When a loved one dies, grieving family members and friends often are confronted with dozens of decisions about the funeral arrangements in Alberta – all of which must be made quickly and often under great emotional duress.
What kind of funeral should it be? What funeral provider in Alberta should you use? Should you bury or cremate the body, or donate it to science? What are you legally required to buy? What other arrangements should you plan in Alberta? And, as callous as it may sound, how much is it all going to cost?
Planning Alberta Funeral Arrangements
.Here you can learn what to do if a friend or loved one in Alberta has just died or if death is expected sometime soon. The following Alberta funeral arrangements guide will take you through the steps of arranging a funeral from making the first call when someone dies to the various arrangements to be made following the funeral.
1. First Call
The deceased is still at the place of death and a ‘first call’ needs to be made to arrange for transportation of the deceased to a funeral home or other funeral service facility in Alberta
2. Deceased Transportation
The First Call results in an initial transfer of the deceased from the place of death to a funeral home or other facility in Alberta. In some cases, a second transfer may be required either – locally to another funeral home – or to another city for ceremonies and burial.
3. Funeral Services in Alberta
Planning a funeral involves making many decisions concerning funeral ceremonies, funeral products and final disposition of the body. For assistance in arranging funerals people usually turn to Alberta funeral directors.
4. Alberta Cemetery Arrangements
If cemetery property has not already been purchased, it will be necessary to meet with a cemetery representative in Alberta to purchase a burial or entombment space. In some cases, the funeral director can make these arrangements on behalf of a family.
5. Funeral and Memorial Products available in Alberta
There are various options for purchasing caskets, grave markers, and other funeral merchandise in Alberta. These products are available through a funeral home, cemetery, monument company, or other retailer.
6. Estate, Financial and Administrative Matters
Following the funeral, the affairs of the deceased must be put in order. These matters range from sending death notices to filing death benefit claims to changing title of the Alberta deceased’s belongings.
The Seven Rules For Effective Funeral Planning in Alberta
1. Shop around in advance. Compare prices from at least two funeral homes in Alberta. Remember that you can supply your own casket or urn.
2. Ask for a price list. The law requires funeral homes to give you written price lists for products and services in Alberta.
3. Resist pressure to buy goods and services you don’t really want or need.
4. Avoid emotional overspending. It’s not necessary to have the fanciest casket or the most elaborate funeral to properly honor a loved one.
5. Recognize your rights. Laws regarding funerals and burials vary from state to state. It’s a smart move to know which goods or services the law requires you to purchase and which are optional in Alberta.
6. Apply the same smart shopping techniques you use for other major purchases. You can cut costs by limiting the viewing to one day or one hour before the funeral, and by dressing your loved one in a favorite outfit instead of costly burial clothing.
7. Plan ahead. It allows you to comparison shop in Alberta without time constraints, creates an opportunity for family discussion, and lifts some of the burden from your family.
