The best way to understand what CMS membership means is to hear from the people who have lived it. These are their words.
"I had no idea of the cost difference until CMS clarified it for me. Without membership, the same cremation plan would have cost thousands more. This is a real benefit, and I'm going to encourage all my friends to think about CMS. Thank you for all your help." — Elaine B.
"I wanted to reach out to let you know that my mom passed away peacefully, with all of us kids by her side. The funeral went off without a hitch. When the bills were tallied, I believe CMS saved us about $3,000." — CMS Member
"I can't thank CMS enough for all the support during such a difficult time. They guided me through every step — from helping my husband transition from home to hospice to arranging his membership. After he passed, I was amazed at how much we saved. Our bill at McInnis & Holloway was less than $3,000. I am truly grateful for the care and assistance we received." — CMS Member
"When my dad passed, everything — from bringing him into care to arranging the cremation — was smoothly handled. Knowing his wishes were honoured was a real comfort. The cost difference was striking: my mom's funeral had cost $8,000, while Dad's through CMS was just $2,700. It was a relief to focus on saying goodbye without the stress of complicated arrangements or high costs." — CMS Member
"When our father passed away, we were overwhelmed with grief. Thankfully, he had taken the thoughtful step of becoming a CMS member. His wishes and arrangements were already prepared — there was no confusion, no unexpected costs, and no disagreements among family members. Only calm, and relief. CMS gave us the space to grieve without worrying about logistics. The support we received was more than practical — it was compassionate. If you love someone, give them the gift of peace and certainty through CMS." — Tracey P. and Brian L.
"This week, a young man reached out to CMS in desperation. His wife's only sibling had passed away suddenly, leaving them — a family with three young children under seven and limited financial resources — responsible for the funeral. It turned out that a colleague of the deceased had purchased a CMS membership, which significantly reduced the costs. As I reflected on this story on my drive home, it struck me: a $40 membership and a few acts of kindness can truly make a profound difference." — Caroline, CMS Staff
"I have experienced the support of CMS during both my mother's passing and, more recently, my best friend's. It is truly one of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones — clear instructions and everything arranged in advance. Both families deeply appreciated the foresight of their loved one. It was seamless. I highly recommend gifting a CMS membership, both for yourself and for someone you care about. The value of the information alone is worth the fee — it saves money and offers unparalleled peace of mind." — Brian H.
"Mom was the one who found out about CMS and persuaded some of her children to buy memberships. Being part of the Memorial Society helped us as we planned her memorial. Thank you for the work you do. Your words of condolence brought us comfort in our grief." — Marita, Nina's daughter
"My wife Sharon and I met with our CMS funeral home partner this morning. We had struggled for some time to get our affairs in order. After our meeting, the fear of leaving a burden for our family was completely gone. Every piece of advice made perfect sense, and we left feeling confident and at ease. I cannot adequately express how meaningful it is to have our arrangements finalized. The reduction in stress is immeasurable." — Larry A.
"Both my sister and I are big fans of the memorial society model, and we're glad our mom made that choice when she did. Thank you so much for your help and for doing such good work for people when they need it most." — Wil M.
"In 1999 I was the primary caregiver, enduring power of attorney, and executor for my good friend Stuart, who was dying of cancer. My mother introduced me to CMS, and we enrolled Stuart as a member right away — thankfully, as only the living are eligible to join. When he passed a week later, the funeral home handled everything flawlessly: transportation, all legal documents, the obituary, and the return of the ashes and certificates — all within the week, and at a fraction of typical costs. Take it from someone who has been through it: becoming a CMS member should be your next step. Where else can you spend $40 and potentially save thousands?" — Alan Davis Note: The specific figures in Alan's account are from an earlier era, but his experience reflects what members continue to tell us today.
"I have MS and am not able to get out much, so I depend on my computer to get things done. I heard about CMS and checked it out online. The site was easy to navigate, and I purchased a membership. I followed through with the service provider and completed all my pre-planning. Now I can rest assured that I've saved money and that my executor won't be overwhelmed with decisions. Thank you for this incredibly valuable service." — Marlee C., High River
"I am astounded and very touched by the quickness and clarity of your response. It is a great help at this time." — R. Birks
"I'm telling everybody about you, and thanks so much for being available to people. I think it's so important. Much love for what you do." — G.P.
"The society was very helpful when my husband passed away. The service was great and the price was very reasonable. My mom's funeral — not through CMS — cost over $12,000 in Lethbridge, not including the casket she pre-purchased or the burial plot. The difference speaks for itself." — Kyera L. (via Google)
"I tell everyone about CMS. When my husband died at the hospice, the staff asked what I would like to do. All I did was pull his membership card out of my wallet — and everything was answered." — Lola
"This is a note to let you know how pleased my father and our family were with the service provided for the cremation of my mother, who was a CMS member. The staff took plenty of time to explain everything and provided very good value. Your co-operative is a truly valuable alternative for people." — David H., Calgary
"In the course of my work with CMS, I have witnessed the stress that people go through while mourning, and the incredible gratitude that members have for the services they receive. It's amazing that such a small fee and a lifetime membership can lead to such significant savings and peace of mind for people of all walks of life. The discounts seemed too good to be true — but this is just an example of the remarkable potential of a co-operative structure. The fact that membership also helps people plan ahead, empowering them to make their own decisions, makes it even more valuable." — Shannon H.
"I believe CMS promotes and delivers an important service by providing the chance to plan sensibly and affordably for yourself and your family. Emotions run high when a loved one dies, so it is best to plan and communicate your wishes beforehand. CMS provides the means to do exactly that. Because I believe it offers a genuinely worthwhile community service, I have contributed to the Society for the last 25 years." — Sigrid W., Calgary
"I joined CMS in 1995 along with my family because I wanted to provide an economical yet dignified funeral." — Nellie M., Calgary
Shortly after joining as a member, Nellie joined the CMS Board of Directors and went on to become our longest-serving director.
"My husband passed away and we had excellent service from our CMS funeral home partner. The body was transferred from Red Deer, and the total bill was $1,494.68. That is a tremendous saving compared to what it would have cost without a Memorial Society membership. It is such a blessing to be able to go through a death and a funeral without incurring a huge debt as well. Thank you." — CMS Member
Note: CMS now has a service provider in Red Deer.
"I had no idea of the cost difference until CMS clarified it for me. Without membership, the same cremation plan would have cost thousands more. This is a real benefit, and I'm going to encourage all my friends to think about CMS. Thank you for all your help." — Elaine B.
"I wanted to reach out to let you know that my mom passed away peacefully, with all of us kids by her side. The funeral went off without a hitch. When the bills were tallied, I believe CMS saved us about $3,000." — CMS Member
"I can't thank CMS enough for all the support during such a difficult time. They guided me through every step — from helping my husband transition from home to hospice to arranging his membership. After he passed, I was amazed at how much we saved. Our bill at McInnis & Holloway was less than $3,000. I am truly grateful for the care and assistance we received." — CMS Member
"When my dad passed, everything — from bringing him into care to arranging the cremation — was smoothly handled. Knowing his wishes were honoured was a real comfort. The cost difference was striking: my mom's funeral had cost $8,000, while Dad's through CMS was just $2,700. It was a relief to focus on saying goodbye without the stress of complicated arrangements or high costs." — CMS Member
"When our father passed away, we were overwhelmed with grief. Thankfully, he had taken the thoughtful step of becoming a CMS member. His wishes and arrangements were already prepared — there was no confusion, no unexpected costs, and no disagreements among family members. Only calm, and relief. CMS gave us the space to grieve without worrying about logistics. The support we received was more than practical — it was compassionate. If you love someone, give them the gift of peace and certainty through CMS." — Tracey P. and Brian L.
"This week, a young man reached out to CMS in desperation. His wife's only sibling had passed away suddenly, leaving them — a family with three young children under seven and limited financial resources — responsible for the funeral. It turned out that a colleague of the deceased had purchased a CMS membership, which significantly reduced the costs. As I reflected on this story on my drive home, it struck me: a $40 membership and a few acts of kindness can truly make a profound difference." — Caroline, CMS Staff
"I have experienced the support of CMS during both my mother's passing and, more recently, my best friend's. It is truly one of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones — clear instructions and everything arranged in advance. Both families deeply appreciated the foresight of their loved one. It was seamless. I highly recommend gifting a CMS membership, both for yourself and for someone you care about. The value of the information alone is worth the fee — it saves money and offers unparalleled peace of mind." — Brian H.
"Mom was the one who found out about CMS and persuaded some of her children to buy memberships. Being part of the Memorial Society helped us as we planned her memorial. Thank you for the work you do. Your words of condolence brought us comfort in our grief." — Marita, Nina's daughter
"My wife Sharon and I met with our CMS funeral home partner this morning. We had struggled for some time to get our affairs in order. After our meeting, the fear of leaving a burden for our family was completely gone. Every piece of advice made perfect sense, and we left feeling confident and at ease. I cannot adequately express how meaningful it is to have our arrangements finalized. The reduction in stress is immeasurable." — Larry A.
"Both my sister and I are big fans of the memorial society model, and we're glad our mom made that choice when she did. Thank you so much for your help and for doing such good work for people when they need it most." — Wil M.
"In 1999 I was the primary caregiver, enduring power of attorney, and executor for my good friend Stuart, who was dying of cancer. My mother introduced me to CMS, and we enrolled Stuart as a member right away — thankfully, as only the living are eligible to join. When he passed a week later, the funeral home handled everything flawlessly: transportation, all legal documents, the obituary, and the return of the ashes and certificates — all within the week, and at a fraction of typical costs. Take it from someone who has been through it: becoming a CMS member should be your next step. Where else can you spend $40 and potentially save thousands?" — Alan Davis Note: The specific figures in Alan's account are from an earlier era, but his experience reflects what members continue to tell us today.
"I have MS and am not able to get out much, so I depend on my computer to get things done. I heard about CMS and checked it out online. The site was easy to navigate, and I purchased a membership. I followed through with the service provider and completed all my pre-planning. Now I can rest assured that I've saved money and that my executor won't be overwhelmed with decisions. Thank you for this incredibly valuable service." — Marlee C., High River
"I am astounded and very touched by the quickness and clarity of your response. It is a great help at this time." — R. Birks
"I'm telling everybody about you, and thanks so much for being available to people. I think it's so important. Much love for what you do." — G.P.
"The society was very helpful when my husband passed away. The service was great and the price was very reasonable. My mom's funeral — not through CMS — cost over $12,000 in Lethbridge, not including the casket she pre-purchased or the burial plot. The difference speaks for itself." — Kyera L. (via Google)
"I tell everyone about CMS. When my husband died at the hospice, the staff asked what I would like to do. All I did was pull his membership card out of my wallet — and everything was answered." — Lola
"This is a note to let you know how pleased my father and our family were with the service provided for the cremation of my mother, who was a CMS member. The staff took plenty of time to explain everything and provided very good value. Your co-operative is a truly valuable alternative for people." — David H., Calgary
"In the course of my work with CMS, I have witnessed the stress that people go through while mourning, and the incredible gratitude that members have for the services they receive. It's amazing that such a small fee and a lifetime membership can lead to such significant savings and peace of mind for people of all walks of life. The discounts seemed too good to be true — but this is just an example of the remarkable potential of a co-operative structure. The fact that membership also helps people plan ahead, empowering them to make their own decisions, makes it even more valuable." — Shannon H.
"I believe CMS promotes and delivers an important service by providing the chance to plan sensibly and affordably for yourself and your family. Emotions run high when a loved one dies, so it is best to plan and communicate your wishes beforehand. CMS provides the means to do exactly that. Because I believe it offers a genuinely worthwhile community service, I have contributed to the Society for the last 25 years." — Sigrid W., Calgary
"I joined CMS in 1995 along with my family because I wanted to provide an economical yet dignified funeral." — Nellie M., Calgary
Shortly after joining as a member, Nellie joined the CMS Board of Directors and went on to become our longest-serving director.
"My husband passed away and we had excellent service from our CMS funeral home partner. The body was transferred from Red Deer, and the total bill was $1,494.68. That is a tremendous saving compared to what it would have cost without a Memorial Society membership. It is such a blessing to be able to go through a death and a funeral without incurring a huge debt as well. Thank you." — CMS Member
Note: CMS now has a service provider in Red Deer.
These are real experiences shared by real members. If CMS has made a difference for your family, we'd be honoured to hear from you.