How do I choose a Funeral Home?

• Have you met the funeral director in your community?
• Do you know their personal and professional reputation?
• How long have they been serving their community?
• What has been the experience of relatives, friends and neighbours?
• Is the funeral home a full service facility and able to handle all of your needs (chapel, visitation room, reception and catering facilities, parking, licensed staff etc.)?
• Is the funeral home a member in good standing with the a Funeral Service Association?

When a death occurs, the matter of funeral costs is often a consideration of the family and those making arrangements.

The majority of costs are represented by professional service, merchandise, final disposition and indirect costs. Each complete funeral service requires approximately 80 hours. Services must conform to each individual family's needs and their personal and religious desires.

All funeral providers are required by law to provide you with an itemized price list of the services and products they offer . They must also provide you with a copy of this price list upon request.Some funeral providers called immediate disposition funeral providers, have limited facilities and are primarily involved in basic services such as transporting the deceased to a place for burial or cremation.

They must disclose to you that they are not allowed by law to provide full-range funeral services. Because the services they provide are limited, careful consideration must be made to determine that all the options you request can be accommodated.You can make inquiries in person or by telephone. Before you make a decision, however, it is a good idea to visit the funeral home to ensure that you feel comfortable with the services offered and the personnel in attendance.
 

1. Professional Service Fee:
Professional and personal staff services of a funeral director and staff typically include: Transfer from place of death, obtaining medical certificate of death, completing government forms, registering the death, obtaining necessary permits.
Basic sanitary care of the deceased; embalming, restoration and dressing of the deceased for viewing (if requested); and or as required (e.g. transportation by air). The funeral services contract must include a statement that embalming is not a legal requirement and, if embalming is requested, a space for the written acknowledgement of the purchaser must be on the contract.Note: Embalming may be required if being transported after 72 hours.

Complete personal supervision of all service arrangement details preceding, during and following the services which includes: arrangement conference with family; preparation and placing of obituary notice, consultation with clergy, cemetery and/or crematorium; arranging and caring for floral tributes.

Use of funeral home and all necessary facilities including: arrangement office, reception areas, chapel, selection room, preparation room, parking and services areas. Use of all specialized equipment required for either a church, chapel or other type of service. Use of funeral coach and any other vehicles.

Transfer of deceased to crematorium and/or cemetery

The merchandise purchased for a cremation or burial can vary greatly depending on individual preferences and needs. Funeral providers that have containers and caskets on display are required by law to display their lowest price container and casket. They are also required to have a book or brochure illustrating the entire product line of caskets for sale.

2. Merchandise:
Cremation Container / Casket.
Urn for cremated remains
Stationery (memorial book, thank you cards, service folders).

3. Cemetery and/or Crematorium:
Cemetery and crematorium charges may be paid to the funeral provider or directly to the cemetery/crematorium. Regardless, authorization for disposition must still be obtained from the legal representative of the deceased.

4. Indirect Costs (or cash disbursements):
Indirect costs or cash disbursements are moneys that the funeral provider pays out (advances) on your behalf, for such items or services such as:
Obituary notices.
Organist, soloist.
Flowers.
Clergy or officiant honourariums.