Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Did you change your domain name?
Yes, on September 20, 2024, our website changed from www.calgarymemorial.com to www.coopmemorial.org. This change reflects our commitment to serving members across Alberta, beyond just Calgary, and better aligns with our cooperative identity. Our old domain will redirect you to the new domain.
What does it cost to join CMS?
The one-time fee for lifetime membership is $40, plus a $2.15 fee for online payments (waived for cheque payments by mail). After death, a $35 administration fee is collected by the funeral home on behalf of CMS.
What are the fees used for?
Fees cover the operation of CMS, including expenses such as printing, advertising, website maintenance, administration, bank charges, and software. This also includes the salaries of two part-time employees who support our cooperative and member needs.
Is membership transferable?
Membership cannot be transferred to another person but can be transferred to memorial societies across Canada, with a nominal transfer fee to cover the transfer costs.
Is CMS part of Calgary Co-op?
No, we are an independent cooperative. However, Calgary Co-op and Medicine Hat food stores carry our brochures at their customer service centres.
Do I Have to Prepay for Funeral Services?
No, you are not required to prepay for funeral services. However, we strongly encourage both preplanning and prepaying to maximize savings and reduce the burden on your family during a difficult time. Preplanning allows you to make informed choices, ensuring your wishes are respected, while prepaying can lock in current prices and provide financial predictability. This approach helps prevent unexpected expenses and minimizes stress for your loved ones. Arrangements for prepayment can be made directly with most of our partnering funeral service providers.
What happens if death occurs away from home?
There are insurance options, such as "Journey Home" by TruStage, that provide coverage for repatriation costs if death occurs more than 100km from your primary residence. The insurance costs about $599/person for lifetime coverage. We advise discussing it in more detail with your local funeral provider before traveling.
What are the benefits of CMS membership?
How does membership work?
Your membership becomes active upon successful payment processing, and your profile is stored in our database. Partnering funeral homes can access this information to verify your membership and retrieve your plans. If you prefer not to use the online registry, you can fill out a Funeral Preferences/Guidance Form and share it with your next-of-kin to ensure your wishes are honoured.
Can I purchase a membership for someone else?
Yes, you can purchase a membership for another person. Please provide the recipient’s information during the purchase process, while using your own payment details. A welcome email will be sent to the provided email address.
How does the registry work?
We securely manage and back up member information according to Alberta’s privacy laws. An active email address is required for registry access. Without an email, you can still be a member, but your next-of-kin will need to contact us or one of our partnering funeral providers to access your membership information.
Ways to Purchase a Membership:
Yes, on September 20, 2024, our website changed from www.calgarymemorial.com to www.coopmemorial.org. This change reflects our commitment to serving members across Alberta, beyond just Calgary, and better aligns with our cooperative identity. Our old domain will redirect you to the new domain.
What does it cost to join CMS?
The one-time fee for lifetime membership is $40, plus a $2.15 fee for online payments (waived for cheque payments by mail). After death, a $35 administration fee is collected by the funeral home on behalf of CMS.
What are the fees used for?
Fees cover the operation of CMS, including expenses such as printing, advertising, website maintenance, administration, bank charges, and software. This also includes the salaries of two part-time employees who support our cooperative and member needs.
Is membership transferable?
Membership cannot be transferred to another person but can be transferred to memorial societies across Canada, with a nominal transfer fee to cover the transfer costs.
Is CMS part of Calgary Co-op?
No, we are an independent cooperative. However, Calgary Co-op and Medicine Hat food stores carry our brochures at their customer service centres.
Do I Have to Prepay for Funeral Services?
No, you are not required to prepay for funeral services. However, we strongly encourage both preplanning and prepaying to maximize savings and reduce the burden on your family during a difficult time. Preplanning allows you to make informed choices, ensuring your wishes are respected, while prepaying can lock in current prices and provide financial predictability. This approach helps prevent unexpected expenses and minimizes stress for your loved ones. Arrangements for prepayment can be made directly with most of our partnering funeral service providers.
What happens if death occurs away from home?
There are insurance options, such as "Journey Home" by TruStage, that provide coverage for repatriation costs if death occurs more than 100km from your primary residence. The insurance costs about $599/person for lifetime coverage. We advise discussing it in more detail with your local funeral provider before traveling.
What are the benefits of CMS membership?
- Stress-Free Planning: Advance funeral planning without pressure, allowing for thoughtful decisions and peace of mind for you and your family.
- Cost Savings: Special member pricing helps reduce funeral costs. For example, on average our members can save $3500 on a basic cremation.
- Trusted Providers: Access to caring, professional support from locally owned funeral homes that prioritize community values and ensure no hard upselling.
- Open and Transparent Pricing: Benefit from open and transparent pricing for everyone, regardless of diversity, ensuring fair and equitable access to end-of-life planning services.
How does membership work?
Your membership becomes active upon successful payment processing, and your profile is stored in our database. Partnering funeral homes can access this information to verify your membership and retrieve your plans. If you prefer not to use the online registry, you can fill out a Funeral Preferences/Guidance Form and share it with your next-of-kin to ensure your wishes are honoured.
Can I purchase a membership for someone else?
Yes, you can purchase a membership for another person. Please provide the recipient’s information during the purchase process, while using your own payment details. A welcome email will be sent to the provided email address.
How does the registry work?
We securely manage and back up member information according to Alberta’s privacy laws. An active email address is required for registry access. Without an email, you can still be a member, but your next-of-kin will need to contact us or one of our partnering funeral providers to access your membership information.
Ways to Purchase a Membership:
- Online: Use your credit card to pay $40 plus a $2.15 handling fee.
- By Mail: Send a $40 cheque to:
Cooperative Memorial Society
Suite 204A, 223-12th Ave. SW
Calgary, AB T2R 0G9