By Kamal Bhardwaj
I have been a Licenced Funeral Director for many years. I believe it was my calling in life to help people especially in time of great need. A lot of people are not comfortable talking about funerals, especially in relation to their families or themselves, because of the taboo associated with speaking about death. But it is such an important topic that it should not be ignored especially with death being inevitable. When the time does arrive in which you are faced with a death, many people do not know what to do and have to make quick decisions in a short period of time. These decisions have to be made during highly emotional times and many people are confused.
When I speak to families I always recommend to have a Will. A Will indicates an "Executor" who is in charge of ensuring the Will is executed properly. In the case of financial institutions like a bank, having a Will and an Executor simplifies the process of closing down accounts and withdrawing funds. Without a Will you may have to get a lawyer involved and possibly be subject to costly Probate fees.
When it comes to paying for a funeral, low income people or people on disability may receive assistance from local government to pay for a funeral service and cremation.
Also, there is CPP (Canada Pension Plan) where people who have been working in Canada for years and contributing to the Plan, can receive up to $2500 reimbursement for funeral expenses.
Understanding the advantages of preplanning a funeral is very important. Preplanning takes the emotional stress away from the family at a time of grief. The main reason many Canadians preplan a funeral is because it locks in today's current cost for the funeral. Those who do not prepay are saddled with the future cost of the funeral whenever that event occurs. Funeral costs typically rise with inflation and the cost of goods as well. The cost, when prepaying a funeral, can also be spread over years to make it flexible and easy.
Many people love to travel but if an untimely death occurs while abroad it will be very costly and troublesome to arrange and bring the body back to Canada. The cost will run into several thousands of dollars. There is a $525 travel plan (one-time lifetime fee) that will cover the cost of bringing a deceased person home no matter where in the world the death occurs
Being informed is so important in making life decisions. It should be the same for when a death occurs.
I am owner and Director of Lotus Funeral and Crematorium Centre Inc, the latest Funeral Home in the Greater Toronto Area. My facilities are located at 121 City View Drive in Toronto's west end and my telephone is 647-547-8188. Please contact me for any advice or information you may need on matters pertaining to preplanning or funerals in general.

By Dennis Ramnarace
She has many appellations – daughter, sister, wife, daughter-in law, sister-in-law, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, Elsie, Rajanee, neighbor, aunty/mausi, friend and more. She, who is many things to many people has, by the blessings of God, turned 90 last week.
Our mother Rajanee, who looks tiny and a bit fragile today, is a true inspiration or her family and a tower of strength in overcoming adversity.
She came into this world on the 25th October, 1927 at Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice, the second child and eldest daughter in a family of six, comprising of three sons and three daughters. Her father, Nagessar was born in India and her mother is from the Algoo’s family in East Canje. When she wasn’t in school, she would spend her time helping her father at the market, selling goods. At age 12, on March 11, 1940 she was married to Ramnarace (James) Jura with whom she spent 67 wonderful years before he departed this life.
After marriage, she lived for a few years with her in-laws in Sheet Anchor Village before the couple moved out and opened a shop opposite her in-laws' residence. Apart from running the small shop, she had her hands full raising three young sons, Kenneth, Kennard and Dennis (this writer). Disappointment struck when the business failed, her mother passed away suddenly and she lost what would have been her first daughter.
She then used the experience she had gained while helping her father in the market to open a stand at the New Amsterdam, Berbice market.
Each day, she would rise at 4:00 am to prepare meals for the family and then be off to tend her business buying and selling vegetables and fruits at the market. Her family grew with the addition of five more children: Dave, Dato, Ano, Ricky and Deraj; then they added another child when Devika, the daughter of a first cousin joined the family after her parents passed away. Other family members pitched in to help care for the large brood while my Mom worked her business to bring home an income.
She was a most savvy business woman and very gutsy. She lived through the turbulent times of Guyana of the 1960s with its race riots, food shortages, and the fear that stalked the land. But she faced it all and took risks, growing her business as a retailer to the level of a wholesaler in order to generate a better income to maintain her growing family.
Through her industriousness, the family acquired a large grocery store and parlour which became the most popular of its kind in the East Canje area in the 1970s. With the growth of their fortunes, the family helped many poorer and less fortunate people.
In the late 1970’s, the political state of Guyana had deteriorated to such an extent that there was constant threat to life and limb of anyone who did not subscribe to the whims of the racist government in power. So the family, against its cherished desire, said goodbye to the firm foundation they had built and migrated to Canada to start a new life.
A few months after arriving here, they bought their own apartment, where they lived together until our Dad, the patriarch, passed away in 2008. Our Mom took to babysitting while Dad worked at the Airport. They both worked until retirement in their late sixties, re-built their lives and spoiled their grand-children and great-grandchildren.
Fast forward to today, our Mom primarily lives with her daughter Dato and son-in-law Bob in Mississauga. At the age of 90, she still has a full head of hair, with a few strands of grey, can still recite all her prayers in Hindi, sing her favorite Bhajans and narrate stories of old.
She has now lived the longest in the family with nine decades of Memories, 1,080 months of Happiness, 4,693 weeks of Love, 32,850 days of Wisdom, 788,400 hours of Laughter, a wonderful Husband, 9 incredible children, 20 amazing grandchildren and 34 marvelous great-grandchildren.
She is a true blessing!
A Mother holds her children’s hands for a while and their hearts forever. No gift to your mother can be ever equal to her gift to you – LIFE. Thank you very much, Mom.

Mr. Abdul Hamid (Uncle Hamida), formerly of L.B.I East Coast Demerara, Guyana will be 94 years old tomorrow, November 2nd, 2017. He was a former employee of L.B.I. sugar estate and Imam for L.B.I mosque, as well as a teacher of the Arabic language at LBI, Success and Vryheid Lust villages.
Uncle Hamida's family, friends and former students are very grateful for the impact he has had on their lives by inspiring them through his knowledge, patience, love and care.
Now residing in Toronto's Jane/Steeles area, Uncle Hamida is popularly known as "bicycle man".
He says that the key to his longevity is upholding his faith and being steadfast in his prayers. By nature, he has always been a humble personality.
On this significant milestone, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all wish him a Blessed Birthday!

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