Funeral Planning in Alberta

When is comes to dealing with the death of a person most people use a funeral home to assist with the disposition and memorialization of the body. However that is not your only option. There is also family-led death care that is often used in other parts of the world. More information on this option is provided below under Home Death Care. 

decisions you will face

Here are some considerations you'll face when arranging a funeral:
  1. Reflect on the appropriate farewell that best honours the person's lifestyle, mindful of staying within your financial means. Consider having a trusted friend or family member join you in making these arrangements.
  2. Decide whether the deceased will be buried or cremated.
  3. Determine if embalming is necessary.
  4. Choose the type of casket desired.
  5. Identify who has the authority to make funeral arrangements:
  • The personal representative (executor) named in the deceased's will.
  • The spouse, common law spouse, or interdependent adult partner who was living with the deceased at the time of death.
  • An adult child of the deceased.
  • A parent of the deceased.
  • A guardian of the deceased under applicable laws.
  • An adult grandchild, sibling, nephew, niece, or next of kin as determined by law.
  • The Public Trustee or another qualified adult with a relationship to the deceased.
  • The Minister of Human Services, if necessary.
In cases where multiple individuals of equal priority must decide, the eldest in that rank takes precedence unless otherwise agreed upon. If the designated person is unavailable or unwilling to provide instructions, the right passes to the next qualified individual.

​Living with the deceased includes situations where the deceased resided in a health care facility before death, and the spouse, common law spouse, or partner continued providing typical support indicating a commitment to a permanent relationship, or where the deceased and spouse/partner lived apart due to reasons unrelated to relationship breakdown.
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Farewell service

Funeral services can vary widely, ranging from modest to elaborate, and can be either private or public, taking place in settings such as churches, funeral chapels, or other designated facilities. There are primarily two types of services:
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  1. Traditional Funeral Service:
    • A traditional funeral service involves gathering in a church, funeral chapel, or another venue with the deceased present. This is typically followed by burial, cremation, or entombment.
    • Key components may include:
      • Transporting the deceased to the funeral home.
      • Utilizing funeral home facilities.
      • Embalming and cosmetic preparations.
      • Selecting a casket.
      • Using a funeral coach for transportation to the cemetery or crematorium.
      • Organizing religious ceremonies.
      • Registering the death and securing a burial permit.
      • Placing newspaper obituary notices.
      • Arranging floral tributes.
      • Providing funeral stationery such as service folders, memorial booklets, or video tributes.
    • Funeral directors are legally mandated to present a written contract detailing all goods and services provided along with associated costs. Additional expenses may include cremation fees, cemetery charges, flowers, monuments, obituary fees, and honorariums.
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  2. Memorial Service:
    • A memorial service typically occurs shortly after or within weeks of the death.
    • Similar to funerals, memorial services can be intimate or expansive and are often conducted in churches, funeral home chapels, or other appropriate venues.
    • Unlike traditional funerals, memorial services are held in the absence of the deceased. This may occur when the deceased was promptly buried, cremated, or donated for medical purposes before any formal service.
These two types of services allow families and friends to honour and remember their loved ones according to personal preferences and circumstances surrounding the departure.
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Burial or Cremation

Choosing between burial and cremation in Alberta involves several considerations. Burial, a traditional choice, remains popular, while cremation is increasingly preferred and is the number one disposition method for CMS members because it is considerably less expensive. Factors influencing this decision include the deceased's wishes, personal values, and religious beliefs.

​Burial:
  • Burials must occur in registered cemeteries and typically involve two methods:
    1. Earth Burial: The deceased is placed in a casket and interred in the ground.
    2. Mausoleum Burial: Less common, where the deceased and casket are placed in a mausoleum or tomb above or below ground.
  • Cemeteries, managed by churches, municipalities, or private entities, vary in costs and regulations. It's crucial to obtain a written cost breakdown before purchasing a plot or services.
  • Additional considerations include grave prices, cemetery restrictions on markers, maintenance fees, and options for multiple burials in a single plot.
Cremation:
  • Before cremation, the Medical Examiner reviews and approves the Medical Certificate of Death.
  • Alberta law does not mandate the use of a burial casket for cremation. Instead, a combustible and sturdy container with handles is required.
  • After cremation, remains typically weigh 2 to 3 kilograms and pose no health risks. Families may handle the cremated remains as they see fit.
  • Cemeteries offer various options for interring cremated remains, such as urn gardens or columbariums.
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Planning Ahead

  • Prearranging funeral arrangements offers benefits such as relieving family burdens and ensuring preferences are respected.
  • Options include guaranteed pre-need contracts, insurance policies, setting wishes in writing, or storing instructions with a funeral home or memorial society.
  • Prearranged funeral contracts in Alberta are regulated, ensuring transparency in services and costs. Cancelling a contract within 30 days incurs no penalties, with options available thereafter.

​Conclusion: Understanding these options helps families make informed decisions aligned with personal, cultural, and financial considerations when facing end-of-life arrangements in Alberta. View the tabs under this section to learn more. 
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Useful Resources 

Final Arrangements Brochure (written by CMS)

​Funeral Planning in Alberta (by the AFSRB)

The Funeral Services General Regulations provides a priority list of who has the authority to make funeral arrangements.
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Home Death Care

Death Doulas and Home Death Care 
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CMS Funeral Service ProvideRS & PLANS

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