Can I plan my funeral in advance ?

Absolutely. There are many advantages to pre-planning your funeral. Pre-planning includes obtaining personal information as well as recording preferences and final wishes in regards to funeral arrangments. Pre-paying your funeral includes benefits such as price protection, however, pre-planning your funeral does not have to include pre-payment.

How can pre-planned funerals be financed ? 

At this funeral home all monies received in the pre-payment of funeral services are placed in their entirety in a trust account. Interest accumulates on this trust and is guaranteed to cover any increased cost of the services paid for in the initial contract. Some funeral homes do fund pre-payments with insurance products. At this time the Ontario Board of Funeral Services have not condoned this practice. 

What is a burial vault ?

A burial vault is a concrete enclosure in which the casket is placed at the cemetery at the time of burial. This allows the human remains to return to its natural state without environmental intervention. Individual cemeteries have by-laws concerning the use of burial vaults. While some insist on them, others merely recommend their use. Some cemeteries charge a penalty for not using a vault, but these requirements are not consistent and vary from cemetery to cemetery. For information on individual cemeteries please consult your funeral services professional.

Is embalming necessary ?

While embalming is not required by law, it may be desirable in cases where visitation and funeral services are requested by the family. Some rural cemeteries delay interments of funerals taking place during the winter months. It would not be practical to store human remains for this duration without conducting embalming.

Can visitation be held in cases of cremation ?

Final disposition, whether interment or cremation, does not limit or dictate your options for visitation and/or funeral services. Visitation and funeral service can take place regardless of final disposition of remains.

What costs are involved in a funeral ?

The funeral is comprised of several factors. First the cost of any services related items that you authorize. Second any casket, cremation container, outside burial vault or urn that you request. Thirdly any cash disbursements that are paid on your behalf and finally any taxes owing on the above three areas.

What are cash disbursements ?

Cash disbursements are payments made by the funeral director on your behalf and might include items such as newspaper notices, clergy honoraria, grave openings or cremation costs. Disbursements are charged to you at actual cost and when they appear on your contract, will be itemized and included in the total price.

What Canada Pension Benefits might I expect ?

Income Security Canada do have both a death benefit and a survivor benefit. These benefits are based on age, years of enrolment, amount paid into the plan. Our funeral home will assist you in completing the application and swear any documents that might be required in the application. Old age security does not have a death benefit associated with it. You can however expect the benefit to cover the month in which the recipient dies.

Death Benefit

The death benefit is equal to six months worth of the deceased's retirement pension, up to a maximum of $2,500.

Survivor's Pension

The survivor's pension is a monthly payment made to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of someone who paid into the plan.  There are limits, and as such not all survivng spouse's or common-law partners are automatically entitled to the benefit.

Children's Benefits

The CPP children's benefit is a monthly flat-rate benefit paid to, or on behalf of, the natural or adopted child of the deceased contributor or a child in the care and custody of the deceased contributor at the time of death.  The child must be either under 18, or between the ages of 18 and 25 and in full-time attendance at a recognized educational institution.

 For answers to some frequently asked questions, or for more information on the benefits, you can go to:

http://www.sdc.gc.ca/asp/gateway.asp?hr=/en/isp/cpp/survivor.shtml&hs=cpr

For a list of the current CPP payment rates, click the link below

http://www.sdc.gc.ca/asp/gateway.asp?hr=en/isp/pub/factsheets/rates.shtml&hs=cpr

Your funeral director can assist you with filling out the necessary forms to help you apply for benefits under the Canada Pension Plan.

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for CPP benefits, you are encouraged to call Social Development Canada at 1-800-277-9914.

I am disabled.  Am I eligible for funeral payments ?

If you are receiving O.D.S.P. and have limited funds the county or region in which you live may pay for a modest funeral service which they design. However at age sixty-five when you begin receiving old age security this benefit ceases to exist.