Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board,
11810 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5G 0X5
- Telephone: (780) 452-6130
- Toll Free: (800) 563-4652
- Fax: (780) 452-6085
- Email Address: office@afsrb.ab.ca
Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board,
11810 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5G 0X5
- Telephone: (780) 452-6130
- Toll Free: (800) 563-4652
- Fax: (780) 452-6085
- Email Address: office@afsrb.ab.ca
No. Preplanning a funeral means just what the name implies. Simply put, it is choosing all the preferences and options incorporated in a funeral, while providing the necessary vital statistic information that would be required at the time of death.
Prepaying a funeral is securing and "freezing" the funeral costs against inflation by funding the expenses prior to death. This can be in the form of a one time, lump sum payment or time payments made over the course of a set period. Please remember it doesn't cost anything to preplan a funeral. There is never a requirement to purchase a prepaid funeral contract in order to preplan. Should someone simply choose to preplan their funeral and not prepay it, all of the detailed information is still kept on record at the funeral home for easy reference in the event of a death. That information will prove invaluable to family at the time of death by providing a guide to the choices and wishes of the individual.
You are able to make rational and logical decisions. Saving your family the burden of having to make them under times of grief and stress.
The assurance that your wishes are known and will be carried out as specified and obtain piece of mind. You have the opportunity to discuss options with our funeral professional and also with your family, church, friends, etc.
It eliminates a financial burden to your family, it provides peace of mind, it protects one from price increases and it simplifies things for your loved ones at the time of your death.
Usually individuals who are retired and getting their affairs in order make prearrangements. Also, those individuals that are responsible for the care of someone who may be terminally ill or in a nursing home, retirement home or the hospital, often make these arrangements along with all other necessary planning. Anyone can prearrange a funeral and will find it relieving to know that their arrangements are taken care of.
Recording personal information that is required for Vital Statistics. This consists of full name, address, spouse's name, occupation, birth date, birthplace, parent's names and their birthplaces and your next of kin or executor.
Making service choices. Funeral or memorial service, burial, cremation or transfer to another city, music selections, personalized service folders, video presentation, participants (family and/or friends) to create a meaningful service.
Making specific selections. The selection of a casket or cremation container, an urn, a burial or urn vault, and a monument or memorial marker.
Arranging a payment plan. The services do not have to be prepaid, but the costs will be guaranteed not to increase if payment is made at one time or by monthly payments.
Yes, they are exempt from income tax under Bill C-70. This bill states that all pre-paid funeral deposits in trust, and accruing interest are protected from income tax.
The funds are deposited with a trust company and this is referred to as a "trusted prepaid".
With a "trusted prepaid", the money is deposited into a GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate). When the need arises, the money is available to the funeral home for payment of the funeral account. The money is transferable, refundable at any time and protected by provincial legislature through the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation. The monies held in trust by a funeral home are inspected and monitored by the Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board.
Another option is to place the money with a life insurance company which specializes in prepaid funeral plans. This is referred to as a "insurance prepaid".
Certainly. Keep in mind this money deposited in a trusted pre-paid funeral plan is always your money. Funds and interest earned may be returned to you on the receipt of a letter from you requesting its return, bearing your signature and the signature of a responsible witness.
Yes. Remember this is your contract. It is your money and the decisions are yours. Transfers of pre-paid contracts take place regularly and for good reasons such as: the contract holder moves, his/her contract is usually transferred to and is honoured by the funeral home in that city which the originating funeral home recommends. The Canadian - Independent Group of Funeral Homes have a network of over 700 funeral homes from coast to coast across Canada between which contracts are transferred regularly. The pre-paid funeral contract holders may transfer their contracts because they want to be closer to family, church or the funeral home serving that community. The pre-paid funeral contract may be transferred without cost to the contract holder.
Speaking to a family member gives you an opportunity to offer your services and make them feel you really care. If they wish to discuss their recent loss, don't hesitate to talk to the person about the deceased. Be a good listener. Sending an email expressing your sympathy is also appropriate. This is a service available through our website.
A personal note of sympathy is very meaningful. Express yourself openly and sincerely. An expression such as "I'm sorry to learn of your personal loss" is welcomed by the family and can be kept with other messages.
When a person calls at the funeral home, sympathy can be expressed by clasping hands, an embrace, or a simple statement of condolence, such as:
"I'm sorry."
"My sympathy to you."
"It was good to know Bob."
"Bob was a fine person and a friend of mine. He will be missed."
"My sympathy to your mother."
The family member in return may say:
"Thanks for coming."
"Bob talked about you often."
"I didn't realize so many people cared."
"Come see me when you can."
Encourage the bereaved to express their feelings and thoughts, but don't overwhelm them.
The family should acknowledge the flowers and messages sent by relatives and friends. When food and personal services are donated, these thoughtful acts also should be acknowledged, as should the services of the pallbearers. The funeral home has available printed acknowledgement cards which can be used by the family. When the sender is well known to the family, a short personal note should be written on the acknowledgment card expressing appreciation for a contribution or personal service received. The note can be short, such as:
"Thank you for the beautiful roses. The arrangement was lovely.
"The food you sent was so enjoyed by our family. Your kindness is deeply appreciated."
In most communities it is a practice to insert a public thank you in the newspaper.
Caskets are generally used for visitations and funeral services. They may be made of wood or metal and are available in a wide range of styles and prices.
Caskets made of wood are usually constructed of maple, oak, ash or elm. They are distinguished by the choice of finish, styling and fabric that is used to line the casket. The cost of hardwood caskets varies according to the type and thickness of the wood, the cloth selected for the interior and the details of the craftsmanship. Some wood caskets are covered with fabric.
Metal caskets are usually made from bronze, copper or steel. Most metal caskets are protective caskets that seal, that prevent the intrusion of air, water and other elements. The price difference between metal caskets is determined by the thickness of the metal and the type of cloth selected to line the interior.
A vault offers maximum protection from air and water intrusion as well as protecting the gravesite.
A concrete grave liner does not protect from air and water intrusion.
When talking to a child about death, it is first best to determine your own personal and spiritual views on the topic. Encourage an open and frank discussion. Hold your child as much as possible. Do not be afraid to admit that you are not sure of something. This is better than making something up that will later confuse or upset them. Do not be afraid to let your child see you cry. Explain why you are sad and reassure them that it is okay for them to feel sad and cry if they want to.
Never tell your child that the deceased "has gone to sleep" or "is on a long trip." This could make them afraid to go to sleep or afraid to to take a long trip. Explain that death is final and at this point you may incorporate your own spiritual and religious views on the subject. Any child old enough to love is old enough to grieve. We should not put a time limit on grieving, no two children are alike.
Encourage your child to attend the funeral and make visits to the cemetery, but never force them to go. They are members of the family and they too have a right to take a part in the service. By attending the funeral, it may often clear up any misconceptions they might have. If possible, let them take an active part in the service. For example, encourage them to write a letter to the deceased and let them put it in the casket or maybe serve as an active or honorary pallbearer. This makes them feel important and closer to the person who has died.
A child's understanding of death will vary based upon two main factors: their level of development and their prior experience with death. The very young child (2-4 years) has a limited concept of what death is. However, this does not mean they are not affected in a very real way by the death of someone loved. A child of this age will certainly be aware that the person is missing. He or she may ask about the person over and over again. It is best to use the word "dead" when answering. For example: "Grandma is dead, honey. She can never come back." Even though the child may not yet fully understand what "dead" means, he or she will begin to differentiate it from such things as "bye-bye," "sleeping," or "gone." These are words that, when used in place of the word dead, can confuse the child. Instead, one should use simple, direct language when explaining: "Dead means the body stops working -- Grandma can't talk, walk, feel, or breathe anymore. The part of grandma that we loved and that made her special is gone; all that is left is her body."
By ages 5 or 6 to age 9, children begin to have a more mature understanding of death, however that understanding may not be consistent in all instances. The child may on one hand seem to grasp that physical functions cease at death, but then ask, "How will grandma be able to breathe when she is buried in the ground?" The child will have many, many questions, all of which should be answered as honestly as possible. They may ask the same questions over and over again; having them answered over and over again will only help them to understand more and more. The child may have the fear that someone else close to them is going to die next. Children of this age should be reassured that there will always be someone to take care of them.
By age 9 or 10, most children have a pretty mature understanding of death. Again it is important to answer their questions as honestly as possible and not to avoid talking about the death. Sometimes adults don't want to talk about the death in order to insulate the child from "unnecessary" pain and sadness or may possibly believe that the child "just wouldn't understand anyway." The reality is, whether it's talked about or not, the child will grieve, no matter what! Grief is a normal and natural response to loss no matter what our age. As children's grief expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt states so beautifully, "If a child can love, a child can grieve."
When someone we love dies, it is important to remember that a child's reactions may not be obvious or immediate. If he or she goes outside to play right away after learning about the death, that's okay! It doesn't necessarily mean the child doesn't care or doesn't comprehend -- the child is just being a child. If possible, try to stick to the child's normal routine -- especially if the person who died was close to the child (a parent or sibling, for example). Continuity provides the child with a sense of security and stability during a time full of uncertainty. And most importantly, having an understanding, supportive adult who is available to answer questions and provide comfort and reassurance, will only help the child to successfully move forward in his or her grieving process.
It is very important that children not be left out of the family grieving process. This could include involvement in the arrangements, viewing and/or funeral service of the person who has died. Although a child may not completely understand the ceremony surrounding the death, being involved helps the child to establish a sense of comfort and the understanding that life goes on even though someone loved has died. Not allowing a child to participate isolates the child from the rest of the family, perhaps even hindering his or her grieving process. On the same token, a child should never be forced to participate. Explain to them what will happen at the visitation and funeral and allow them to make their own decision about whether or not to attend.
If the deceased will be viewed at the visitation and/or funeral, let the child know this ahead of time. Explain what the casket and the person will look like. If cremation has or will be taking place, explain what cremation means and what will happen to the cremated remains. Reinforce to the child that because the person is dead, they cannot feel anything during the cremation process. It is also a good idea to let the child know that at the visitation/funeral there will be people showing many emotions; some people may cry and others may not show their feelings at all. It is important to remember that children need to see the adults in their lives expressing their grief. This gives the child "permission" to grieve as well.
Many parents are concerned about the possibility of their child acting up or disturbing others during the funeral service. Explain that there are acceptable and unacceptable ways to behave at funerals and talk about it with the child. If this is still a concern, perhaps taking the child to the funeral home for the family visitation, usually a less formal time, is more appropriate. This gives them more of an opportunity to ask questions and have them answered as well. It is always a good idea to designate a trusted friend or family member to be "in charge" of the children while the family is at the funeral home. This person can then not only keep an eye on the children's whereabouts, but also be available to answer questions. This relieves the parents of such responsibility at a time when they may need to focus on their own grief reactions.
Give the child the option to do something special such as draw a picture or write a letter to the person who has died to be placed in the casket before, during, or after the funeral service. Or perhaps the child would like to select a favorite photograph of themselves to have on display or to place in the casket.
Children's grief expert, Dr. Alan Wolfelt says: "The funeral, a ritual that has been with us since the beginning of time, is here to help us embrace the life that was lived and support each other as we go forward. As caring adults, we will service our children well to introduce them to the value of coming together when someone we love dies."
The concept of cremation may be scary for some children. They may have heard adults use words such as "oven" and "burn", or may picture in their minds that cremation is like setting the person's body on fire. It is important to use simple, concrete language and avoid using words that may frighten children when talking about cremation.
First, it is important to emphasize that when someone dies, what's left is just their body -- the part of the person that made them special is no longer there. They cannot see, hear, think, talk, breathe or FEEL anything anymore. After someone dies, the family calls the funeral home to help them care for the body of the deceased. There are three ways to care for the body after a person dies: burial, cremation or donation to a medical school for learning or research. Whether the body is buried or cremated, the end result is the same: the body reduces to "ashes" or cremated remains.
Here is a suggestion of how to explain the cremation process to a child:
The person's body is placed into a special box and then into a room (or chamber), called a crematory, where it gets very, very hot. The heat helps to change the person's body into ashes (or cremated remains) very quickly. It usually takes about 3 hours. [When a person's body is buried, it takes many, many years for the body to change to ashes.] After the cremation is finished, all that is left are pieces of the bones. There are tiny pieces as well as large pieces. The bone pieces are then placed into a special machine called a processor, which breaks up the bones until they are like powder. The powder is gray in color. The cremated remains are then placed into a container or urn that the family has chosen to use. The cremated remains of an adult weigh about 6 to 8 pounds. The cremated remains of a baby weigh just a few ounces. Sometimes the family keeps the cremated remains at their house in a pretty container or they might bury them in a cemetery. Sometimes the cremated remains are sprinkled or scattered in an outdoor place that is special to the family or to the person who died.
After a person dies, we place them in a cemetery. This is a gentle way to say goodbye to someone we love.
A cemetery gives us a quiet, pretty place to come and think about that person. A visit to a cemetery can bring back pleasant memories.
The selection of the monument or grave marker is an important decision because the memorial will stand as a tribute, marking the last resting place of a loved one.
A monument commemorates the life that was lived. Memorials reflect the personality, hopes and dreams of those they represent. Single markers reflect the individual's accomplishments. Double monuments show the love and dedication two people shared. Monuments come in numerous shapes and sizes. They are made of many different materials including various types of granite, marble, and bronze. There are basically three types of monuments: Flat, also known as lawn level, pillow and upright monuments. In addition, there are also memorial benches which are usually placed at the cemetery or a location of significance.
The designs reflect the life that was lived. The designs remind the survivors of who the person was by representing aspects of their lives. Monuments are for future generations, they are a record of our past. Monuments are for life. Today's monuments are made of materials that have proven to last the test of time. These materials can be molded, shaped and formed into a lasting work of art. Their beauty and un-yielding nature provides a sustaining source of comfort.
Monuments and cemeteries record our heritage and provide solace and sanctuary to the living. The dedication of a memorial is the recognition of our past and a representation of people's traits, hopes, wishes, loves and desires.
PLEASE NOTE: Memorials may be purchased from any source, however, be sure to check the cemetery's rules and regulations to determine whether there are any restrictions on the types of memorials that may be used. Purchasers should consider the permanency of the supplier, since they may well be required at a later date to inscribe the death date on the stone, add a companion scroll or perhaps supply a matching memorial.
If you have a complaint with a funeral director and/or funeral service provider, you should first discuss the problem with them. The funeral director or funeral service provider should be given the opportunity to explain matters.
While there may indeed be a problem, experience has shown that often disagreements with funeral homes are in fact a misunderstanding of what was to be done. A bereaved person may be very emotional following a death and it may be difficult to communicate details about the funeral. Therefore, funeral directors may make assumptions based on their experience without making sure that those assumptions are shared by those making the arrangements. As a result of the emotions surrounding a death, small differences may seem like major issues.
If your discussion with the funeral home is not satisfactory, you may wish to contact the provincial regulatory board. Hopefully, they will be able to resolve a conflict or disagreement.
Complaint forms may be obtained by contacting the board office at:
Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board,
11810 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5G 0X5
- Telephone: (780) 452-6130
- Toll Free: (800) 563-4652
- Fax: (780) 452-6085
- Email Address: office@afsrb.ab.ca