FAQ

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Most frequently asked questions regarding funerals, burials, and cremation.

Here are some of the questions most frequently asked to professionals of the funeral sector. There may be more than one answer, since people come from various social and cultural backgrounds. When planning a funeral, after having lost a loved one or when looking into prearrangements, meeting with a professional consultant will lighten the burden of choosing what to do in such circumstances.

For more information regarding funerals, please do not hesitate to ask your funeral director. The person will be able to advise you according to your needs. You can also send your inquiries by E-mail info@dignitequebec.com

Funerals
What to do?
Financial Support
Cemetery
Burial
Cremation
Pre-arrangements
Funeral Services in Other Areas
Counselling

Funerals

Why do we have funerals?

A funeral, like a wedding or other ceremony, is a way of recognizing an important event in our lives. It commemorates and celebrates the life lived and offers family and friends the opportunity to pay tribute to the one they loved. It is a process that helps meet the emotional needs of those who are grieving, providing a sense of "closure" to the deceased's life.

Do I need to use a funeral home?

Most government jurisdictions require a licensed person to transport a body and obtain the necessary permits. Even if you choose the most basic of burial or cremation arrangements, it is still necessary to complete the appropriate forms at a funeral home and to sign the hospital release. The choice of how to memorialize the deceased is a matter of personal preference.

Why is viewing important?

For the family, it is a helpful process in the acceptance of death. It offers a way of being present with the loved one when saying farewell. Visitation also provides an invaluable opportunity for family, friends and neighbours to express their personal feelings and respect for the deceased, and to share the closeness they felt for that person. Many find that viewing at a funeral home provides a more dignified and natural memory for survivors, when compared, as an example, to a hospital setting with equipment, etc. It is, however, a personal choice best made by the closest family members.

What can I expect the funeral director to do?

The funeral director is a licensed professional who can obtain necessary permits and handle transport and care of the body.

The funeral director's main function is to help survivors make the final arrangements. The funeral director can perform several different duties in providing a funeral service. He or she can advise knowledgeably on all aspects of the process. The funeral director will help to make a great variety of essential arrangements, including obtaining the necessary vital statistics, confirming service arrangements, making arrangements with the clergy, newspaper notices, and many more details.

What are the different kinds of services?

The "Traditional" Funeral service usually includes one day of visitation and viewing of the deceased. Those closest to the deceased choose whether the casket is open or closed. Funeral services will then be held at a church, the funeral home, or other suitable location. The service is followed by burial, entombment, or cremation.

A "Memorial" Service is held in a church, funeral home, or other suitable location without the body being present. For cremation, the remains of the deceased, pictures, or other items representing the person's life may form a part of the service that can include religious, fraternal, or secular rites.

With a "Graveside" service, the burial of the deceased typically occurs without visitation or viewing. A service is held at the place of disposition. Should it be desired, a memorial service may be held later.

With "Immediate Disposition", burial or cremation occurs without visitation or viewing and with no funeral service. All local laws must, of course, be followed and permits obtained beforehand.

Who will officiate at the service if there is no family affiliation with a church?

The funeral director can assist by contacting either clergy or a layperson.

Is there a fee for the clergy?

Fees will depend on whether or not the deceased had some church affiliation. It is customary to provide and honorarium to the officiating clergy.

What are the different final resting places for bodily remains?

Cemetery, memorial park, memorial garden - these are different names for the place in which final disposition occurs. Available options will vary from cemetery to cemetery. Caskets may be interred in a space or a lawn crypt, mausoleum crypt, or private estate mausoleum. Memorialization can take the form of upright monuments, bronze plaques set flush with the lawn, or flat stone tablets.

Why should I be memorialized?

There is a basic human need to remember, and to be remembered. Memorialization acknowledges that a person has lived, not that he or she has died. The memorial site affords an opportunity to reflect on the unique relationship one has had with that person and how he or she shaped who we are and how we live. The memorial provides a physical presence, a place to visit for family and friends today and for future generations. Having this focal point allows survivors to separate their grieving from their home, better enabling them to cope with life.

What should I wear to the funeral?

For both men and women, good taste dictates what is worn, usually conservative suits and dresses rather than anything flamboyant.

When I make the arrangements, will all services and costs be explained to me completely?

Yes. Nothing is hidden and there is ample opportunity for questions, especially when funeral details are pre-arranged.

Is personal information that I give to the funeral home confidential?

Yes, absolutely.

Why do funeral arrangements and merchandise vary so much in price?

Prices vary for several reasons. First, it depends on your personal requirements. Quality of merchandise and facilities are factors as well. Different cemetery locations, and areas within a cemetery, may also have features which vary in cost. Funeral homes or cemeteries that are part of a larger group may have agreements with suppliers which permit lower prices.

May I choose the type of cemetery marker I want?

Every cemetery has bylaws or regulations governing the type(s) of memorialization used in that cemetery. Leading cemeteries frequently offer more than one type of memorialization today, generally by using different sections designed for each type.

These general types are : upright granite monuments, bronze memorial plaques set flush with the lawn or on a niche or crypt face, or granite tablets set flush with the lawn or set in a raised position.

If my husband or wife predeceases me, and we have not made arrangements to be together, is it still possible to do so?

Yes. Arrangements for couples to be together in the cemetery may be made either in advance, or at the time of the first death. The surviving partner can only be assured of having space with the deceased if it is arranged at the same time.

What final arrangements represent the best value?

Just as our perception of value varies with day-to-day purchases, so it will with final arrangements; it's a personal choice. To represent true value, however, the arrangements made should satisfy the emotional needs of the family circle, friends and future generations; otherwise, someone will find the arrangements lacking at some point. No one is forced to attend a service or visit a cemetery but, as with most things in life, we feel best when a choice is provided.

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What to do?

What immediate arrangements are necessary when someone dies?

A physician must first legally declare the death. Once death has been pronounced, a family member may call a funeral director who will make arrangements to have the body transported to the funeral home. The family must sign a release, and the body is transferred to the care of the funeral director. Funeral homes make this service available 24 hours a day.

Who issues an official death certificate?

All funeral homes provide proof-of-death certificates. An official certified copy of the Death Certificate can be obtained from the province's vital statistics branch. The funeral home can assist in obtaining this document.

Does the law require embalming?

It does not, but a variety of factors including time and public health could make it either appropriate or essential. Embalming preserves, disinfects, and restores human remains and is recommended when a viewing is to take place.

What information will the funeral home require either before the need or at the time of death?

The funeral director will need the following information regarding the deceased :

• Name, address, birth date, and birthplace
• Personal Health Number
• Social Insurance Number
• Spouse's full name (maiden name in the case of a wife)
• Most recent occupation
• Father's name and birthplace
• Mother's maiden name and birthplace
• Name and address of executor, legal representative, and next-of-kin

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Financial Support

Is financial assistance available?

It can depend on the personal affiliations and arrangements made by the individual.

In the case of past military service, veterans groups will only pay for funeral arrangements under dire financial circumstances. The government will pay up to $2,500 in death and survivor benefits to persons who have contributed to CPP and have a social insurance number.

Consult a professional funeral consultant to discuss your personal situation.

Can a family add to the amount social services allows for funerals?

No. The family must accept what is specified when social services pays funeral costs or accept the full cost themselves.

Where can I get more information?

Your local funeral home has a wide variety of available books, videos, and other material to assist with all aspects of dying, including understanding grief, explaining death to children, appointing an executor, and much more. A funeral director can also put you in touch with local support groups.

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Cemetery

Are funeral and cemetery arrangements the same thing?

No. They are separate types of arrangements. Funeral home arrangements are always necessary and are looked after by the funeral director. While the funeral director may act as a liaison with the cemetery in some matters, the family will ultimately make cemetery arrangements with cemetery staff.

If I choose a plot now, what assurances do I have that I will actually get that specific space when I die?

Cemeteries are required to keep accurate records describing the ownership of "Interment Rights" or, the rights to use a space. These include numbering systems which ensure that no space is assigned to more than one owner, except as specified by the purchaser. The numbers also appear on purchase documents and / or certificates which identify the space(s) chosen.

Will my family have to pay upkeep charges if I buy a cemetery space?

Not likely. Throughout most jurisdictions in Canada, cemeteries are required to deposit a specified portion of funds received for any space into a "Care Fund". The principle of this account is not available to the cemetery, however, the income generated from the fund is used by the cemetery toward the cost of maintenance. This is referred to as "Perpetual Care".

What is meant by "Common Ground" in a cemetery?

The term "Common Ground" describes a particular area in a cemetery used for interment of cremated remains, in which purchasers do not have a specific space to themselves. The area is used for the cremated remains of many people over time, thus making it common ground. Leading cemeteries are offering this alternative in addition to the choice of having a specified personal space.

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Burial

Should I choose casket burial or cremation?

Obviously, this is a very personal choice and should be carefully considered. A funeral director can be of great assistance. It is important to know that, depending on choice of merchandise and services, costs for cremation can be equal to or even greater than costs for a traditional casket burial.

What will the cemetery plot cost?

Prices vary from area to area, and are also dependent on personal requirements. Your funeral director will be able to provide you with a list of cemeteries in your area. As well as the purchase price of the property, there will be charges for opening and closing of the grave, and other products used, such as memorialization.

I want cremation, but my wife does not. Can we be buried together?

Yes. Many couples have differing preferences regarding final arrangements, just as they may about other choices in life. Leading cemeteries offer specially selected items that are designed to accommodate couples with differing wishes.

What is the difference between a "liner", a "vault", and a "lawn crypt"?

These are all outer containers designed to house a casket interred in the ground. Terminology may vary slightly throughout the industry, however, the term "Liner" generally refers to a minimal container which was probably designed based on requirements several decades ago, to provide some support to keep ground level. The term "Burial Vault" describes a series of superior containers, designed since the 1960,s, which are much stronger than liners, as they were designed with today's heavier equipment loads in mind. In addition to the basic ingredient of concrete, Burial Vaults are lined, sealed, and warranted. A "Lawn Crypt" is a concrete chamber placed in the ground in advance, and opened when a casket is to be placed inside. These are generally installed throughout a section of the cemetery at the time it is developed for use.

Is cremation simpler or less expensive than a traditional casket burial?

While the term "simpler" is often associated with cremation, the opposite is actually true. Casket interments are generally complete within three to four days from time of death. Cremation is a process that can add as much as two weeks to this time, before remains are available to the family and disposition of them can be completed.

Cremation is not necessarily cheaper, as the total costs related to a death when cremation is chosen depend on specific selections made. This is equally true when casket interment is chosen. Nothing is automatic, except that a metal casket may not be used for cremation.

Are there advantages to an above ground mausoleum crypt over a lawn burial?

While this is a matter of personnel preference, some choose mausoleum crypt entombment due to the following reasons: the mausoleum provides a sheltered setting in which to visit; mausoleum spaces, even if they are outdoors, are always visible as they are never covered by snow; mausoleum crypts provide a dry, above ground space to house the casket. These are just three of what many feel are advantages to mausoleum crypts.

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Cremation

Should I choose casket burial or cremation?

Obviously, this is a very personal choice and should be carefully considered. A funeral director can be of great assistance. It is important to know that, depending on choice of merchandise and services, costs for cremation can be equal to or even greater than costs for a traditional casket burial.

In the event cremation is chosen, is it possible to have visiting hours and a funeral service?

Like a typical casket burial, cremation is simply a process performed on the body before it reaches its final resting place. As such, cremation usually follows the visitation period and funeral service that has been arranged. It should be noted that various religions have specific guidelines regarding cremation and, if this is preferred, the appropriate people should be consulted before final decisions are made.

How does cremation take place?

The body is enclosed in an acceptable rigid combustible container, and placed in a cremation chamber. Through the process of heat and evaporation, the body is reduced to its basic elements, known as the cremated remains. The cremated remains are actually not ashes, and do not have the appearance of ashes. They are, in fact, bone fragments. After preparation, these elements are placed in an urn.

Is a casket required for a cremation?

Some form of rigid combustible casket or container is required by the crematorium. The container must be strong enough to ensure the protection of the health and safety of the crematorium operators. It should provide a proper covering for the body and at least meet reasonable standards of respect and dignity.

Based on the request of the deceased, cremated remains may be scattered. Subsequently, families may feel the need for a place to visit to deal with their grief. It is possible to arrange such a place in a cemetery, even though there are no remains?

Yes. Memorialization of the deceased can be very important to survivors. The memorialization can take place in several forms. A funeral consultant will be able to help you make the arrangements.

What happens to the cremated remains?

Cremated remains may be interred in a cemetery garden or placed in a niche above ground, in a cemetery structure called a columbarium. Some families choose to keep cremated remains at home for a time, or to scatter all or some of the remains. In many cases, cremated remains must be claimed from the funeral home within a year.

Is it legal to scatter cremated remains in some well-loved place?

There are municipal laws relating to where and how cremated remains may be scattered. Consult your funeral director.

What are some consequences that arise from the scattering of cremated remains?

First of all, you need to know whether it is legal to do so. And, depending on where they are scattered, family members may not be able to visit the site whenever they wish. In fact, the site might be redeveloped and never be accessible again. It is also important to consider how the scattering may transform that place, affecting future visits, because it is now a cemetery. Many cemeteries, however, have areas for scattering, or "common ground", enabling visits whenever one wishes - forever.

Why should I be memorialized?

There is a basic human need to remember, and to be remembered. Memorialization acknowledges that a person has lived, not that he or she has died. The memorial site affords an opportunity to reflect on the unique relationship one has had with that person and how he or she shaped who we are and how we live. The memorial provides a physical presence, a place to visit for family and friends today and for future generations. Having this focal point allows survivors to separate their grieving from their home, better enabling them to cope with life.

I want cremation, but my wife does not. Can we be buried together?

Yes. Many couples have differing preferences regarding final arrangements, just as they may about other choices in life. Leading cemeteries offer specially selected items that are designed to accommodate couples with differing wishes.

We have an urn at home with the remains of a beloved family pet. Can this urn be with us in the cemetery when we die?

Sorry, no. Cemeteries designated for human remains are not permitted to knowingly inter remains which are not human. Some communities have a pet cemetery available.

Is cremation simpler or less expensive than a traditional casket burial?

While the term "simpler" is often associated with cremation, the opposite is actually true. Casket interments are generally complete within three to four days from time of death. Cremation is a process that can add as much as two weeks to this time, before remains are available to the family and disposition of them can be completed.

Cremation is not necessarily cheaper, as the total costs related to a death when cremation is chosen depend on specific selections made. This is equally true when casket interment is chosen. Nothing is automatic, except that a metal casket may not be used for cremation.

What is a niche in a cemetery?

A niche is a space above ground, in a structure called a columbarium. These are often walls or columns grouped in a garden setting. The niche is the preferred choice for those who select cremation because they "don't want to be in the ground".

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Pre-arrangements

What's the difference between pre-planning and pre-arranging?

"Pre-planning" is the process of selecting the choices and having them on file at a funeral home. It may also include the step of informing the family members of these choices and preferences.

"Pre-arrangement" involves pre-payment of these wishes, thereby alleviating some emotional strain for survivors, eliminating the financial burden for them, and guaranteeing that the costs are protected against inflation.

What does a funeral home do with money that's been paid for pre-arrangements?

When funds are paid directly to the funeral home, federal and provincial regulations state that such a payment constitutes a contract and that a "trust" has been established. In other words, the funeral home may not touch the funds under any circumstances. The Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation protects the funds in the same way as money in a bank or trust company.

Increasingly, people are recognizing the advantages and flexibility available to them by funding their pre-arranged funeral with specially designed insurance. Such policies still provide for guaranteed delivery of services, while freezing prices today.

Can I pre-arrange everything?

All funeral home services and merchandise can be arranged and paid for in advance. This includes everything from the funeral service to limousines, caskets and urns. Leading cemeteries also provide for pre-arrangement of their services, including spaces, burial vaults or urns, and memorialization.

So, after I've pre-arranged my funeral, is everything taken care of?

No. At the time of death, both funeral and cemetery require authorization from the legal next-of-kin before they carry out your arrangements.

What if I do not pre-arrange and there's no one to make my arrangements after I'm gone?

If there are no family members and you have not empowered an executor, the government will step in and make the arrangements. Because there are no final instructions from you, they will do as they see fit.

When I make the arrangements, will all services and costs be explained to me completely?

Yes. Nothing is hidden and there is ample opportunity for questions, especially when funeral details are pre-arranged.

Is personal information that I give to the funeral home confidential?

Yes, absolutely.

If I pre-arrange my final arrangements now, what happens if I decide to move?

Making your pre-arrangements with a firm affiliated with other locations will generally make some sort of transfer arrangement available throughout that network. Prepaid funds that are in trust may also be refunded to the purchaser in accordance with provincial regulations, upon receipt of written instructions.

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Funeral Services in Other Areas

Can a funeral director arrange a service in another community?

Yes

What happens in the event of a death away from home?

The funeral director in your home town will make arrangements with a funeral home in the place of death to have the deceased person returned to his or her home community. Insurance is available that may cover the cost of transportation to another location.

If I pre-arrange my final arrangements now, what happens if I decide to move?

Making your pre-arrangements with a firm affiliated with other locations will generally make some sort of transfer arrangement available throughout that network. Prepaid funds that are in trust may also be refunded to the purchaser in accordance with provincial regulations, upon receipt of written instructions.

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Counselling

1. Be an informed consumer. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

2. Choose a funeral home and / or cemetery with a good reputation, or one that has been recommended by someone whose judgement you trust.

3. Ask your consultant to put all your arrangements in writing and provide family members with copies.

4. Keep your own copy in a safe but accessible place (not a safety deposit box) and tell close family members its location.

5. Have a family member with you to help you with decisions.

6. Make sure the plan you select is flexible, allowing a provision for moving in the future.

7. Read the agreement before signing it. Ask questions about anything you do not understand or that causes you concern.

8. If you are uncomfortable about any part of the arrangement, feel free to walk away. Every reputable firm understands how important these decisions are, and will respect your desire to have everything just right.

If you need any additional information, just contact one of our consultants. It's free and without any obligation on your part.

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