memorial…
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Consumer Protection In The Funeral Industry

Consumer protection in the funeral industry We are please to share this article by BC Consumer Protection about their mandate as it relates to the funeral sector. Consumer Protection BC is a not-for-profit regulator responsible for overseeing certain industries and specific consumer transactions in the province. For example, they licence and regulate travel agencies, payday…
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At Home Deaths

In this article, we explore what happens when a death occurs at home under different circumstances. Unexpected Home Death When a death occurs suddenly and unexpectedly at home, the typical procedure is to call emergency services (9-1-1). Police and ambulance services will attend the scene. There is also the option to call BC Coroners Services…
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Green Burials

We are grateful to Nicola Finch for her enlightening article on green burials. Photo credited to ‘Cathy Valentine, Salt Spring island Natural Cemetery’   It is not going to be everyone’s choice, nor should it be. What happens to our bodies once we’re dead is personal. Conventional burial and flame cremation have been the disposition…
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