departed pets mourned at windsor 'rainbow bridge' memorial service
windsor-essex residents mourning the loss of beloved pe...
aug 30 2024
2 minute read
tina mccool, who is mourning the loss of her 17-year-old shih-tzu, chopper, pets peach the boxer, a st. john ambulance therapy dog, during a memorial service for departed pets at windsor chapel - banwell on wednesday, aug. 28, 2024.
taylor campbell
/
win
windsor-essex residents mourning the loss of beloved pets gathered in grief this week for a solemn memorial service to honour departed animal companions.
more than 70 people attended the fourth annual rainbow bridge pet memorial service on wednesday at windsor chapel funeral home’s banwell location. many of them brought photos of cherished pets now gone from this world.
“i feel a sense of closure,” tina mccool told the star. she lost her 17-year-old shih-tzu, chopper, two months ago.
“chopper was always by my side. he slept with me, he was just my baby — it’s hard.
“to have something like this for the community, it’s amazing.”
on display at the front of the room was a “rainbow bridge,” a small wooden bridge adorned with an arch of rainbow-coloured balloons. some believe pets, upon death, go to a rainbow bridge — an other-worldly and joyous place — to be reunited with their owners in the afterlife.
on either side of the bridge at the funeral home, tall shelves were packed with images of departed pets placed by their owners and funeral home staff.
deane prior holds carino the toy poodle, a st. john ambulance therapy dog, during a memorial service for departed pets at windsor chapel – banwell on wednesday, aug. 28, 2024.
taylor campbell
/
win
therapy dogs from st. john’s ambulance were on hand to provide comfort and bring smiles to faces.
“tonight is all about coming together with that shared experience to have a one-hour memorial service where we provide time and space for folks to grieve openly, to see that they’re not alone, and to celebrate the memory of their pet,” said scott lockwood, community relations and development for arbor memorial.
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“we recognize that for many folks, their pets are not just living companions, but really in many instances, they become part of the family.”
people mourning the loss of a pet light candles during the annual rainbow bridge pet memorial service at windsor chapel – banwell on wednesday, aug. 28, 2024.
taylor campbell
/
win
as the song somewhere over the rainbow filled the room, attendees dried their eyes and consoled one another. staff walked around offering tissues to the bereaved.
words from celebrant becky ewan about the role pets play in a person’s life elicited more tears.
“we merely borrow them for just a little while,” ewan said.
scott lockwood, manager of community relations and development with arbor memorial, speaks to people mourning the loss of a pet during the annual rainbow bridge pet memorial service at windsor chapel – banwell on wednesday, aug. 28, 2024.
taylor campbell
/
win
“deep down, we always knew the journey would end before we were ready to see it end. but we give them our hearts. how could we not? it is all they ask for.
“we have all been so fortunate to receive the gift of our animal companions.”
the mourners participated in a candle-lighting ceremony and observed a moment of silence before blowing out the flames.
people mourning the loss of a pet look at photos of many pets who have died during the annual rainbow bridge pet memorial service at windsor chapel – banwell on wednesday, aug. 28, 2024.
taylor campbell
/
win
photos of departed pets are displayed during a pet memorial service at windsor chapel – banwell on wednesday, aug. 28, 2024. (taylor campbell / windsor star
taylor campbell
/
win
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