Information on Cremation and Funerals in Canada!
Unfortunately when a loved one dies, grieving friends and family are quickly confronted with dozens of decisions to make regarding the funeral service. Usually when people make arrangements for a funeral service they assume the ceremony is for the deceased but actually it is for the mourning friends and family.
Funerals are in memory of our loved ones and are a way in which friends and family can share their feelings and emotionsand pay their respects to the deceased.
In Canada, most funerals are divided into three sections.
Visitation – Usually takes place one or two days prior to the funeral itself in an open casket, or if you prefer a closed casket, so family and friends can pay their respects. A book, given to the deceaseds family, is autographed and records emotions and feelings felt by friends and family. Many families also show photographs and prize possessions at the Visitation. This service usually ends with a prayer service (at a Catholic funeral the service may also include a Rosary)
Funeral – Actual funeral services are influenced allot by cultural and religious traditions. You may opt for a elaborate service or a private and simple affair. All families are different and not everybody wants the same kind of funeral. A traditional funeral includes a formal service, a hearse to transport the body to the funeral site and either a burial or cremation of the body.
Funeral services will normally include prayers and readings from the Bible. In many cases a family member or close friend of the deceased will be asked to give a speech of happy memories and any achievements the deceased may have made. These speeches and prayers provide comfort for family and friends who are mourning.
Burial – The funeral service is concluded with a burial service.
Close friends and relatives of the deceased can carry the casket from the chapel to the hearse and then after from the hearse to the site. A burial service is then held at the side of the grave.
In many traditions a gathering of friends and family will take place after the burial either at the church or at another location.
For more information on Funeral Services in Canada please visit funerals in the gta
