Yesterday and Today: Health Care

Caring comfort with health care in the transition of life

BY TIM LAMBRINOS

The majority of family homes in our community were built during the massive building wave of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. It was a great experience for youngsters to move into a community with brand new homes and be brought up in such a fantastic neighbourhood complimented by so many striking ravines. Attending the fine area schools, playing on area sports teams and of course being able to explore the Humber River were all magnificent and budding experiences. It is an experience that everyone should have the opportunity to have during one’s upbringing. For the writer of this article, an experience of having a rewarding childhood was bumped-up a notch since both my parents were educators and both were recognized as prominent leaders on community initiatives. There was a lot for me to live up to.

The area’s first small strip plaza was built in 1958 at Finch and Jayzel and named the Finch Main Plaza. The plaza was originally designed as a medical centre but it grew and eventually grocery giant Loblaws built and opened a supermarket.

The next plaza built was the Woodview Park Plaza near Weston Road and Bradstock. There was also a nearby medical centre built called the Woodview Medical Centre. The two medical centres initially served our community’s new families with day-to-day health care needs.

York Finch Hospital on Finch Avenue West at Oakdale Road wasn’t built until 1967 and prior to that the nearest hospital was the Humber Memorial Hospital near Jane St. and Lawrence. Like many sons and daughters before us, I learned that there comes a time that everyone must come face-to-face with a reality of life and provide help to parents in later years. Eventually, there comes a time to make use of a funeral home and a cemetery in order.

Ward Funeral Home is located at 2035 Weston Road in the old town of Weston and has been in business for 101 years. In 1914, William John Ward purchased the business from John Albert Wright. It served the town of Weston and the rural communities of Emery and Humber Summit too. The chapel at Ward’s has been a cornerstone in the community and the building was featured in Doors Open Toronto in 2013.

Ward Funeral Home continues to be progressive but maintains the Ward Family’s history of values. They have recently renovated to accommodate on site, fully catered receptions for families in Weston.

The time of a family member’s passing and the preparation for a funeral is not an easy matter for anyone to try to plan in advance for. I certainly didn’t want to even think about the thought of the death of my father while he was still alive. I merely wanted to stay inspirational and supportive and let my dad know how much he had to look forward to each and every day.

For those who knew my mother, they know quite well that she was different. She had already gone to the effort to fully arrange her own funeral years in advance, right down to the music and hymns selected. She even selected specific persons to read select passages and particular poems at her service.

We all know that hospitals are in the business of bringing babies into this world and taking care of us when we become ill. Funeral homes are there to ensure that people are being gently placed out of this world with dignity and celebrated recognition.

Eventually everyone is unhappily confronted with the death of a family member and their burial. I found out first hand that Ward’s Funeral Home had caring experience and understood all facets to make the continuation of one’s family life easier to deal with. Their gentle attentiveness and assistance helped address the many required administrative details. A good-bye ceremony need not solely be for mourning but can also serve as a celebration of one’s life and respected accomplishments, while remembering good times shared. The following is one of the passages that my mother selected to have read at her service, written by Edgar Guest, that I wanted to share this month.

MISS ME BUT LET ME GO

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little–but not too long

And not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared,

Miss me–but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone.

It’s all a part of the Master’s plan,

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart

Go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss Me–But Let me Go!