A Christmas Message From Our Heart to Yours December 10, 2025

As Christmas approaches, and as we prepare for our annual Candlelight Memorial Service, I find myself moving gently through the files of the families we have served this year. I read each name slowly. I pause. I remember.

I see their faces.

I see your faces.

I remember some of the conversations we shared—the tears, the stories, the small moments of courage in rooms filled with grief.

Each name is not just a file to us. It’s a life. A love story. A family forever changed. And every time I revisit those names during this tender season, we hold each of you in our hearts once again.

Christmas has a way of stirring up all those memories—soft, beautiful, joyful ones, and the ones that tug at us a little more deeply.

When Someone You Love Isn’t Here

This season can make the absence of a loved one feel even sharper.

An empty chair at the table.

A stocking that stays in the box this year.

A favourite Christmas song that brings a lump to your throat.

These moments don’t mean grief is winning—they simply mean love is still alive within you. Real love leaves real echoes.

If you find yourself feeling the weight of those memories, I hope you’ll give yourself permission to honour them. There is no right or wrong way to grieve at Christmas. There is only your way.

Light a candle. πŸ•―οΈ
Share a story that still makes you smile. πŸ“–
Carry forward a tradition—or gently lay one down.

Whatever brings comfort is enough. πŸ™

You Are Not Walking This Season Alone

I want you to know, truly and deeply, that you are not alone in this journey.

Grief doesn’t pause for the holidays, and you shouldn’t be expected to either.

Through our work, we see the strength within families every day. We see your devotion, your courage, the way you show up for one another even when your heart is breaking. And even though the services may have passed, please know that our support and care have not.

If you feel the need to reach out—to talk, to reflect, or simply to feel heard—we are here. Walking beside you through a season that can be both beautiful and difficult all at once.

A Christmas Wish for You and Your Family

Our wish for you this Christmas is gentle and sincere. πŸ™

May you find moments of peace, even brief ones.
May your loved one’s memory wrap around you with warmth:
in a flicker of candlelight,
in a familiar scent,
in a story shared around the table.

And may hope find its way back into your heart at the pace that feels right for you.

From our heart to yours,

We wish you comfort, peace, and a Christmas season filled with the quiet, enduring love that never leaves us.

With warmth and deepest sincerity,

LauriAnne πŸŽ„on behalf of Carson Funeral Homes. 

Wishing you all a beautiful and cherished Christmas season πŸ™

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For over 35 years, Lauri-Anne Canzanese has dedicated her life to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of others as a HeartMath-certified coach, MBSR coach, and a mental health and addictions coach. She's a Funeral Director Assistant at Carson Funeral Homes.