A memorial service is not lead by clergy but rather by a celebrant or master-of-ceremonies. It allows the community to come together in support and remembrance allowing people to participate on some level.  It would be considered less formal than a "traditional" funeral service.

A memorial service is less formal than a "traditional" funeral service but not as informal as a "celebration of life" event. Each memorial service is unique and can be planned to suit each specific family.  We would be happy to assist with planning and ideas.

When we meet with a family, we explain the 3 types of services: 1. Traditional Funeral  2. Memorial Service  3. Celebration of Life. From there, we will help the family narrow it down to the choice that they feel best suits their wishes, values and beliefs.

Every funeral home publishes their own "General Price List" which itemizes all of the options that they offer in terms of funeral services, caskets, urns, etc. You will sign a contract that specifically sets out which options you choose so that your pricing is know with certainty. From there, you will add whatever optional items you might wish from other suppliers such as flowers, newspaper obituary, catering, clergy honorarium etc.

Your funeral director will help you to arrange for things like a newspaper obituary, flowers, catering, honorariums to clergy and musicians, facility rental, etc. These expenses are itemized at cost on your funeral home invoice.

These are the "optional extra" items discussed previously. Our funeral director will ensure you are not burdened with ordering and coordinating these types of purchases during a time when there is a lot on your mind.

The general rule is payment for optional extras from third party suppliers are usually needed at the time of the ordering because the third parties require immediate or almost immediate payment. The funeral home provides assistance in the ordering of these optional extras with no additional charge from the funeral home.

Your chosen detailed arrangements will be documented in a contract that you will sign when you meet with a funeral director. Payment arrangements will be confirmed during this meeting.  Typically, our funeral home would expect payment of the contract within 30 days from the date of death. 

Location, date and time are the first decisions to be made. After that, you will decide on things like specific readings, musical selections, food and beverages, any other activities and the selection of people you would like to participate.

Once you have determined a location and day and time for the memorial service, our funeral directors can then take on whatever remains to be done or as much as you might like to delegate to us.  

You will need to provide the documents/information required to complete your loved one's death certificate and obituary. You may wish to bring in a collection of family photographs to be used in making a tribute video or in the decoration of the service location. Other items may be needed at some point, depending on the arrangements made. Your funeral director will provide you with an exact list of the things he or she would like you to bring along to the arrangement conference.

A celebrant is a person who has been trained to conduct formal ceremonies, such as weddings, baptisms and funerals. They are not clergy; instead, they are experienced masters-of-ceremony and story-tellers. A celebrant works closely with surviving family to create a ceremony which reflects the beliefs, cultural background, values and aspirations of your deceased loved one and your family. If you think you would be best served by a celebrant, please speak with your funeral director.

Commonly the funeral director who met with you during the arrangement conference will assume the responsibility of writing the obituary. You will support them in doing so by providing them with the necessary legal documents (birth certificates, military records, and marriage or divorce decrees) and other important details about your loved one's life. If you, or another family member or friend, wish to write the obituary, we can help to guide you through the process.