RESOURCES
Understanding your options
Death is one of the most difficult losses we can experience, especially the death of a family member or spouse.
Funerals, Memorial Services, Graveside Services, and Celebrations of Life help us remember and pay tribute to the life of our lost loved one. It gives the community a chance to share memories of the deceased with their family and friends, providing them with comfort and strength. It equips us with the “tools” to help us accept the fact of death and permanent separation as the real thing. A service, visitation or reception becomes a time of consolation to those who have experienced the loss – a time for friends to SHARE their grief.
Services can look like a variety of things today; your funeral director can help you plan a fitting tribute for your loved one. It can become the first stepping stone to the rebuilding of our own lives without the presence of the deceased.
What about Cremation?
If it is the wish of the family or was the wish of the deceased they be cremated, the funeral director in your area will make all the necessary arrangements.
Cremation is an alternative to earth burial. Cremated remains can be interred in a cemetery lot or niche, scattered in an appropriate setting, or kept for a later time to permit the cremated remains of the spouse to be interred or scattered together.
The regulations governing cremation vary by province, but in New Brunswick any person being cremated falls under the jurisdiction of the coroner. The coroner must sign all applications for cremation. There is a 48-hour waiting period required by law before the cremation can take place. This allows time for the coroner to decide if an investigation into the death is required, and time for the doctor to sign off on the registration of death. The registration of death must be completed by the doctor or coroner before the cremation can take place.
It is a common misconception that with cremation a casket is not required, but in regulation with the Department of Health all deceased persons must be transported to the crematorium in a casket or container. The crematorium’s also require that the remains be cremated in the combustible vessel.
There are numerous service options available with cremation that your funeral director can assist you with. You can still have traditional aspects with cremation services, for example, cremation can take place after private or public visitation, prior to the service; or visitation can be held with urn present; cremation can also take place after the funeral service, so the casket can be present.
Your local funeral director can advise you with regard to your specific needs or requests and can also offer a variety of urns for the containment of the cremated remains.
What To Do When A Death Occurs Out of Town?
If you are ever involved in arranging a funeral for someone who dies out of town, you should contact a local funeral director who will make arrangements with a funeral director in the city or town where the death occurred.
Our membership in professional organizations give us contact with many highly qualified funeral professionals across North America. Your local funeral director will take the necessary steps to have the deceased brought home. They will confer with you at long distance, or with other family members locally, to plan the funeral.
It is important to call your local funeral director first. This will avoid duplication of effort and fees. Fell free to contact them at any time. All funeral directors are on call 24 hours a day.
