Cremation in Peterborough, Ontario: What to Expect

At Eirene, we understand how challenging funeral planning can be. That is why we make the process as straightforward as possible for all communities we serve with cremation services. To help with this, here is a guide outlining what to expect when choosing Eirene's cremation services in Peterborough, Ontario.

Arranging cremation services in Peterborough

At Eirene, we offer simple cremation arrangement services while providing ongoing support to families and guiding them through the entire process. One of the features that help us achieve this is the online arrangement platform on our website. It allows client families to make arrangements from the comfort of their homes, forgoing in-person visits entirely and allowing more time to be spent with family and friends.

Also on our website, you will find extensive end-of-life resources and guidance through our blog and help centre. In addition, visitors can browse the online urn catalog. We offer free shipping of urns to Peterborough and area addresses (and any address in Canada) for free.

Eirene's arrangement packages can be found on our webpage by clicking on "services" or "pricing" in the top menu. Cremation and aquamation services (also known by the scientific name "alkaline hydrolysis") are offered to Peterborough clients. Prepaid arrangement services are also available. All packages are itemized and accessible to potential clients.

Start the online arrangement process by clicking "Start Arranging" in the top right corner of the webpage. Choose your preferred services in the pop-up menu, and fill out the required forms or call us for assistance, if needed. Arrangements can also be made over the phone, by email, or via video conferencing if preferred. In-person meetings at our office in downtown Hamilton (approximately two hours from Peterborough) are available upon request and by appointment only.

Our team is available 24/7 to assist clients through the online arrangements process and to answer any questions they may have. Contact our team at 647-955-4375 or send an email to support@eirene.ca.

Once arrangements have been made, we correspond with the crematorium partner in Lakefield, Ontario, to coordinate cremation services. Lakefield is a small town just outside Peterborough (approximately 15 minutes away), located in the Selwyn township in Peterborough County.

Transferring your loved one in Peterborough

Upon confirmation of Eirene's services, we will send a local transfer service to transport the deceased person's body from the place of death in Peterborough to our crematorium partner location in Lakefield.

Note: Transporting a deceased person's body in a private vehicle in Ontario is legal. Please get in touch with our team to discuss these arrangements if preferred.

Documentation and logistics in Peterborough

At Eirene, we handle most of the documentation and logistics of cremation arrangements. However, families can opt to complete specific documentation independently if desired. Learn more here.

Once the documentation and payment are complete, our team will contact the crematorium partner in Lakefield to arrange cremation. Identification or witnessing can also take place at this location, if selected. These services allow families to identify their loved one before cremation and witness the cremation container as it is placed into the cremation chamber. They can also initiate the cremation process. However, this does not include visitation services which cannot be held on the premises. More information on the "Witnessing" package can be found here.

If someone dies outside Peterborough, the cremation may be held in Lakefield, North Bay, Burlington, or Ottawa. This depends on logistics and is determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with client families.

Cremation process

Before cremation, the deceased person's body must be prepared for the process. Items or implants that may be dangerous to crematorium staff (e.g., pacemakers) or the family does not want to be destroyed (e.g., jewelry) are removed. Other materials, like clothes or artificial joints, remain with the body.

The cremation process starts by exposing bodies to extreme heat (760 to 980 C / 1400 to 1800 F) in the cremation chamber (retort). Next, organic matter is reduced to bone fragments. Non-combustible materials (e.g., artificial joints) that remain afterward are removed and recycled after a cooling period.

Cremated remains or ashes are created by reducing bone fragments to a coarse grey or brown powder. Ashes are placed in an urn or container, as directed by the family, and returned as discussed below.

Returning your loved ones' ashes

After cremation, your loved ones' cremated remains are picked up by our staff from the crematorium partner. We then make an appointment with families for in-person delivery. Ashes will never be left on a client's doorstep or in a mailbox. This is our standard in all locations we service.

Documents needed to handle estate matters (e.g., death certificates) are also provided to families during the in-person urn delivery. Expedited delivery is available through the Canada Post's Express Post mail service if the documents are needed soon. We will also provide a link to create an account with Eirene's partner, Cadence, a service that assists families with post-death tasks to be completed by the executor or next of kin.

Cremation cost in Peterborough, Ontario

Cremation costs in Peterborough and surrounding areas are similar to other smaller cities in Canada. Learn more about cremation pricing in Peterborough and other Ontario cities in this article: Cremation Cost in Ontario. The cost of cremation packages from Eirene can be found here.

Funeral payment plans available to Peterborough area families

At Eirene, we believe in offering quality death care at fair pricing. So we have partnered with Affirm, which offers installment payment plans with no hidden fees or late fees. Eirene will also work to find payment alternatives for families ineligible for an Affirm plan.

Learn more about additional funeral financial assistance in the articles below. Families can also contact Eirene by phone (647-955-4375) or email (support@eirene.ca) for information.

• Ontario Funeral Financial Assistance Programs
• How Ontario Works Funeral Assistance Works
• How the Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit Can Help Fund a Funeral
• What Government Funeral Assistance is Available if You Can't Afford End-of-Life Expenses in Canada
• What if You Can't Afford to Die? Tips for Funding Funeral Costs

Additional cremation resources:

• Cremation: Questions and Answers
• Cremation Cost in Ontario
• Cremation Services in Ontario
• Cremation Services in Peterborough

What makes Eirene's cremation arrangements in Peterborough unique

At Eirene, we make cremation arrangements simple and give families the freedom to be as involved as they would like in their loved one's final arrangements. We also provide continuous support and guidance to grieving families, giving them peace of mind that their loved ones are in good hands.

Eirene also values transparency. That is why our all-inclusive cremation and aquamation packages are itemized and easily accessible to clients through our website. Families only have to enter the required information and pay a flat rate. Eirene handles all the details with no surprises or hidden fees.

Questions about cremation in Peterborough?

For questions about cremation in Peterborough and all the communities we serve in Ontario, contact our expert team via email at support@eirene.ca or call us at 647-955-4375. You can also see all the locations that we serve across Canada.