A guide to funeral planning: Everything you need to know

Planning a funeral can be an emotional time, but understanding the steps involved can help you feel more prepared and supported.

Plus, you don’t need to navigate the funeral planning process alone. In fact, there are plenty of grief support services and experienced professionals available to support you. Discover everything you need to know about planning a funeral to help take the guesswork out of celebrating the life of a loved one.

Planning a funeral

After the passing of a loved one, one of the first things you’ll need to consider is how you’ll celebrate their life. Contacting a range of funeral homes in your local area can help you understand what options are available to you.

These professionals will discuss the arrangements that need to be made with you, from selecting a casket or urn, deciding on ceremony details, as well as taking care of legal and financial requirements, such as:

• Registering the death and obtaining the official death certificate
• Assisting with burial or cremation permits
• Ensuring compliance with local regulations
• Co-ordinating with cemeteries or crematoriums to relay costs

While every funeral is unique, some common items that may be on your funeral plan checklist can include:

• Location: This could be a church, cemetery, or public hall.
• Date and time: Usually, a funeral takes place not too long after your family member has passed away; most people usually opt for the week following the death.
• Floral arrangements: Consider what your loved one would have wanted or what was their favourite.
• Officiants: Will you nominate a priest, civil celebrant, or funeral director?
• Final wishes: Consider things like whether your family member wanted a religious or secular ceremony, dress code, or any special tributes. These can be found in their will, plans, or taken from personal conversations you may have had with them.

Cremation vs. burial

With cremation becoming a more popular choice than a traditional burial, it's helpful to know what the deceased's final wishes were regarding cremation or burial. If they didn’t specify this in their will or estate plan, choosing between a burial or cremation depends on what feels more comfortable for you and your family.

If it comes to making a decision on their behalf, it can be useful to compare the two options.

The cost of a funeral

In Canada, the cost of a funeral service largely depends on whether you choose a burial or cremation. Costs can also vary between locations, with services usually costing more in larger cities.

When working out a cost for the funeral, there are several factors to keep in mind:

• The cost of a casket: Caskets can range from basic models to models using high-end materials like solid wood or metal, which changes the cost.
• The complexity of the funeral service itself: A small graveside ceremony can be less expensive than a full traditional funeral, which may include viewings, flowers, and a formal venue, like a church or chapel.
• The location and type of burial plot: An opulent, custom mausoleum can come with a price tag of $8,000 to over $100,000, whereas standard lawn plots can be more affordable.

The average cost of a funeral in Canada can be up to $15,000 if you choose a burial, and up to $3,000 if you choose cremation. These costs include the services of the funeral director, the casket or cremation container, and the cremation or burial itself.

Memorial and funeral service

Planning a memorial or funeral service is a deeply personal way to celebrate a loved one’s life. Taking the time to plan the service can create a meaningful experience for your family and friends.

Here are some important things to consider when arranging a memorial or funeral ceremony:

• Consider your loved one’s final wishes: Check their will or estate plan for preferences they had for service style, traditions, or burial location.
• Choose a funeral officiant: Decide who will lead your loved one’s ceremony. It could be a funeral director, a celebrant, or a religious leader.
• Select a special location: This could be a funeral home, a family home, or a place of worship.
• Incorporate personal touches: Reflect your loved one’s personality and life with music, poetry, or photo displays.
• Decide on flowers or donations: Consider whether to accept flowers or suggest donations to a charity in the deceased's name.

Wake

A wake usually takes place after a funeral service and is a less formal service than a funeral. The main purpose of a wake is to give the opportunity for loved ones to share memories, stories and celebrate the life of the deceased. If holding a wake feels too overwhelming, it's okay to consider holding a wake or memorial service at a later date or not at all.

A wake can be held at home or somewhere like a pub, restaurant, or social club. Most people who attend the funeral will usually also attend the wake. If you want a more private wake, you can just invite a select few people separately.

The cost of a wake can be different depending on your choices. Having a smaller wake somewhere like your home or a social club will be more affordable than renting a large public venue with lots of guests. There is no right or wrong way to do this, and you should make decisions based on both your budget and what's important to you and your family.

Financial support

Seeking out financial support when planning a funeral can take some of the stress out of the process. Final expenses insurance can be used to pay for funeral costs and other end-of-life planning. If your family member has invested in this kind of insurance, the beneficiary will receive a lump sum to cover funeral planning and any other end-of-life expenses.

Grief support

Planning a funeral while navigating grief can be overwhelming. Making decisions while processing deep loss is hard to navigate alone. Leaning on friends, family, or professionals like grief counsellors can give you the emotional support you need. There are many grief support groups, too, so you can sit and talk with people who are going through the same thing as you.

Here are some resources that can help during this difficult time:

• MyGrief.ca: Provides online grief support and services
• The Lifeline: Offers bereavement programs and support groups
• Healing Hearts Canada: Offers access to bereavement support groups

End of life planning

Some people are very specific about what they want when it comes to end-of-life planning. If your loved one had any plans in place (either in a will or an estate plan outlining their wishes) this can be a helpful place to start when funeral planning.

Understanding the key decisions of planning a funeral service, like the type of service, location, and personal touches, can make the process easier. Try to focus on what feels most meaningful for your loved ones and their family and friends.

Preparing in advance can also help ease financial stress when it’s time. NorthCover Final Expenses Insurance provides peace of mind and gives your loved ones the support they need when it matters most.

Get a free quote for final expenses insurance

Planning for your final wishes can be a smart thing to do, whether for yourself or to help ease the burden of your loved ones when it's time. Find out how North Cover Final Expenses Insurance can help.