Losing a loved one isn’t easy.

Losing a loved one one isn’t easy. We get it. We’ve been there, too.

Many of us have lost a loved one, someone that we care about deeply. If we haven’t, we know at some point we will. We hope that in our time of loss, we can reach out to someone to help us through, and so Branch & Pyre was created.

We’re a place families can call when a death occurs, and be guided through one of the most difficult times of their lives, making cremation arrangements for a loved one.

We’re here to help you arrange, and will extend a compassionate approach every step of the way.

5 low-key ways to remember your loved one without having a funeral.

1. Plan a dinner with family and friends at a restaurant they would have enjoyed eating at.

2. Organize a backyard memorial and get family and friends to help out.

3. Visit a nature spot they loved and take a leisurely walk or sit for a while taking in the view.

4. Start an annual sports meet-up in their honour.

5. Light a candle and browse through old photographs alone, or with family and friends.

Not everybody wants a funeral.

At Branch & Pyre, we understand that formal, traditional funerals aren’t for everyone. When it comes to planning a memorial service or Celebration of Life, many cremation families are doing things a little differently now. They’re planning gatherings for their loved one that are a little more casual, something they can plan themselves, without getting a funeral home or funeral home staff involved. At Branch & Pyre, we can provide ideas and inspiration for a local tribute that feels right for their family and friends.

A simple and supportive way to make cremation arrangements.

At Branch & Pyre, we provide a simple and supportive way for Winnipeg families to arrange a cremation for their loved one-without visiting a funeral home. With a quick phone call to our office, and a few forms on our website, you can arrange with us easily from anywhere, at any time of day, in just minutes.

Thinking Outside the Funeral Home.

By Lee Barringer

I have seen two big changes in how Winnipeg families are now creating a more death positive culture.  One is the increasing number of families opting for a simple, direct cremation, and two, the decreasing number of families using the church or funeral home to create something meaningful.

We are now in a time, where Winnipeg families are taking back control of how their loved one is cared for, and with our growing secular society many people do not see the value in the “traditional funeral home” experience as much as they once did. Here in Manitoba our cremation rate has reached 68% and continues to grow each year.

Many of these families are choosing a simple, or direct cremation. Then creating a Celebration of Life with family and friends at a variety of different and more meaningful venues. Without the deceased present, there are no limitations to arranging something meaningful, nor do you always need a funeral director to help you do it.

Branch & Pyre Cremation Care was started to meet the needs of these changes in Winnipeg, and we offer not only a simple affordable cremation, but also a simple process with no appointments. 

We are proudly “funeral home-free” and provide Winnipeg families with an easy online experience.  A licensed funeral director is always just a phone call away, and available with help and guidance.

Branch & Pyre Cremation Care

Winnipeg’s Simple, Direct Cremation Experts

branchandpyre.com

Allow Yourself to Grieve

By Lee Barringer

Grief is a difficult journey for all of us, it is also a universal reaction we experience for having loved and been loved.  In his book “A Grief Observed” by C.S. Lewis, his first entry is “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid.”

When someone we love dies, we start recounting their story and how it helped form our own values and beliefs, we do this privately for the most part, but sometimes publicly with family and friends. Some will share these special memories in the form of a Eulogy or within the Obituary Notice.

In this time of refection, we often discover how much we are all so multi-faceted, we not only have many sides, but also many chapters within our lives. Therefore, we will always be different things to different people. A protector to some, a teacher, a lover, a confidant, or a joker. So, when we hear the tragic news of a loss, everyone is essentially mourning someone slightly different than you.

Therefore, some act of remembrance, or a time of reflection is important. As it allows each of us the opportunity to move forward through our grief, and not simply try to walk around it.

The act of remembrance and giving thanks for our loved one can be the simple act of lighting a candle and reminiscing over photo albums or posting a meaningful story to social media. It can also include planning a meaningful private, or public gathering.

There is no right or wrong way, but allow yourself to grieve, as it’s the exchange we all make for having loved and been loved. 

Branch & Pyre Cremation Care

Winnipeg’s Simple, Direct Cremation Experts

branchandpyre.com