By Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
Nolan C. Adam was only eight years old when his life changed forever. And it had nothing to do with fate.
He was walking downtown with his father, a funeral director, when this little old lady crossed the street and thanked him for planning the wonderful service for her husband who recently passed away.
This lady had mobility issues, so crossing that street in Manitoba was no easy task for her.
“I remember that very vividly,” Adam said. “I wanted to feel like that too . . . I wanted to be like my dad.”
Today, Adam is a third generation funeral director, partner and general manager of Providence Funeral Homes & Crematorium, which recently acquired Graham Funeral Home in Oliver.
“I’ve always wanted to become a funeral director,” he noted. And his father didn’t wait long before introducing him to the business.
“At 16, my dad said I earned my first suit, and handed me the car keys and a cell phone.”
So when the phone rang in the middle of the night, he answered it and went to work, which gave him a great sense of pride.
“It feels good to help people. I felt that at age 8.”
Adam grew up in a small town where everyone was a friend, neighbour or relative.
He learned about respect and compassion at a very young age, particularly for people who had lost their loved ones.
Adam has seen many changes in the industry after 21 years. Perhaps one of the most refreshing is the celebration of life events that bring entire families together like a reunion, where it’s okay to cry and laugh at the same time.
“We help people through that grieving,” Adam said.
Services can range from small, traditional ceremonies to large gatherings with slide shows that make a lasting tribute to loved ones.
Advance planning advisor Karen Block said Graham is very flexible in meeting people’s needs. She noted the importance of pre-planning a funeral in order to give peace of mind to the family, particularly the children.
“Our goal is to make it easier,” she said, noting that every detail is covered to offer that peace of mind, not just before but after your loved one’s passing.
Adam said what seems to stress families the most is the paperwork. He noted that Graham offers guidance on dealing with Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Revenue Canada, life insurance policies, tax credits and Veterans Affairs. They even help you with applying for Canadian survivors benefits.
Adam said he and his wife Abigail and their two children, Emma and Noah, are looking forward to getting to know the Oliver community.
Graham Funeral Home will be hosting an open house with refreshments on February 1 from 1-3 pm.
For more information call 250-498-3833.
