Furry Sympathy: Aunt Bea the Comfort Dog

For those navigating the darkness of grief, Aunt Bea offers the warm snuggle of a caring canine to help them heal

Aunt Bea at the Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery. Courtesy of Linda Darby-Dowers

Dogs have the innate ability to lift our spirits, but it takes a truly warm and caring disposition to help people through some of life’s darkest moments, and do it on an ongoing basis. One such pup is a 4-year-old mini goldendoodle named Aunt Bea.

“My family and I own several funeral homes and manufacture products for the industry,” said owner Linda Darby-Dowers, CEO of Sunset Funeral Homes in Danville, Illinois. “We understand our place of business is not one where people want to come, so we need to do our part to help them heal.”