When a loved one has passed away, what happens next depends on where they died and if it was expected – our Where To Begin page can outline all the details. If the death was expected, you may have been able to discuss your loved one’s final wishes. Hopefully, you have been able to find
The role of the funeral director can vary greatly based on what plans the deceased made (or didn’t make), what their loved ones want for a funeral, the circumstances of death, and the documentation left behind. In an ideal world, no one would ever die without having a will that names an executor/personal representative and
Embalming is usually performed when there is an open casket funeral, a viewing, or when a body needs to be shipped by plane, including internationally. It is typically done for three reasons – for sanitary reasons, for preservation and for presentation. Sanitary Contrary to popular beliefs, when a person dies, all living organisms within them
A will outlines a person’s last wishes and is usually focused on their estate. Often, the will does not include what funeral arrangements the deceased had decided on, but it will clearly identify the person who can make decisions for their funeral. Some decisions are evident in the absence of a will, while others can
It might feel daunting to approach a grieving family member, but you have gone to a funeral to pay your respects to the departed, offer support to the family, or share your memories; all of these are perfect reasons to speak to those who are grieving. While each situation, and every person, is different, the
A live streamed funeral is one that is broadcasted through an online meeting portal, such as Zoom or Google. The benefit of live streaming is that when people cannot be present for a funeral service, they can still acknowledge the deceased, process their grief, and be a part of the service. When a funeral is
Whether to live stream a funeral or not is at the discretion of the deceased’s family. While attending the funeral is the best option for acknowledging the loss and personally delivering condolences, live streaming is a wonderful alternative. Live streaming allows the observation of, or participation in, the funeral service by those who might not
Funeral and sympathy flowers are both sent to offer your condolences. We encourage you to do what feels right for you when deciding to send flowers but offer a few guidelines to make it easier to choose when and what to send. Before making any decisions, we suggest you read the obituary. In some, you
People are often uncomfortable with the idea of attending a funeral. They struggle with what to say, what to wear, how to express their grief, and how to act. However, there are a few simple rules to make the event less stressful, regardless of whether it’s a funeral, celebration of life, or memorial service. Most
Pre-planning your final arrangements can help to save your family from the burden of making decisions during a difficult time. It can also help to ensure that all of your final wishes are laid out and planned ahead. You can choose to prepay for your arrangements as well which makes things very simple for your
If you knew the deceased or a member of the family, the answer is that it’s always better to attend the funeral. After many years of planning and overseeing funerals, our team has almost always found that a family appreciates that people made the effort to be there for them and to honour their loved
In the past, the rules around what you should wear to a funeral were quite clear. Formal and black attire was expected. As times change, these are both still safe bets, but many families also feel comfortable with a more relaxed dress code. Business casual is now the most common attire seen at funerals. There