Honouring our elders: Reflections on the International Day of Older Persons

Every 1st of October, International Day of Older Persons invites us to pause for a moment. To look around us. To recognise the human richness and living memory that our elders represent.

Beyond their age, they carry within them stories, passed-down gestures, preserved traditions, and that quiet wisdom that only experience can offer.

At Marie-Soleil Phaneuf Funeral Home, this day takes on a special meaning. Because every tribute we accompany is also an opportunity to celebrate a life well lived, to honour the mark left behind, and to give thanks.

It is often said that seniors are the pillars of our families. They are also pillars of our communities. They have seen neighbourhoods evolve, raised generations, and worked to build what we now call ‘our world’.

This day is much more than a calendar marker. It is a hand extended to those who have given so much, sometimes behind the scenes, always with heart.

In a society that values performance and novelty, it is easy to forget that ageing also means continuing to live life to the full, in a different way.

Every wrinkle tells a story. Every glance conveys a kindness that no technology can replace. Our senior citizens deserve more than just polite respect: they deserve a real place in our conversations, our decisions and our rituals.

We see it every day: saying goodbye to an elder is not just closing a chapter. It is celebrating a legacy, a memory to be kept alive.

Funerals then become moments of profound gratitude and appreciation: gestures made with tenderness, carefully chosen photographs, anecdotes that bring laughter through tears.

And in this process, our role is clear: to provide compassionate support, respecting the beliefs, values and wishes of each elderly person we help to honour.

Here are a few simple things you can do today to brighten someone’s day:

• Visit a loved one at their residence or home;
• Write a thank-you letter to an elderly person who has made an impression on you;
• Organise an intergenerational activity with children;
• Pass on a recipe, photo or family heirloom with its story;
• Share a memorable moment on social media to inspire others to do the same.

And why not think about the future?

Planning funeral arrangements can also be an act of passing on. It means offering your loved ones relief in the future, while clearly affirming your values. For many seniors, it is also a way to regain control over what is often considered taboo.

Our seniors are not looking for grandiose speeches. Most of them just want to be seen, heard and considered.

International Day of Older Persons is a gentle but essential reminder: these women and men we encounter every day – or whom we have sometimes lost – are our guides, our beacons, our mentors.

And now it is up to us to keep their voices, their humour and their memories alive. With tenderness. With gratitude.
If you would like to find out more about how to honour a loved one, plan a tribute or simply ask questions, our team is always available to listen to you.