7 Tips For Choosing The Right Cremation Services In Calgary

 

 

There can be confusion at times between funeral homes in Calgary cremation providers. Some funeral homes in Calgary offer cremation and some cremation providers don’t offer funeral services. And some providers offer both. Depending on your needs, you’ll want to consider all options.

Here are 7 tips for choosing the right cremation provider:

1. Services Available

It is important to distinguish cremation providers from funeral homes. Funeral homes in Calgary provide a range of services and often function as a single point of contact for the bereaved. Cremation providers do not always funeral planning services. If you’re looking for funeral services in Calgary, you’ll want to ensure you find a cremation provider who offers these services as well.

2. Types of Cremation

As cremation becomes the preferred service for most Calgarians, the types of cremation continue to grow. The traditional cremation process involves preparing the body and moving the body into the cremation chamber. The ashes are then finalized and any pieces of metal (such as dental fillings) are removed before the remains are placed into a temporary or permanent urn.

If you’re looking for a common alternative such as “green cremation”, you’ll want to be sure the provider you are considering offers it.

3. Location 

The location of your cremation provider is important. Choosing one that is in close proximity to your funeral home or that offers funeral services in Calgary is advisable.

4. Pricing

Of course, budget is always an important component when choosing a cremation provider. You want to find one that has a pricing package that works best for you and your family. 

5. Customer Service and Online Navigation

Making arrangements for your loved one’s passing is not always an easy or linear process. Having experienced and caring representatives is an absolute must when it comes to cremation providers. The easier it is to reach them, the better.

6. Reviews

Reviews are often the deal-breaker when you’re choosing between a few different options. Two or more cremation providers may sound good on paper, but sometimes, the reviews tell another story.

Where can you find reviews of a cremation provider? Search engines like Google and website like Yelp are often your best bet. 

7. Available Add-Ons

When it comes to storing the remains, it’s always nice to have options. It can be preferable to work with a cremation provider that doesn’t require you to purchase a permanent urn if you already have another urn in mind from another provider.

Plus, there’s more than one way to store the remains. Keepsake urns provide variety and allow you to store your loved one’s remains in a uniquely special way. Cremation jewelry is also a wonderful gift to provide for anyone who wants to keep their loved one close.

When considering funeral homes in Calgary and cremation providers, keep these tips in mind to ensure you get the support you need within your budget. You’ll want to determine your needs and then out to find the right provider who can easily fill them for you.

How to Plan a Funeral Reception Checklist

 

It is said that the most important part of any funeral is the reception. The reception is the first social event following a funeral where the deceased is not present and represents a new, often difficult reality. It is customary (but not required) to hold a reception following a funeral or memorial service. This gathering offers friends and family the opportunity to meet in an informal environment. You can have a funeral reception after a burial or cremation.

Planning a funeral reception provides an opportunity for guests to visit while enjoying something to eat. You can rely on the funeral services team at your funeral home to help you plan a reception that fits your preferences, budget and allows space for your family and friends to come together after the funeral.

When planning a funeral reception, there are a few key decisions to keep in mind, whether you are planning yourself or sharing your needs with a funeral planner who can put them into action for you.

Choose a location – The appropriate location for a funeral reception is anywhere that is suitable for you and your guests. Locations are often chosen because they are a place that was special to the deceased and can be traditional, such as a church or funeral home reception hall, or non-traditional, such as a favourite restaurant or outdoor location.

Set a tone – Some funeral receptions are celebratory and full of humour and stories to remember the person who has passed, others are more somber and reflective. Consider the person you are there to honour, their wishes, what you feel comfortable with and the overall attitude of your attendees to determine the tone or type of funeral reception you are planning.

Personalise the event – A funeral reception is an opportunity to bring the mourners together and honour the person who has passed. Personalising a reception to include religious and cultural observances, personal anecdotes, hobbies and unique details from the life of the deceased helps to bring life to the occasion and creates a more personal connection for those attending.

Choose food & drink – The reception after a funeral doesn’t have to include alcohol or consist of a full meal. The type of food and drink you serve will depend on financial considerations, the amount of time you have to prepare, religious requirements and cultural factors. Work with your funeral director or the team at the venue you have chosen to determine the appropriate food and drink for your funeral reception.

Consider other details – As a part of personalizing the reception, consider adding special touches such as music, videos, slideshows, flowers, unique commemorative adornments and anything else that suits the occasion.

The most important things to remember when planning a funeral reception are to keep it simple, make choices on your own terms and don’t forget that the size and scope of the reception is up to you. Also, don’t forget that you are likely to be grieving. Planning an event can be overwhelming under the best of circumstances, but when you add the fact that you are mourning it can become unmanageable. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family, friends, community members and of course, the team at the funeral home you are working with who is well trained and experienced in putting together a personalized funeral reception that suits your requests, budget and needs, all in a short period of time.

How Much Is a Funeral Home Worth?

 When seeking a Calgary funeral home, you may wonder what working with them is worth to you. Funerals can be costly and require a lot of time and emotional energy to plan. Luckily, there are a lot of great funeral homes in Calgary that can help make the process easier for you. This is where their true worth to you and your family lies.

The funeral is a public, traditional and symbolic means of expressing your beliefs, thoughts and feelings about the death of someone loved.  Rich in history and rife with symbolism, the funeral ceremony helps to acknowledge the reality of the death, gives testimony to the life of the deceased, encourages the expression of grief in a way consistent with the culture’s values, provides support to mourners, allows for the embracing of faith and beliefs about life and death and offers continuity and hope for the living.

There are many very good reasons to have a funeral when a loved one passes, or to plan for your own funeral in advance. Hiring the right Calgary funeral home can help to ensure that your family moves through the ritual and benefits of a funeral with as much ease as possible. The value of working with licensed professionals is based on the fact that their knowledge and expertise helps to relieve the burden of stressful decisions and emotional moments.

Funeral directors play an integral role in the funeral or cremation arrangement process. The following are some of the services funeral directors provide:

When a Death Occurs

    • Transfer the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home.

    • Provide professional care of the deceased, which may include:

    • Sanitary washing.

    • Embalming preparation.

    • Restorative art.

    • Dressing.

    • Hairdressing.

    • Cosmetology.

    • Casketing.

Consultation Before Funeral Service 

    • Consult with family members to gather necessary information and to discuss specific arrangements for the burial or cremation, as well as any funeral service or gathering.

    • File all certificates, permits, affidavits and authorizations as may be required by law.

    • Acquire requested number of certified copies of the death certificate. These are needed to settle the estate of the deceased.

    • Compile information and create an obituary.

    • Make arrangements for your choice of clergy, church or gathering location, as well as help with personalization such as music, photos, flowers and more.

    • Make arrangements with a cemetery, crematory or another place of disposition.

    • Provide the register book, prayer cards, funeral folders and acknowledgements as requested by the family.

    • Assist with notifying relatives and friends.

    • Arrange for clergy honorariums, music, flowers, death certificates, additional transportation, etc.

    • Provide coordination and arrangement of floral pieces prior to any service or gathering, and the post-funeral distribution as directed by the family.

    • Arrange for pallbearers, automobiles and special services, as requested by the family.

    • Provide care of all floral cards, mass cards or other memorial contributions presented to the family.

During and After Services

    • Direct the funeral services in a professional and compassionate manner, and coordinate the funeral procession to a cemetery or other final resting place.

    • Assist families with death benefits, insurance, grief counseling and other death-related needs.

    • Meet with the family after the funeral to deliver the register book, and floral and mass cards.

As you can see, it is well worth hiring a funeral director from one of the wonderful funeral homes in Calgary to help you plan our funeral or that of a loved one.

Complete Understanding of Cremation Pricing With Country Hills Crematorium

Cremation costs can vary dramatically depending on location and level of services. For example, the cost of a simple cremation in Calgary with the remains returned to the family will cost significantly less than having a full funeral with the body present before cremation. The good news is, you can get a good idea of the range of prices so you can avoid sticker shock when you start shopping for Calgary cremation services.

There are 3 primary types of cremations available in Calgary:

1. Cremation with traditional service

Typically the highest cost option. Incorporates the benefits of both a traditional funeral service and cremation, including embalming and a casket rental. Cremation is performed following the funeral services. 

2. Cremation with memorial service

With a memorial service, the cremated remains need not be present. Cremation with a memorial service is a way to honour the memory of a loved one in much the same way as you would during a funeral service. 

3. Cremation without ceremony (also known as direct cremation)

With direct cremation, there are no ceremonial services involved. The body is cremated shortly after passing, without embalming, viewing or visitation. This is usually the cheapest and most affordable cremation option.

Direct Cremation

A direct cremation is the most economical type of cremation in Calgary. Prices can range widely but you can generally expect to pay $1,500-$2,500 for a direct cremation.

Simply put, with direct cremation there is no memorial service and no funeral. The deceased is transported directly to the crematorium and the remains are returned to the family in a temporary container. The following elements are generally included in the cost of a direct cremation:

    • Transportation of the deceased from the place of death or funeral home to the crematorium.

    • Body preparation, if required. For example, medical devices, metals and any other non-combustible materials will be removed. There is no embalming.

    • Handling any necessary permits and paperwork. There may be an extra charge for providing copies of the death certificate.

    • An “alternative container” for the body. This is usually a combustible container made of sturdy material.

    • Use of the cremation chamber for the actual cremation.

    • Return of the remains to the family or loved ones in a basic box or urn.

PRO TIP:

While it is not always the case, it is usually less expensive to purchase cremation directly through a crematory or a specialized cremation-only company rather than purchasing through a funeral home. That’s because most funeral homes do not own their own crematory and will need to subcontract the cremation.

Traditional Cremation

Traditional cremation refers to cremation where a funeral (the body is present) or memorial service is included. This type of cremation is sometimes called classic cremation or full-service cremation.

In most cases, traditional Calgary cremation is arranged through a funeral home. Costs vary widely since every funeral home designs packages differently. On average, traditional cremations in Calgary will cost $3,000-6,000. The exact price will depend on the services you choose. Visitation and viewing, for example, add to the cost. If you choose to have a funeral or viewing, you may be required to purchase embalming. This adds to the cost of Calgary cremation.

A typical traditional cremation package will usually include:

    • Basic services of the funeral director and funeral home staff.

    • Transportation of the deceased from the place of death or funeral home to the crematorium.

    • Embalming and/or body preparation.

    • Handling any necessary permits and paperwork.

    • An alternate container or casket for the body. The casket may be an upgrade.

    • Use of the cremation chamber for the actual cremation.

    • Disposition of the body (burial or mausoleum) or return of remains to the family.

It is especially important that you know what you are buying when you choose traditional cremation. Request an itemized price list and ask lots of questions.

How to Choose the Right Funeral Service

 

Perhaps your loved one is nearing death and you must find a Calgary funeral home quickly. Or you have decided to pick funeral services in Calgary for yourself long before it’s needed, to spare your family the ordeal of making this decision while grieving and pressed for time.

If you have used a funeral home in Calgary in the past, don’t automatically assume it’s the best choice. Without comparing prices and services, you can’t tell whether their fees are reasonable, or whether you've been overcharged in the past.

Use this step-by-step guide to help you find the best Calgary funeral home for you and your family. 

1. Consult your family and decide on a budget

Have you and your family discussed a budget, and decided on an amount that’s affordable for you—that you’re willing and able to spend without hardship? Shopping for a funeral services in Calgary should be like making any major purchase—you know what you can afford before you start shopping. 

2. Weigh your priorities

Ask yourself: 

    • How important is a convenient location? 

    • Do you prefer proximity to your home, place of worship or cemetery? 

    • Is price a critical factor? 

    • How flexible is your budget? If

    •  you or your family used the funeral services in Calgary in the past, how satisfied were you? 

    • Do you have special religious or cultural requirements? 

    • If you want a viewing or service, will you need a large facility with ample parking, high-tech video screens, or handicap-accessibility? 

    • Or is simplicity your first priority?

3. Choose the type of arrangement

You might donate your body to a medical school for research, which in some cases incurs no charge for survivors.

Other very economical choices are “direct cremation” or “direct burial” with no embalming or visitation.

You could consider a funeral service held at home.

Green, or natural burial, in a shroud or simple box, can be very affordable and ecologically friendly.

Perhaps you prefer a traditional earth burial with embalming, visitation and an elaborate funeral service.

Whatever you decide, write down your wishes in detail. The arrangement choice is the biggest factor in helping you determine the best, and most reasonably-priced, funeral home in Calgary for your needs.

5. Get a list and compare prices

You may find a huge price difference for the same options, so doing a cost comparison might save you several thousand dollars. Often those specializing in cremation offer the lowest prices for that service, but not always—be sure to double check.

Call five or six funeral homes in Calgary and get their prices for your chosen arrangement; perhaps ask about casket and urn prices as well. If a particular funeral director seems uncooperative, cross him off your list. Do the costs fit within your budget? If not, you may have to consider a more affordable type of arrangement, look beyond your immediate area for lower prices, or eliminate extra expenses like embalming or visitation.

6. Visit several funeral homes

Make an appointment to visit the Calgary funeral homes if possible. Bring a list of questions and a friend or family member less emotionally invested in the funeral than you are. Ask the funeral home for their General Price List and have the director review it with you. You might want to see an array of urns or caskets, ask about their billing policy or meet the staff. Do you like the facility? Does the funeral director seem helpful and trustworthy, and answer questions willingly? Is he or she sensitive to your values and cultural or religious needs? Don’t select a funeral provider unless you feel completely comfortable with the director and the premises.

At each funeral home, discuss your specific arrangement choices and ask for an itemized statement. It will list the goods and services you have chosen, the price of each item, and total cost. Do not sign anything yet. Take a copy of each statement home to review more carefully, then compare and discuss them with your family.

Once you’ve made your choices, ensure they are well documented for your family to follow or for you to execute if a loved one passed in the near future.

5 Unknown Services Funeral Homes Offer

When someone you love has passed away, it can be a very difficult time. Not only are you grieving the loss of a beloved family member or friend, there is also a lot to do and many decisions to be made. From choosing among the various funeral homes in Calgary, to deciding on disposition and what type of funeral services to hold, there are numerous decisions to make that you may know very little about. An experienced funeral director can walk you through all of these decisions and help you make choices based on your values and those of the deceased. They can also provide assistance with the required paperwork and what happens after the funeral services in Calgary.

While you may be very aware that funeral homes in Calgary will help you to prepare your loved one to be buried or cremated and they help plan viewings and funeral services, many people do not realize all that they offer. In your time of need there are many funeral services in Calgary available to you. Here are five unknown services that funeral homes offer:

    1. Around The Clock Service - When a loved one passes away, the funeral homes in Calgary that you have selected will arrive at your home within one hour of receiving your call. Few people realize that funeral services are accessible at any time of the day or night. Also, preparing the body and planning a funeral often happen in very quick succession and your funeral services team in Calgary will be there to make it all happen as smoothly as possible.

    2. Obituaries - Most funeral homes in Calgary can help you with writing an obituary and getting it published in the local newspaper, as well as available online so it can be shared with family and friends. Writing an obituary and having it published can add a significant amount of stress during this time so most funeral services in Calgary will offer the option for them to do this for you and you should certainly consider taking them up on it.

    3. Pre-Planning - While many people find it morbid to talk about death or their final wishes, it can actually be a huge relief for the survivors if the funeral is pre-arranged, especially if you choose to pre-pay for the options you select. 

    4. Help With Paperwork - Death comes with a lot of paperwork but most of it is commonly seen by the funeral directors you are working with and many funeral homes in Calgary have developed resources to help you figure out the forms required and how to submit for insurance, benefits and taxes. 

    5. Grief Support - Once you have laid your loved one to rest, the funeral home you have chosen will continue to work with you to provide resources for grief support and anything else you may need afterwards.

When a loved one has passed, choose a great funeral home in Calgary and you will receive so much more support than you could expect. Funeral services and the requirements afterwards can be cumbersome but your funeral home is there to help.

 

Funeral Reception Planning Guide - Country Hills Crematorium

 

Quite often the most important part of any funeral is the reception. A reception is the first social event following a funeral where the deceased is not present and represents a new, often difficult reality. A reception is usually held following a funeral or memorial service to offer friends and family the opportunity to meet informally so they can gather together to show their support for one another. The post funeral reception gives mourners the chance to interact, share memories and continue to celebrate the life of someone they cared about. It is important to keep the purpose and value of the reception in mind when planning a funeral reception.

When planning a funeral reception, there are a few key decisions to keep in mind, whether you are planning yourself or sharing your needs with a funeral planner who can put them into action for you.

    1. Choose a location – The appropriate location for planning to have a funeral reception is anywhere that suits you and your guests. A place that was special to the deceased is often chosen and the location can be traditional, such as a church or funeral home reception hall, or non-traditional, such as a favourite restaurant or outdoor location.

    2. Set a tone – Some funeral receptions are celebratory and full of humour, others are more somber and reflective. Consider the person you are there to honour, their wishes, what feels comfortable and the overall attitude of the majority of your attendees to determine the tone or type of funeral reception you are planning.

    3. Personalize the event – A funeral reception is an opportunity to bring mourners together and honour the person who has passed. Personalizing the reception to include religious and cultural observances, personal anecdotes, hobbies and unique details from the life of the deceased and those there to remember them helps to bring life to the occasion and creates a more personal connection for those attending.

    4. Choose food & drink – The reception after a funeral doesn’t have to include alcohol or consist of a full meal. The type of food and drink you serve will depend on financial considerations, the amount of time you have to prepare, religious requirements and cultural factors. Work with your funeral director or the team at the venue you have chosen to determine the appropriate food and drink when planning your funeral reception.

    5. Consider other details – As a part of personalizing the reception, consider adding special touches such as music, videos, slideshows, flowers, unique commemorative adornments and anything else that suits the occasion.

When planning a funeral reception, remember that the purpose of the event is to bring people together to pay their respects and honour the person who has passed away. This will look different for everyone, so take some time to consider what truly matters to you and the other mourners so you can focus on the important stuff and not get stuck in making emotional decisions or overdoing it.