Introducing Eirene: A New Vision for Funeral Arrangements

Mallory J. Greene

Welcome to Eirene. We're a startup with the audacious goal of changing how the world sees death.

Navigating the end-of-life experience is scary and complex, and it's common to question if we are making the right choice for our loved ones. The process is loaded with emotions, it's expensive, and it's hard to get right.

That's why we started Eirene - to provide families with a better funeral arrangement experience. We wanted to break free of the traditional process that exists today and compassionately help families through one of the most challenging ordeals that life inevitably hands us.

Eirene allows users to plan an affordable, direct cremation entirely online — all at their convenience. There's no shopping around, up-selling or in-person consultations required. We provide peace of mind that you're receiving the best care for your loved one, with a focus on a simple arrangement during an incredibly difficult time.

And that's where we're starting. Our mission is to unpack difficult conversations around end-of-life planning and help families navigate death care's innate complexities. We want to empower families to make informed decisions, commemorate their loved ones in unique ways, and spark discussions surrounding end-of-life.

Our vision is to ensure that a better death becomes integral to a good life.

Is the funeral industry broken?

Many years ago, most people died at home, surrounded by their loved ones. Today, death looks a lot different. It's hidden behind the walls of healthcare institutions and funeral homes, surrounded by strangers. Our extreme fear of death has built an industry that doesn't serve most people's needs.

We often forget that a funeral is not just an emotional ritual; it's also a business transaction. You're tasked with making an incredibly difficult decision during a time of emotional vulnerability, and most often, you have no knowledge of how it all works. The modern-day consumer is not equipped with the proper tools to make decisions for their loved ones.

After years of research, we found common themes on consumers' most significant pain points when navigating the funeral arrangement process. These are just a few.

There are too many choices. Embalming, caskets, burials, and memorial services are just a few of the many decisions that families have to make at a time of loss and sadness. Often, we haven’t had conversations surrounding our end-of-life wishes, so families are forced to decide on behalf of the person they love. It’s a vast and unrealistic undertaking for a mourning family.

It’s incredibly expensive. Pricing structures of funerals are complex, and families are often drawn in by seemingly low prices but later hit with hidden charges and additional fees. Comparing prices between funeral homes can be like comparing apples and oranges. Many people are not prepared for end-of-life expenses and are often shocked by their $10,000 price tag (likely why funeral costs are the fastest-growing fundraising category on GoFundMe). Many people can simply not afford to die.

The arrangement process is inconvenient. Endless paperwork, in-person visits and negotiating. The many tasks that bereaved families are required to complete during a difficult time. It’s inconvenient. For many people, getting one of the hardest parts of a loved one’s end-of-life arrangements over with quickly and easily is a huge relief.

How Eirene is different

We built Eirene to make the funeral arrangement experience - better. We give you all of the tools you need to make informed decisions, provide the support you require from trusted professionals, and make the arrangement process as simple as possible.

Here’s how we’ve made the process a little bit easier.

Online arrangements. With timelines and emotional vulnerability in mind, we made the arrangement process as simple as possible. Our online platform allows you to enter the required information, pay a flat fee, and let us handle the rest. You can skip the in-person visits, endless paperwork and negotiating, and focus on grieving with your loved ones. It’s that simple.

All-inclusive, affordable pricing. Eirene believes that everyone deserves to access quality death care and deserves honest and fair pricing. That's why our cremation packages are all-inclusive, the price you see is the price you pay + tax. Our packages were created to reduce stress on grieving families and provide comfort in knowing that your loved one is in good hands. We offer packages, suited to your needs. And the price you see is exactly what you’ll pay - no surprises. Click here so see Eirene's packages and pricing.

We've also partnered with Affirm payments to ensure every family has access to affordable death care. Once approved, Affirm allows you to make time payments for your desired services with no hidden fees or late fees. Even if you are not eligible for Affirm’s payment plan, we will work with you to ensure you get the support you need.

How can we charge less than your local funeral home? Having an online process reduces our overhead costs and allows us to pass on all savings to our families.

24/7 support. While your arrangement process is digital, our support is all human. We give you a choice to be as involved as you’d like, and we’ll update you every step of the way. Our team of licensed funeral directors is available to you by live chat, phone, or email whenever you need it. When you want to get in touch, we will help you. When you suggest something, we will listen. It’s the compassionate care you’d expect from a funeral home, catered to your needs and wishes.

Flexibility to commemorate your loved one. Eirene support doesn’t end at the cremation arrangement - we’ll be here to connect you to the providers you need to memorialize and commemorate your loved one. Whether that’s providing you with an estate administration tool to close accounts, helping you file government paperwork, or simply connecting you to services that help you through the grief journey, we want to ensure that you have the power to honour the deceased - on your terms.

A transparent business model. We’ve built Eirene to speak directly to you, honestly and openly. Most of us don’t want to think or plan for end-of-life, which means that Eirene is taking on the responsibility to ensure that our families feel equipped and empowered to make the best decisions for their loved ones. That’s why everything you’d need to know about our platform, pricing and team, is widely available.

Knowledge sharing. Whether you’re planning for end-of-life, making a funeral arrangement, or need support post-death, we’ll be here to help you. We’re building tools and content so that everyone can understand their options and feel confident about the decisions they’re making. And all of our resources will be widely available to everyone - whether you use our services or not.

So how does it work?

At Eirene, we focus on simplicity and convenience for our families. We'll help you through the process and keep you informed every step of the way, allowing you as much or as little involvement as you'd like. We depend on the same industry providers that your local funeral home uses so you can be assured that you're in the best of hands. Eirene is licensed and regulated by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.

Here are the steps we take when you choose Eirene as your cremation provider:

• You enter all required information and pay on our online platform
• Our transfer service is notified to bring your loved one into our care
• Your loved one is stored at our secure facilities
• Our licensed funeral director completes all required paperwork
• We register the death with the Office of the Registrar General
• We transport your loved one to our partner crematorium
• Your loved one receives a private, dignified cremation
• The cremated remains are ready to be picked up or delivered at your earliest convenience

In addition to these services, your package includes unlimited proof of death certificates, helps you navigate CPP and OAS paperwork, and includes an estate administration tool to notify credit bureaus, financial institutions and the government of the death. From planning to post-cremation, we’ll be with you every step of the way.

Eirene is here to help.

You can choose a fancy casket and elaborate funeral, or you can choose a simple cremation and a basic urn. And whatever your choice, it does not mean that you love or grieve the deceased any more or less.

We built Eirene to demystify some of the funeral industry's lesser-known parts and help you prepare and manage a tough time - with dignity, compassion, and transparency. We hope that you'll join us on this journey to making the end-of-life experience better for everyone.

Visit www.Eirene.ca to learn more about our offerings.