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Burial is a process of returning the remains of a deceased person to the ground. A long-standing funeral practice in Canada, the burial of a body in a cemetery is a deeply-rooted tradition. However, if you have not experienced burying a loved one before, you may not know exactly how to plan one and what it involves.
When planning a funeral, the difficult question of whether to cremate the body or bury the body is a common dilemma. The reasons for making the choice can be based on several factors including economic, religious, or other personal reasons. To make an informed choice and have peace of mind, find out what you need to know about funerals and burials in Quebec, Ontario, and elsewhere in Canada!
In addition, if you would like to discuss this decision with a qualified funeral expert in your area, Funeral Services Quotes will be happy to connect you to a reputable funeral services company, free of charge!
How to plan a burial
A burial is usually conducted after a funeral service. It consists of putting the remains in a cemetery lot or a mausoleum. Funeral homes embalm the body and place it in a coffin before the burial itself.
An urn containing the ashes of the deceased can also be buried. As viewing of the body is a practice that many now choose to forego as they opt for cremation, the burial of an embalmed body is also becoming less popular.
If you choose cremation, you can still have a burial, or interment, of a funeral urn in the ground of a cemetery.
Is viewing the body before the burial necessary? That is completely up to you. Even if you choose to be buried in a casket and your body is embalmed, viewing the body is optional. Therefore, whether you choose viewing, a closed casket, or cremation, burial is still an option in the cemetery of your choice.
Can you be buried in a Quebec cemetery even if you are not religious? It depends on the cemetery you want. Cemeteries are private establishments so they are free to enforce their “eligibility” criteria. However, there is also no problem with finding a secular cemetery in your city!
When is the funeral? If a funeral takes place in winter and there is snow, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to proceed with the burial immediately after the funeral. As a result, it is not uncommon for the burial of the body to wait until the warmer months of the year when the ground is thawed and ready for the body to be buried.
Are you considering a burial rather than cremation? The burial of a body is subject to strict rules under the Funeral Activities Act. Read on to get the information you need.
Obligations to be respected during a burial
Even after your death, you retain certain rights, including those respecting your integrity and reputation. Therefore, your body cannot be disposed of in any just any manner, even if you wish it. The Act respecting funeral activities is clear on this matter and provides a very simple rule to this effect!
Burials must be done in a lot or mausoleum located in a cemetery or, after having obtained the authorization of the Minister, in another location.
Funeral Activities Act, section 55
What places are allowed for burial in Quebec and Ontario? Upon reading the law, one quickly realizes that a body can only be kept in two places, either in a cemetery plot or in a mausoleum. A mausoleum is a large monument inside a cemetery where urns and coffins can be placed.
Even if you can get authorization from a Minister, the simplest way is the traditional burial in a cemetery. Find a cemetery and cemetery plot quickly with Funeral Services Quotes!
Why choose to display the body at the funeral?
Burial often means displaying the body. At one time, the practice of displaying the body was almost unavoidable, but it has since been relegated to the status of a rare ritual. However, experts in the funeral field believe that the display of the body is still relevant in today’s world. Here is why!
Recognizing the reality and finality of death: Seeing a deceased loved one helps many people to recognize, after a period of denial, the reality of death as well as the finality of death. For many, it is a way to move forward in the grieving process serenely.
Keeping a serene and peaceful last image: The end of life is sometimes plagued by illness and decline, leaving melancholy memories for loved ones. What few people know is that embalming the body is a practice aimed at leaving a serene, peaceful, and pleasant last image of the deceased. In doing so, everyone leaves the funeral with a beautiful last memory.
Saying farewell: Viewing is an opportunity to personalize the funeral rites by choosing clothes that the deceased enjoyed wearing, displaying photos of beautiful moments in the life of the deceased, and saying goodbye in a way that respects the person that the deceased was.
Is viewing a rite you want to plan for your own funeral? To make sure this happens, you will need to document these wishes in a prearranged funeral contract. This way, your loved ones can say their final goodbyes according to your wishes!
How much does a cemetery plot cost?
The price of a cemetery plot can vary depending on several factors. The average cost of a plot is between $500 and $5,000 with an average price of around $2,500. However, the prestige of the cemetery, its location, reputation, popularity, and other factors can all increase the price.
Do you own or rent your cemetery plot? Neither, but when you think about it, you are closer to being a tenant than an owner. That’s because even if you buy the plot, it comes with an “expiration” date. Once the term expires, your descendants will have to renew it or let the cemetery decide what happens to it.
Make sure you know all the fees attached to a cemetery plot! Aside from the cost of the plot, you will also pay fees for digging/opening, maintenance, and a set term. Understand the prices and what they cover so you can prepare your budget.
When you purchase a cemetery plot, what rights come with your portion of the land? The right to remain there until the plot expires, but only if it is not renewed by your loved ones. You also have the right to have your space properly maintained according to the terms of the burial contract!
What you need to know before buying a headstone or monument
After choosing a cemetery plot, the next step is to choose the headstone or monument that will adorn the burial site. Rarely have you shopped for such items in your life and it can be easy to fall for the first offer that comes along. However, you should know that there are options available to you and these may be available to you at a lower price!
First, there are the “all-inclusive” or “turnkey” services! This option consists of dealing with a single funeral home for the planning of the funeral, the conduct of the ceremony, and the choice of the tombstone. Although attractive prices can be offered by choosing such an “all-inclusive” package, you should definitely compare other prices given the considerable amount of money to be paid.
Tombstones can also be purchased online for less! Indeed, while funeral homes used to have a monopoly on this market, several web platforms have recently taken their first steps in selling funeral monuments. Thus, tombstones, memorial plaques, and other funeral ornaments can be purchased online and sometimes at lower prices.
Make sure the monument is of good quality! You will find that the savings you hoped for will be lost if your headstone or plaque deteriorates prematurely. Also, make sure the headstone you choose meets the cemetery’s requirements!
What is the average price of a headstone or monument? It is very difficult to give an average price because of the differences in size, design, and overall quality. However, the smallest tombstones range from $500 to $1000, but can easily go up to $5000.
A grave marker is a substantial investment, so take the time to shop around and be sure to explore all your options before making a choice!
Funeral Services Quotes can help you a great deal with everything you need for planning a funeral and/or burial!
Is burial “greener” than cremation?
Which is “greener” – burial or cremation? The answer is that neither of them does the environment any favors. While embalming involves putting the embalmed body in contact with the soil, cremation releases a tremendous amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Either way, your last moment in this world will leave a carbon footprint.
But are there solutions to make your funeral ecological and safer for the environment? Here are some tips and tricks!
Choose a biodegradable casket or urn! The problem with burial with regard to the environment is that the chemicals used to embalm the body are polluting, and the casket itself also has an impact on the ecosystem. Fortunately, more and more funeral homes are offering biodegradable caskets and urns. Over time, the body, ashes, and container of your remains will all return to the earth as they should.
Opt for aquamation instead of cremation of the body. A cremation causes pollution because of the burning of the body. Recently, a very interesting alternative has emerged – aquamation! Using a mixture of alanine water and ecological products, the rapid movement of water over the body produces the same effect as cremation, but with a fraction of the harmful ecological impact.
What’s the best way to plan a green funeral? Choose a biodegradable casket or urn and make a contribution to nature with your passing! How do you do that? You choose to keep your ashes in a biodegradable urn that will become a tree of life. In this way, your death not only respects nature but also contributes to its well-being.
Team up with a funeral home that shares your ecological conscience! Make the ecological aspect the focal point of your funeral! Seeing that you are concerned about your impact on the environment, the funeral counselor will make sure to offer you environmentally friendly options, both in terms of the disposal of the body and the burial and casket.
Everything can be planned to preserve nature so make sure to ask our partners, the experts in the funeral industry!
FAQs about burials in Quebec and Ontario
Enigmatic is certainly an adjective that qualifies death very well. However, this is no reason to believe the myths that are being propagated about funerals. In fact, you’ll be the one paying the price if you fall for it, so we’re highlighting the myths and realities of burials for your benefit!
Will I own the cemetery plot/land if I buy it?
No. Although the purchase of a cemetery plot gives you the right to bury your remains, you do not become the owner of the plot. In fact, what you are buying is a concession that gives you the rights to “use” the burial plot for a number of years as stipulated in the burial contract. The cemetery remains the official owner of the plot but you gain the right to use it.
Is there a shortage of cemetery plots?
Not really. This story spread like wildfire at one time in Quebec province, but it is absolutely unfounded. On the contrary, the cemeteries in Quebec claim to have room for the next 50 years, at least, so you can feel assured that a final resting place is available for your loved one.
Can one reserve a plot in a cemetery several years in advance?
This is actually being done. Just like your funeral ritual, your burial site can be planned in advance. All you have to do is sign a burial contract which will allow you to purchase a plot (concession) in the cemetery of your choice. This contract allows you to plan several years in advance for maintenance, burial, and other related expenses.
What happens when the plot expires?
In Quebec, the expiry of a burial plot is not commonplace. As of this writing, the cemetery will look for the next of kin of the deceased, whether ascendants or descendants, and inform them before the contract expires to give them the option to renew the plot for a new term.
In case they cannot be located, the cemetery will have to apply to the Courts to obtain permission to recover the plot. However, this is a problem left to the next generations since the duration of a plot varies between 25 years and 100 years, the maximum provided by law.
Ask Funeral Services Quotes for help in planning a burial or funeral
Planning a funeral involves making several decisions, none of them easy to make. Deciding between a burial and a cremation, choosing a headstone, planning a ceremony, etc. are all important decisions that must be done with careful consideration. If they are done frantically, the outcome will not be satisfactory and the cost could escalate.
You don’t need to do it on your own because there are experts in funeral planning in your area who will be happy to help you!
Not only can they help you with difficult decisions such as burial and cremation but they can also take over the planning of your funeral from start to finish!
Get in touch with us at Funeral Services Quotes to receive a free quote from a funeral home in your area!
