Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Planning A Meaningful Tribute By Trusted Saskatoon Funeral Home

Since 1910, Saskatoon Funeral Home has responded to the needs of Saskatoon & area citizens of every faith and every walk of life. They have a proud history as Saskatoon's longest-serving, local, family-owned and operated, full-service funeral and cremation provider to trace its roots to the beginning days of our city. Saskatoon Funeral Home are a Trusted Saskatoon funeral home. 


Planning A Meaningful Tribute

This article is intended to increase your confidence in your ability to plan a meaningful tribute for others – or, for that matter, yourself. A funeral honours a life that has been lived; shares the burden of loss and mourning with others, and allows people to reflect on their own beliefs and mortality. Culture, personal beliefs, and circumstances all affect our decisions.

Often, the best place to start is to contact your local funeral home and/or your clergy. Most funerals contain some or all of the following elements, with room for changes to celebrate the life of the individual in your own unique way.


1. Visitation

This is the opportunity to be with those who grieve, and to be with the person who died. It can be the hardest thing to do – but many experts agree that the visitation is the most personally meaningful step in coming to terms with death. Consider:

  • Special music
  • Placing a private letter or special object in the casket
  • Sharing favourite memories
  • Special clothing that best depicts how you remember the deceases
  • Photos


2. Service Opening 

This is the start of the ceremony, which states the purpose of the gathering and sets the tone for the ceremony. Consider: 

  • Family members/friends light candles
  • Special processional music
  • Placing a flower by the urn or on the casket
  • Special person acts as the urn bearer
  • Formal religious receiving and processional
  • Meaningful opening statement


3. Readings

These may be readings from religious scripture or from other inspirational sources. Consider: 

  • A passage or poem which captures the unique life and philosophies of the deceased
  • Something the deceased has written, such as a poem or cherished letter
  • Reading by a friend or relative
  • A recording of a reading, such as an excerpt from a play
  • Responsorial readings, which allow those in attendance to participate


4. Music 

Music, like the readings, expresses our emotions and beliefs. It is a powerful medium which is both personal and universal. Consider:

  • A performance, such as an instrumental or vocal selection
  • Various types of music throughout the service
  • A recording of a favourite song

5. Tribute 

The eulogy pays tribute to and recalls the life of the deceased. It is a very important aspect of the funeral and its focal point. Consider:

  • Frequently use the name of the deceased
  • Consult with others to include memories from many different people and aspects of the life of the deceased
  • Invite others to share their memories
  • Include upbeat, even humorous, memories
  • Include a memorial display with items such as photos, trophies, special objects, music and video 

6. Closing

Just like the opening, the closing might be just a few sentences. The closing needs words that are chosen carefully (e.g. those which are set forth in religious rites) which leave a lasting impression. Consider: 

  • Family members may carry a flower from the service
  • Selection of special people to be pallbearers or urn bearers
  • Special, meaningful processional music
  • Military or fraternal last rites


7. Committal 

Following the service, the guests may proceed to the committal, which is the placing of the casket or urn in its final resting place. A very emotional time of "letting go", the committal acknowledges the reality and finality of death. Consider: 

  • Lowering the casket or urn into the earth
  • Participant placing earth on the casket in the grave
  • Taking a flower from the committal as a memory
  • Moment of silence
  • Placing flowers, releasing balloons
  • Reciting prayers
  • Special music, such as bagpipe or solo trumpet

8. Gathering

This is the opportunity following the service and/or committal for the mourners to get together in a social setting, to provide support through the sharing of food and conversation. Consider:

  • Sharing stories
  • A memory table with special items to recall the life of the deceased
  • Special music
  • Reinforce friendships and relationships through tears and laughter
With this general outline in place, you can see there are many opportunities to personalize the service. Your clergy and the professional staff at Saskatoon Funeral Home have a great deal of experience in this regard, so don’t hesitate to ask for their assistance. 

Remember that you have the right to mourn the way you wish. Exercise your freedom to follow your beliefs and traditions, embrace the pain of your loss, recall the memories of the one you have lost, and have anyone you wish in attendance to share your grief. What is meaningful will vary from family to family. For some, the comfort of cultural and religious rituals will play a large part. For others, the location of the ceremony, such as a park or special church, will be significant. 

For you and others, the funeral is only the start of the healing process. Don’t expect the funeral ceremony to be, and don’t try to make it be, all things to all people. Take comfort in the thought that there will be other times to recall special memories with friends, grieve with your immediate family, or visit a special place to be alone with your thoughts.


Visit their website to learn more about pre-planning a funeral and grief support, as well as the traditional funeral and cremation services that they have to offer. They are always there to help. Check out their listing on Trusted Saskatoon to read more reviews and to see all the services they offer. 

Saskatoon Funeral Home is your Trusted Saskatoon funeral home. 


How To Control Funeral Costs From Trusted Saskatoon Funeral Home

Since 1910, Saskatoon Funeral Home has responded to the needs of Saskatoon & area citizens of every faith and every walk of life. They have a proud history as Saskatoon's longest-serving, local, family-owned and operated, full-service funeral and cremation provider to trace its roots to the beginning days of our city. Saskatoon Funeral Home are a Trusted Saskatoon funeral home. 


How To Control Funeral Costs

Most people don’t know, but generally think a funeral is "expensive". Contrary to popular belief, though, the cost of a funeral has become lower in relation to most other products and services.

Even so, if you don’t have an idea of what’s involved, funeral expenses could seem to be costly, confusing, and never-ending. If you know what to expect you will be able to understand and control those costs.


1. Professional Services

Includes such things as transportation of the deceased, embalming (if requested), completion of legal documents, burial permits, cremation documents, consultation, and other costs of staff, facilities, vehicles and equipment.


2. Merchandise 

Refers to material items such as a casket, an urn or guest book.


3. Disbursements 

Disbursements are fees paid on your behalf for other products and professional services involved in the funeral such as honourariums, flowers, or luncheons.


4. Resting Place 

These costs are associated with wherever the remains of the deceased are permanently placed. This includes not only a cemetery or columbarium, but also (in the case of cremation) scattering by land, sea or air. Costs can vary greatly. The funeral directors listed in this Guide have no vested interest in a cemetery; they can provide you with the best options and can sometimes acquire property for you at substantial savings.


5. Memorialization 

Includes the purchase of a monument and a memorial plaque, or another form of memorial such as a donation.

One of the best ways to prevent overspending is through pre-arranging. That way, you can discuss your selections and choices, consider the total cost, and keep your decisions on file with the funeral home. If you wish, you can also pre-pay those expenses at today’s prices to reduce the effects of inflation in the years ahead.


Visit their website to learn more about pre-planning a funeral and grief support, as well as the traditional funeral and cremation services that they have to offer. They are always there to help. Check out their listing on Trusted Saskatoon to read more reviews and to see all the services they offer. 

Saskatoon Funeral Home is your Trusted Saskatoon funeral home. 


Trusted Saskatoon Funeral Home Discuss Legal Details To Sort Through After Death

Since 1910, Saskatoon Funeral Home has responded to the needs of Saskatoon & area citizens of every faith and every walk of life. They have a proud history as Saskatoon's longest-serving, local, family-owned and operated, full-service funeral and cremation provider to trace its roots to the beginning days of our city. Saskatoon Funeral Home are a Trusted Saskatoon funeral home. 


Legal Advice

After a death, there are many legal details to sort through. While in some cases, it is not necessary to get a lawyer, it is strongly recommended. A lawyer will make sure all the “t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted”. The time following a death of a loved one is extremely emotional, and even the closest family will have disagreements over the most trivial matters. To make sure there is still peace in the family, it is a good idea to let a lawyer figure things out.

Before getting in touch with a lawyer there are several important documents that you need to gather. Those include:

  • Wills
  • Deeds
  • Bank Statements
  • Insurance Policies
  • Vehicle and Boat Titles
  • Tax Documents

Bank Accounts

What is to be done with bank accounts after a death varies province by province. In some regions, bank accounts are automatically frozen after a death. To avoid any complications, the bank should be notified immediately, and you should find out the procedures for releasing these funds, and how to set up a new account for funds received after the death. It’s recommended that a joint account stay open for at least six months to allow you to deposit any cheques that are made out to the deceased. To take a name off a joint bank account, banks require a Funeral Director’s Statement of Death, or Proof of Death. If the deceased had a safety deposit box in a bank, the contents can be sealed after death and a Statement of Death and in some cases, the Legal Will of the deceased will be required to gain access to the contents.

Death Certificates

A Funeral Director’s Statement of Death is often necessary before anything can be done. This document can be obtained through a Funeral Director. It is a good idea to obtain multiple copies as most agencies require an original and not a photocopy.

The Provincial Death Certificate is required by Land Titles to remove a deceased’s name from the title of the property. The most convenient way to order the provincial death certificate is through the department of eHealth’s web portal at www.ehealthsask.ca. There you will find instructions on who is eligible to order the death certificate and the process to apply.

Wills

Everyone knows they should have a will, but the vast majority – about 70% of us – do not. Writing a will is easy and inexpensive, and once you are done you can rest easy knowing your hard-earned money and property will be distributed according to your wishes. As well, if you have children, you can leave instructions on who will be left in charge of them if you pass, leaving that decision out of the court's hands. Making a will is easy, you just need to be at least 18 years of age and must be of sound mind when the will is written. To make a will legal it must:
  • Expressly state that it is your will
  • Be computer generated or typewritten
  • Be signed and dated
  • Be signed by 2-3 witnesses, these witnesses must be people who don’t stand to inherit anything in the will
Although you do not need a lawyer to complete a will, it is recommended to do one with a lawyer, as it will avoid any legal headaches after your passing. Once your will is complete, it’s recommended that it is kept somewhere safe and secure outside of your home. If you do your will through a lawyer, most law firms will store it for you free of charge. Many people keep their wills in a safety deposit box at a bank, but this is not recommended as the contents could be sealed at the time of death. The executor of your will should be aware of its location.

Probate

Probate is the legal process that transfers the legal title of property from the estate of the deceased to their beneficiaries. During the probate process the executor of your will goes before the courts and identifies and catalogues all the property you owned, appraises the property, and pays all debts and taxes, proves that the will is valid and legal, and distributes the property according to the instructions of the will. Probate can be a long, drawn-out legal process, and there are some probate-avoidance plans in place. Simply speak to your attorney to find out what you can do to avoid probate in your area. 

Executors

An executor is the personal representative of your estate. They are the person in charge of taking control of your assets, paying off any debts, and distributing assets to your beneficiaries per the terms and conditions of your will. You can choose anyone to be the executor of your will, but it is a good idea to choose someone who is both competent and trustworthy. The person you choose to be executor should be outlined in your will.  Someone you appoint to be the executor of your will has the right to refuse, so you should have a backup executor in place just in case. 


Visit their website to learn more about pre-planning a funeral and grief support, as well as the traditional funeral and cremation services that they have to offer. They are always there to help. Check out their listing on Trusted Saskatoon to read more reviews and to see all the services they offer. 

Saskatoon Funeral Home is your Trusted Saskatoon funeral home. 


Trusted Saskatoon Funeral Home Provides Information On Cremation Services

Since 1910, Saskatoon Funeral Home has responded to the needs of Saskatoon & area citizens of every faith and every walk of life. They have a proud history as Saskatoon's longest-serving, local, family-owned and operated, full-service funeral and cremation provider to trace its roots to the beginning days of our city. Saskatoon Funeral Home are a Trusted Saskatoon funeral home. In their latest article, they provide important information about their creation services. 


Cremation Services

Cremation is an alternative to the burial process and it is chosen by many people because of religious beliefs, the desire to preserve the environment or it was requested by the person who died. Cremation is often a less expensive option in comparison to a burial, mainly due to less professional fees from the funeral home, a more basic casket choice, and reduced cemetery costs. At the funeral home, the deceased is placed in a container or casket that is combustible. The casket is then placed in a cremation chamber at the crematorium where through intense heat is reduced to bone fragments that are then processed to resemble course sand.  The cremated remains of an average adult body will weigh about 7-8 pounds. Cremation is not an alternative to a funeral, but rather an alternative to burial or other forms of disposition.

Cremated remains can be scattered or buried, or they may be kept with the family in a decorative urn. There are many new and different ways to memorialize: cremated remains can be placed in an artificial coral reef in the ocean, they can be launched into space or sent up in helium balloons, or they can be spun into glass pieces of art or diamonds.

Some religions welcome cremation while others forbid it. The Catholic Church had banned cremation up until 1963, and burial remains the preferred form of disposition today. If cremation is chosen in the Catholic funeral, the church advises that the cremated remains are to be buried in a cemetery. In other Christian denominations, cremation was historically discouraged but nowadays it is more widely accepted. In eastern religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism cremation is mandated, while in Islam it is strictly forbidden. Orthodox Jewish faith also forbids cremation; other sects of Judaism support cremation, but burial remains the preferred option.

Cremation FAQ

What is Cremation?

Cremation is the process of reducing the human body to bone fragments using high heat and flame.

Is a casket needed for Cremation?

No, a casket is not required. An alternative container constructed of wood or cardboard is necessary in Saskatchewan. The funeral home has a number of choices to suit any budget.

Is embalming required prior to cremation?

No, embalming is not required. But you may choose to have embalming if there will be an extended time before viewing, or if there will be a traditional funeral followed by cremation.


Can the deceased be viewed without embalming?

Yes, often family members will choose to view the deceased at the funeral home prior to cremation, to say a final goodbye. In Saskatchewan, visual identification is required by law prior to the funeral home booking the cremation with the crematorium. Sometimes this can be done at the time the deceased is transferred from the place of death, otherwise, the visual identification will be done at the funeral home.

Can the family witness the cremation?

Yes, they can; family members may choose to be present when the body is placed in the cremation chamber.  Some religious groups even include this as part of their funeral custom.


Can an urn be brought into church?

Nearly all Churches allow for the urn to be present during the memorial service. Most Catholic Churches also allow the remains to be present during the Memorial Mass. Orthodox Churches encourage families to have the deceased present at the funeral in a casket.


What can be done with the cremated remains?

While laws vary province by province, for the most part, cremated remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or a cremation garden, interred in a columbarium, kept at home or scattered.  Other options to consider are to separate a portion of the cremated remains as a keepsake, choosing keepsake jewellery, blown glass, and a number of other options your funeral director can discuss with you.

How can I be sure I receive the correct cremated remains?

All cremation providers in Saskatchewan follow a rigorous set of operating policies and procedures set out in the Saskatchewan Funeral and Cremation Act in order to maximize the level of service and minimize the potential for human error. A numbered stainless steel identification disc follows the deceased through the entire process and is returned with the cremated remains.


How long does the actual cremation take?

Timing depends on the weight of the individual, and a number of other factors including the cremation container provided. For an average-sized adult, cremation can take two to three hours at a normal operating temperature of between 1,000 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.


What do the cremated remains look like?

Cremated remains resemble coarse sand and are whitish to light grey in colour. The remains of an average-sized adult usually weigh between 7 and 8 pounds.


Do I need an urn?

An urn is not required by law. However, an urn may be desired if there is to be a memorial service or if the remains are to be interred in a cemetery. If an urn is not purchased or provided by the family, the cremated remains will be returned in a temporary container.


Visit their website to learn more about pre-planning a funeral and grief support, as well as the traditional funeral and cremation services that they have to offer. They are always there to help. Check out their listing on Trusted Saskatoon to read more reviews and to see all the services they offer. 

Saskatoon Funeral Home is your Trusted Saskatoon funeral home. 


Categories

Previous Posts

ADDRESS

S & E Trusted Online Directories Inc
TrustedSaskatoon.com
310 Wall St #209
Saskatoon, SK   S7K 1N7
Ph: 306.244.4150

GET THE APP

App Store Google Play
Follow us on Facebook Instagram Linked In Twitter YouTube RSS Feed
Abex
Abex
Stevies
Sabex
NEYA
Website hosting by Insight Hosting