Acadian Museum exhibit explores rituals of death

Just in time for Halloween,Moncton's Acadian Museum is featuring something from the dark side.

"Always loved, never forgotten" isthe name of itslatest exhibit, featuringtraditionsand rituals surrounding deathin the early20thcentury in Acadia.

Some of the imagery in the exhibit might feel a little ominous,but BernardLeBlanc, the museum's curator,saysthe exhibits show less of a superstitious culture than one of respect.

"They have montages of pictures with the diseases with the coffin handles. Sort of in the same religious vein you could say, but definitely respectful."

Jeanne Mance-Cormierhelped acquire a wax cross, whichis entangled with flowers made fromhuman hair, that is now on display.

"By having this piece with different hair from different family members, I think it became a nice piece and having it under a dome, I think, represents a keep, something that you wanted to showcase in your parlour at home and to keep memories of all those who passed away," she said.

This artifact is inmemory of an Anna Duguay, wife of AlfLeBoutillier, who died on June 8, 1910 at the age of 26.

The New Brunswick Museum repaired cracks and did preservation work on tiny papers that identified whose hair was was on what vine in theexquisite memento.