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How Do I Choose?


HOW DO I CHOOSE A FUNERAL HOME?

To some extent, the public does not always understand or appreciate the many tasks associated with arranging for the final dispostion of human remains and co-ordinating a meaningful ceremony for the deceased. A funeral director can be involved with completing numerous tasks which can occupy up to 80 hours of time. The services and human resources of a funeral home are continuously available 24 hours per day, answering calls that come at the ring of a telephone or the sound of a doorbell. When choosing a funeral home, there are guideposts to steer by to help you with your decision making.

  • Have you met the funeral director in your community?
  • Do you know their personal and professional reputation?
  • How long have they been serving their community?
  • What has been the experience of relatives, friends and neighbours?
  • Is the funeral home a full service facility and able to handle all of your needs (chapel, visitation room, reception and catering facilities, parking, licensed staff etc.)?
  • Is the funeral home a member in good standing with the Funeral Service Association of BC?

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Click here for Member Funeral Homes

The Funeral Service Association of B.C. offers telephone counseling and acts as a provincial referral service to member funeral homes. The toll-free number is 1-800-665-3899 or (250) 592-3213.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MEMORIAL SOCIETY AND A FUNERAL HOME?
Memorial Societies sell MEMBERSHIPS ONLY. They are not funeral homes and they do not handle the transfer of human remains to a crematorium.

Memorial Societies have contracts with FUNERAL HOMES who honour memorial society memberships. Memorial Societies first arose in the U.S. during the depression years as a way to help families reduce funeral costs. The movement reached British Columbia in 1956 when a group of Unitarians founded the province’s original memorial society. Today in B.C. there are a number of memorial societies.

A memorial society is not a funeral home. A memorial society sells memberships only. For the price of the memorial society registration or membership fee, members are provided with a designation form to record their personal funeral and disposition requests. The completed designation form is kept on file with the society office and a copy is also provided to the contract funeral service provider. Many non-society funeral homes offer a similar designation and filing service for no charge.

Know Which Funeral Home Honours Society Memberships
The estate, or the survivors, of a deceased society member will be responsible for funeral, cremation and cemetery expenses at the time of the death. It is extremely important that you understand what FUNERAL HOME will be honouring your MEMORIAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP. Becoming a member of a memorial society generally means that a fixed price has been negotiated by the society with a designated funeral provider. Unless the member prepaid these fees, survivors will be responsible for funeral expenses at the published contract rate. Some non-society funeral homes will honour memorial society memberships at contract rates.