Grieving B.C. father finds healing by building coffins to help others through loss
Philip Thompson is in the midst of an unexpected journey, powered by his perspective on one’s purpose.
“I think that problem-solving is what our whole life is about,” Philip says.
It’s why he inspired high school students to seek solutions as a design and technology teacher, and encouraged his four children to be practical and self-reliant.
“My natural way is to solve my own problems,” Philip says.
But then Philip’s life took a sudden turn after getting a call from one son about another.
“Dad, there’s no easy way to say this,” Philip recalls his son saying over the phone. “But Nathan’s died.”
Philip’s 20-year old son had died unexpectedly while living abroad.
“It shook my whole world,” Philip says.
By the time he could make it from Canada to Nathan’s funeral in England, everything had been arranged. Philip felt he had no part in planning it.
“I wish I had done more,” Philip recalls thinking. “How can I make this up to you?”
Philip struggled to find a solution for years until he found the courage to start having vulnerable conversations about grief with others, and found more than a couple members of his community had wished they’d been able to participate more fully in a funeral too.
“And I thought, ‘Yeah, I could solve that.’” Philip recalls. “I could make coffins.”
Although Philip had never built anything like a coffin before, he was a life-long woodworker.
So he consulted experts along the way and constructed his first coffin with an oak exterior and a plush interior.
“I did it with my head and my heart and my hands,” Philip says. “As fully as I would have done for my own son.”
Philip designed it with easy-to-turn screws on each corner of the lid so family members can be part of the process in a practical way, like he wished he would have with Nathan.
“I will never stop loving Nathan,” Philip says. “I will never get over a sense of loss.”
But after making three custom coffins for people he knew, and now selling this fourth with the hope of helping another family, Philip’s grief has diminished.
“I realized Nathan — you’d be really proud of this,” Philip smiles. “And son, I’d be really proud if you were really proud as well.”
Proud to know that his dad is learning to live through loss, and find healing through helping others.
“We are here to solve problems for people,” Philip says of his life’s purpose. “For the whole world.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most wanted fugitive in Canada arrested in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
The most wanted fugitive in Canada was arrested in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Tuesday night.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he does not regret calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko,' and now his MPs are renewing calls for the House of Commons Speaker to resign, this time over ordering the Official Opposition leader to leave the chamber.
How can I tell if I have norovirus? Expert explains symptoms
The highly contagious norovirus is spreading across Canada, with some symptoms overlapping with other viruses. CTVNews.ca spoke with a health expert to find out how you can tell you have norovirus, the most common form of stomach flu, and what to do if you have it.
Doctors dealing with at least 160 Canadians suffering eye damage possibly linked to looking at the eclipse
Nearly a month after the total solar eclipse, at least 160 cases of eye damage have been reported across the country.
Ontario's police watchdog continues probe of high-speed pursuit involving fatal crash
The investigation continues into a collision that killed two grandparents and their infant grandchild during a high-speed police chase on the wrong way of Highway 401 east of Toronto.
Stranded cruise passengers in Spain race to catch up with their ship
A month after eight Norwegian Cruise Line passengers were stranded in Africa when their ship left without them because they were late getting back, a U.S. couple – ages 84 and 81 – were also left behind by the cruise line in Spain.
Blair says he couldn't sell cabinet on meeting 'magical threshold' of NATO target
Defence Minister Bill Blair says he couldn't convince the Liberal cabinet that Canada's government needed to meet NATO's spending target in its recent defence policy update.
BREAKING London Drugs stores remain closed for 4th straight day after 'cybersecurity incident'
Dozens of London Drugs stores in Western Canada remained closed for the fourth straight day following a "cybersecurity incident."
No criminal charges after 4 newborn bodies found in Boston freezer
A prosecutor in Massachusetts won't seek criminal charges against anyone, two years after four newborns were found in a freezer in a South Boston apartment.