In your Time of Grief

The death of a loved one can be a
challenging time. We wish to extend to you our heartfelt condolences and a promise of prayerful assistance. As a spiritual community of care, we know how overwhelming this time can be. In the spirit of Jesus’ compassion for others, we wish to walk with you in any way we can through this time of grief and thanks giving, whatever your spiritual path or faith perspective. One of the ministers would be willing to meet with you and your family, at the earliest mutually convenient time, to support you and arrange for a memorial service or a funeral.
What is the difference between a funeral and a memorial service? At a funeral, the body is present and the cemetery committal follows the church service, therefore it is held within a few days of
the death and the funeral directors are involved. At a memorial service, the body is not present, having already been interred or cremated, therefore it is not necessary for the funeral directors to be
involved in the service and it may be held at any time, even weeks or months later.

Memorial Garden

For people who belong to Robertson-Wesley, if they have been cremated, the family may choose to place the ashes in our Memorial Garden. This is an area outside the church between the southwest entrance and the chapel wall. A small engraved plate (with the person’s name, and years of birth and death) will be placed on a memorial plaque in the chapel and some details of the person’s life may be included in the Memorial Book in the chapel. The service in the church might conclude with the committal (except in winter, when the ashes could be stored in the vault until spring). A formal agreement is signed by families choosing this option.

The Service

In the face of death, Christians proclaim that each person has been created for eternal life. Even with this hope, when a loved one dies our emotions can be mixed. We may trust in God’s promise of eternal life, but still be reluctant to say good-bye. The funeral or memorial service acknowledges this tension, reflecting the need to proclaim two stories—the story of God’s love made known through Jesus, and the story of the person who has died. Thus the memorial or funeral service celebrates the life of the person who has died, giving time to say good bye to your loved one as you support one another in this time of grief and receive support from the larger community. More than that, in the service we take time to reflect on the meaning of life, death, and life beyond death and ultimately to commend the deceased into the care of God, the Author of Life. Through the preparations, the minister will discuss the components of the service with you and your family, ensuring that the service is carefully planned.
Services are normally held in the sanctuary which has a capacity of about 600. Our smaller chapel is available for services when 40 or fewer people are expected. In support of Robertson-Wesley United Church, an all-inclusive fee is applied for a memorial or funeral service. This includes the use of the sanctuary, the services of our Music Director and an honorarium for the clergy involved. We charge additional fees for a soloist supplied by the church, a requested reception held in the church, etc. Please speak to the Office Administrator for current amounts. If your loved one has been cremated, the urn may be brought in to the sanctuary and placed on the communion table as part of an opening procession. Alternatively, it may be placed in the sanctuary prior to the service. A photo of the deceased may be placed on the communion table with the urn. When a coffin is present for the service, you may arrange for pre-service viewing in the chapel. The coffin is usually not open during or after the service. If no funeral home is involved in the service the family is responsible for providing ushers.

Reception after the service

It can be valuable for a grieving family to meet with other family members and caring friends after the service and for family and friends to take time to refresh themselves before journeying on. If you wish to have a reception at Robertson-Wesley, our Memorial Hall is a comfortable venue and our catering committee is available to help you with arrangements.  Our Office Administrator can give you the contact information for the catering group. When you call, the catering representative will discuss with you the expected number of guests, menu, and total cost based on the number of people attending the reception. We ask that payment be made before the service by cash, paypal or a cheque made payable to Robertson-Wesley United Church. A table can be provided for memorabilia, photographs, guest book, and the like. Flowers from the service may be placed on the buffet table and elsewhere in the hall. Flowers should be taken home by the family unless previous arrangements are made. Leftover food can be taken home or delivered to a social service agency like the Bissell Centre, Operation Friendship (for seniors), the Youth Emergency Shelter, or another shelter if that is the preference. The committee needs permission from you for food to be brought to one of these agencies. Please click here for more information on our Catering Group.

Remuneration

In support of Robertson-Wesley United Church, an all-inclusive fee is applied for a memorial or funeral service. This includes the use of the sanctuary, the services of our Music Director and an honorarium for the clergy involved. We charge additional fees for a soloist supplied by the church, a requested reception held in the church, etc. Please speak to the Office Administrator for current amounts.