He wanted to meet with me to get his affairs in order before the metaphorical bottom of the ninth inning. He started our chat by telling me he hated funerals but felt it was important to have some kind of “do” for the family when the time came. We talked all afternoon and to- gether came up with a plan that he felt would give his friends and family a pos- itive way to say goodbye. When the time came to say farewell to
Redefining Farewells by Bill Denning About 25 years ago, I began to see “the change” in funeral service. As a newly licensed funeral director, I was incredibly proud to get to offer the service I was schooled to provide. The problem was, not everyone wanted what I was of- fering. The casket, the pre-printed card with the praying hands and of course, the hole in the ground to accommodate the casket. We had to figure out how to change what we were doing by our listening to
Killer, we did it his way and honoured his amazing life with his music, his stories and his legacy. His greatest fans all said it was unique and positive, just like Mike. The time of change has come and funerals or “send-offs” are now the unique experience they should be. If done right, friends and family walk away from a memorial gathering feeling better connected to each other and glad they took the time to support one another. Yogi also said, “Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.”
the families we served rather than telling them, “this is the way we do it”. Gone were the days of everyone doing the same thing when it came to honouring their loved ones at the time of death. At the root of all the change was value. If there isn’t perceived value in a service, why would you pay? Too many times, I’ve heard from people who attended a funeral for someone they cared about and had to check they were in the right room for the right person. A saintly and celestial homily for a fisherman is fine, but not if fishing isn’t mentioned. People have changed how we celebrate life by creating meaning- ful ceremonies, tailored to be reflective of every life. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet one of my grand- father’s baseball heroes, Detroit Tigers’ Mike “Killer” Kilkenny.
Denning's of Strathroy 32 Metcalf St. W. Strathroy www.strathroyfuneralhome.com 519-245-1023
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Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc June 2025
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