Top 5 Services to Look For From Funeral Homes in Calgary

When selecting a Calgary funeral home to plan a current funeral with or to preplan your own arrangements with, you’ll want to consider the services they offer. You want to look at the basics to ensure they even pass the quality check you should hold all funeral homes in Calgary to. These basics include:

• Facilities for a memorial service or funeral reception

• Obituary writing services

• Cremation/burial

• Arranging musical requests

• Taking care of floral arrangements 

• Providing information to friends and family members

• Dealing with paperwork for burial or cremation

• Recording donations received

• Arranging for staff and vehicles for funeral and burial services

• Accepting donations for specified charities

• Setting up catered meals at another location following the funeral

You may find that you don’t need all of these services for the funeral you’re planning so it helps to consider these needs and which are most important before you start researching funeral homes in Calgary. 

The remaining notes are not all necessarily services. Some are important details that will influence the choice you make though.

1. Reputation - It’s very important to select a funeral home with a good reputation. A good funeral home will be with you every step of the way through your planning. While planning a funeral is never easy, the right funeral home will help make the process less stressful. 

To find a funeral home with a good reputation, we recommend that you start by asking for recommendations from friends and family members. Once you’ve gathered a list of recommendations, go online to see what others have to say in their reviews.

2. Religious or Cultural Needs - If you have certain religious or cultural customs that you’d like to observe during the funeral, it’s very important that you check that the funeral home can provide for you. 

If religion is your main concern, then you’ll be pleased to know that there are many Calgary funeral homes these days that cater to specific religious needs. 

3. Location - It’s also very important to consider the location of the funeral home that you choose. 

You’re going to be in frequent communication with the funeral home, so a convenient location can be helpful when making preparations. However, if you plan to have the service and reception at the funeral home, you’ll want to make sure that the location is convenient for the guests. 

4. Price - Of course, price is also a factor you need to consider when choosing a funeral home. Before you start calling funeral homes, lay out a budget. Then, call each home you’re considering to get a price quote. Reputable funeral homes will offer you a breakdown of all of the expenses. 

5. Staff - It’s also very important to choose a funeral home that employs caring staff members. 

Oftentimes, the best way to learn about the staff of a funeral home is to call them directly or visit them in person. When on the phone, pay attention to their demeanor and whether or not they take the time to thoroughly answer your questions. 

When visiting a funeral home in person, make a note if someone greets you right away as well as how the staff interacts with you. As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, a good Calgary funeral home can make things less stressful, respectful and compassionate staff is the foundation of good funeral homes in Calgary.