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
DEVELOPING 122 active wildfires burning across Canada, 32 considered 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
Miller scores late as Canucks grind out 3-2 win over Oilers in Game 5
J.T. Miller scored in the final minute of the game and the Vancouver Canucks came back for a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series Thursday.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
Police issue Canada-wide warrant for Regina homicide suspect
Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a man wanted in a homicide which occurred in Regina on May 12.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
Speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.