Let me share with you where I have been on my life journey, and why I am so passionate about helping others honour death and celebrate life.

At the young age of sixteen, I had already experienced three major losses, my father, my brother, and a very close friend. I was five years old when my father died and was not given the chance to attend or participate at his funeral.

This left a void in my life that took many years to understand.

Ten years later, my eighteen year old brother was killed in a tragic car accident, along with three other young men. I was shocked and numb looking at his body in the casket.

I wish there had been someone to help guide my family through this sudden loss.

The following year, I had the profound experience of attending the funeral for my close teenage friend Lee who died from cancer. She planned her own funeral. Lee asked her friends to sing in the choir, chose the songs and her favourite flowers. It was a time of great sadness. Despite the sadness, I felt comforted by the power of her presence and the legacy of her young life.

It truly was a “good funeral” and one that honoured her spirit and courage.

My experiences have taught me so much about the value of life. It is important to take time to grieve our losses. This allows us to honour and celebrate the life of a loved one. My familiarity with loss inspires me to help others.

When a life ends, we need to create a community of support for one another and hold space for the journey of healing.