Frequent Questions

Costs vary significantly based on choices. The costs with Sunset Funeral Service Ltd. start from $ 3,000.00 to $ 8,000.00.

A Funeral Service usually takes place with the body present, while a Memorial Service occurs when the body is not present, often after cremation or burial has already taken place.

While 4–6 days is typical, there is no strict legal deadline. Families can take longer to accommodate travel for family members.

Yes, funeral directors encourage personalizing services to reflect the loved one’s life, including music, photos, and unique themes for stationery (Service Bulletins, Store Cards, Guestbooks, etc.). 

A funeral car procession is a respectful convoy of vehicles travelling from a service to a cemetery, led by a Funeral Coach and often a Funeral Director with a purple light. Participating vehicles turn on headlights and hazard lights. Funeral Homes may provide stickers, flags, or ribbons to identify cars and generally drive about 10 km/h under the posted speed limit to keep the group together. While often considered a single unit for convenience and typically allowed by courtesy to move through traffic lights, stop signs, etc., as a group, it is officially recommended to drive safely and respect regular traffic laws.

It is a personal decision, but children are generally encouraged to attend if they are old enough to understand. It is recommended to explain what they will see beforehand.

A funeral director offers comprehensive support to grieving families after the loss of a loved one. Beyond coordinating cremation, burial, and memorial services for the deceased, they provide essential bereavement and consolation to the living. Their multifaceted role encompasses funeral arranging, directing, attending, and embalming.

Key responsibilities of a funeral director include:

• Arranging for the deceased's removal and transfer from the place of death to the funeral home.
• Providing professional care for the deceased, such as embalming, casketing, and cosmetology.
• Meeting with the family to plan the funeral service.
• Completing necessary paperwork, including certificates and permits.
• Acquiring copies of the death certificate.
• Coordinating with cemeteries, crematories, or other final disposition locations.
• Writing and publishing the obituary.
• Organizing aspects of the service like clergy, music, flowers, transportation, pallbearers, and specialized fraternal or military tributes.
• Overseeing the funeral service and procession.

A traditional funeral includes several elements that contribute to the overall cost. In addition to the required basic services fee, other expenses may include the transfer of the deceased to the funeral home, embalming and preparation, use of facilities and staff for the viewing and ceremony, transportation such as a coach or service vehicle, a memorial print package, a casket, a vault or grave liner, and the purchase of a cemetery plot.

A funeral or memorial service offers a meaningful opportunity to honour the life of a loved one and pay tribute to the impact they had. It creates a space where family and friends can openly express their emotions, reflect on cherished memories, and find comfort in the support of others. Through shared remembrance, it allows us to grieve, connect, and begin the journey toward healing.

Yes, cremation or burial is merely the disposition of the body. Funeral services are to honour and remember your loved one, regardless of disposition.

Funerals usually involve the deceased's body and often lead to burial or cremation. In contrast, memorial services occur without the body and can be scheduled days, weeks, or months after the death.

No, services are not required by law. However, many families find comfort and closure through a ceremony that honours the life of their loved one.

Common options include burial (in-ground or above-ground), cremation, or donation to science. Each choice can be paired with a traditional or personalized service.

Absolutely. You can include specific music, readings, photographs, videos, personal items, and more to reflect your loved one’s life and wishes.

Embalming is not legally required in all cases. It may be necessary if there is a public viewing or if the body needs to be transported across provincial lines.

Yes, a visitation or viewing with an open casket can take place before the cremation.

Small personal items like letters, photos, paper, and flowers can be cremated, but glass, rubber, latex, batteries/electronics, liquids (alcohol bottles, perfumes, aerosols), items with trapped air (snow globes, inflatables), PVC materials, and large metal items cannot.

Yes, many crematoriums allow viewing or participation, often for an additional fee.

The cremation process usually takes 2-4 hours, with ashes returned to the next of kin in 3-5 business days.

No, but provincial regulations require the body to be in a rigid, combustible container (lightweight wood or cardboard).

Cremated Remains can be kept in an urn, placed in a columbarium, buried, scattered in a designated area, or turned into memorial jewelry. 

Yes, it is highly recommended to make an appointment to ensure a Funeral Director is available for the time you need.

They manage logistics, including transportation of the deceased, paperwork, and coordinating the service and disposition.

Planning your funeral in advance, which can include prepaying to lock in costs and reducing the burden on family members.

Funeral Homes can arrange transportation of the deceased from the place of passing back to their hometown. 

No, embalming is not legally required, though it is often recommended for public viewings to preserve the body and enhance appearance.

Modern embalming fluids include known carcinogens. Embalming in Canada has a significant environmental impact, primarily by releasing toxic chemicals (formaldehyde, methanol, and phenol) as bodies decompose; these chemicals leach into the soil and can contaminate groundwater. 

Pacemakers and other medical devices (Defibrillators, Radioactive Implants, Infusion Pumps, Silicone Implants) must be removed beforehand because they can explode, often adhere to other remains, and cannot be cremated.

Increasingly popular, Green Burial Society of Canada-certified Cemeteries prohibit embalming and require biodegradable materials, allowing the body to decompose naturally without releasing toxic chemicals into the environment.