FAQs - Burial Services

First is the purchase price of the "right to use" the burial plot (unlike a real estate purchase, where you buy the land and all the structures on it; here you are only purchasing what is called the "interment rights" to the land). In addition, there are fees for the "opening" and "closing" of the gravesite; and any fees required to obtain the necessary permits and to maintain cemetery files and records. In addition, there's the fee for the use of any special equipment (such as a casket-lowering device); as well as the costs for any other services or items purchased. There's also the headstone or grave marker installation fee, and a one-time "perpetual care" (sometimes called "endowment care") fee paid to ensure your loved one's burial site is well-maintained.

This is a question we hear a lot. Many funeral homes suggest (based upon the services requested) embalming if you're planning a viewing or visitation. That's because they want the experience to be as good as it can be for those in attendance and proper embalming can ensure the deceased looks as good as possible. But as a general rule, embalming is not legally required if the body is cared for in a relatively short amount of time and is staying within the province of Ontario. Please contact us for specific provincial or local requirements.

The average casket costs around $3,200 at traditional funeral homes. Our caskets are well  below that threshold to allow you the options that you may desire. If you are concerned about casket costs, speak with your funeral director who will provide you with a selection of caskets that we offer.

Today, modern cemetery grounds are well-groomed with vast expanses of green grass. A burial vault protects this pristine view, ensuring there is no sign of burial plots "settling".  Some cemeteries have a bylaw that requires a crypt of vault to be used when burying a casket.  When there will be a double depth interment there will likely be a mandate for a crypt or vault as well.  Certainly the vault also protects the casket from the weight of the earth as there is about 5000 lbs of earth that are placed onto a casket when it's buried; there is not a casket made that will withstand this weight.  It also protects the casket from being disturbed from opening of nearby graves in the future.  Crypts are simply concrete and provide protection from the weight on the earth while a vault provides protection from the water in the earth as well with a plastic liner.  Some of the vaults are reinforced by various metals that provide extra strength above & beyond the concrete alone.

If your loved one has not made previous arrangements for their burial, leaving you to pick the location of their interment, the first thing you'll need to do involves the selection of the cemetery and burial location within the grounds. You'll also choose the most suitable casket and burial vault, and provide us with the clothing you'd like your loved one to wear (and any 'special items' you'd like us to place in the casket) . Once payment is made, the date and time of interment is agreed upon. At that time, the cemetery grounds keepers will take care of the "opening" and "closing" of the grave and the proper placement of the casket in the burial vault. 

It would be best to confirm with the cemetery as to their by-law on this matter.  The cemetery may put a temporary identification marker on your loved one's grave, but it is only intended as a placeholder until a permanent headstone or grave marker is set in place. Without one, your loved one's burial site will, when this temporary marker becomes illegible or is somehow removed, appear "unmarked".

We, and the cemetery where your loved one will be interred, have strong working relationships with trusted monument companies. When you are ready to order a granite headstone or bronze grave marker, we will come together to orchestrate its selection, manufacture and placement. Speak with your funeral director to get the details.

It's very hard to know without having the opportunity to speak with you. Private burial service works well when there are few mourners or if your loved one's wishes were for a simple interment.  It's done quickly and professionally, without ceremony of any kind.  With that said, what do you think?  Does a private graveside burial feel like the right course of action for you?  Speak with a funeral professional to further explore the idea.

Rather than having a service in a church or funeral home chapel and then adjourning to the cemetery for the burial; some families choose to gather solely at the cemetery.  There, they are led through a ceremony prepared by a clergy person or celebrant and witness the in-ground committal of their loved one's casket.  If the idea of a graveside service appeals to you, speak with your funeral director about your options.

Some of the things you'll discuss with your funeral director involve purchases made from outside vendors, and you will be asked to pay for those items at the time of the arrangement conference.  One of the most common is the fee charged by a newspaper to print your loved one's obituary. Another cash disbursement charge could be for clergy or musician's fees, floral arrangements, reception necessities, such as food/beverage or facility rental. Your funeral director will provide you with a detailed invoice for all cash disbursements.

The exact answer to this question largely depends upon the services, products and cemetery you've selected; but a good rule of thumb is to expect to pay at the time the service contract is signed (at the time of the arrangement conference or soon afterwards). Speak with your funeral director to learn more.

We're tempted to answer this with another question: who would you like to write it? Perhaps you'd like to ask a friend or family member to do so; maybe you're thinking it's something you would like to do. Perhaps you'd rather turn the duty over to your funeral director. He or she is experienced in writing death notices and would be delighted to relieve you of the task; so don't hesitate to ask them to craft a suitable death notice.

We don't like to use the word "should" when we speak to families about this issue. So the question becomes one of assessing your heart's desire: what do you really want? Then there's the question of your deceased loved one's wishes; exactly what would he or she think or feel? Most commonly we advise families to offer their community as many caring options as possible; some will send flowers, some will send donations; and some will even do both.