The Stettler skies looked dark and menacing last Wednesday, July 13 but at exactly 5.30 p.m. the skies above Stettler Funeral Home filled up with multi-coloured balloons as patrons and Stettler residents let them off with messages to their loved ones.
“Our purpose is give families the opportunity to come, join with others sharing their grief and to send a personal message heaven bound to their loved ones,” said Dean Ross, owner of Stettler Funeral Home. “There were 125 people and staff present for the event and they released 180 balloons, and this year also marks our 20th anniversary of the opening of our funeral home.”
Spanning different generations, both old and young came together for the occasion and had supper and helped each other fill up the balloons and write messages.
“It is a very emotional event and we as staff also grieve for the families we serve and we also remember our loved ones who we have lost in our own families,” added Ross. “Some families come back every year and tell us how warm it makes them feel, it gives people a chance to publicly grieve and we hope that it heals those that need comfort.”
According to Ross, when people come together to support each other, knowing that all those present have lost someone, they feel it is more comforting to be here, where they all share something in common.
“By using balloons to send messages to mom, dad, grandma or grandpa, it gives children something visual and tangible through which their love and message is being carried to the heavens,” said Ross. “We would love to thank all of the community that came out to our annual event and we would like to thank Q93.3 for their gift of tickets to the Badland’s Passion Play.”
Stettler Funeral Home hosts two events for the community during the year, one being the Colour My Memories in July and the other is Tinsel N Tears in the month of December.