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Anita Chauhan
Losing someone close to you is extremely difficult, but the realization that there is not enough money for the funeral can make things even worse. Funerals can sometimes take you by surprise — the death was perhaps unexpected, or the funeral cost is simply higher than you or your family can afford.
If there is not enough money to pay for a funeral, there are some options you can explore. Here are some of the ways you can reduce and minimize funeral costs so you can focus on your grief and support your grieving family and friends.
Unfortunately, funerals in Canada can be pricey. Even a full, yet modest funeral can cost $10,000 or more, especially if burial is the preferred choice. Funeral homes, caskets, viewings, gravestones and embalming can make even the simplest funeral out of reach.
To keep costs as low as possible, consider what is called direct cremation. This is a dignified way to give your loved one a funeral when family finances are tight or when you want simplicity.
For example, at Eirene Cremations, we have all inclusive direct cremation packages, click here to learn more about Eirene's pricing and package details. Our company also offers payment plans through our partner Affirm payments to help families fund their loved one's funeral through time payments. You can reach us to discuss here or start arrangements here.
If you can't afford to pay for a funeral, there are several options you may want to explore, including payment plans, crowdfunding, and government benefits and social service programs. These cost-saving funeral strategies are outlined below:
Funeral payment plans are a good solution to spread the cost of the funeral, but you can generally only apply for them if you have a good credit score. That said you first call should be to us here at Eirene as we have several strategies we can offer including a helpful payment plan for our direct cremation package.
Alternatively, you could look into personal loans that allows you to receive money in your account the same or next day. Make sure you look carefully at the rates, fees, and requirements, as it's easy to make mistakes when you're grieving.
We’re committed to honest pricing. We don’t charge extra for mileage, device removals or crematorium fees.
Setting up a crowdfund online is an easy way to accept donations from family, friends, and even strangers. If you can't cover the cost of a funeral yourself, you can raise the funds through crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter or GoFundMe. These platforms make it easy to share your story and share links on social media asking friends and family to contribute.
There is a variety of government programs and social service programs that you can apply for to help fund a funeral.
You can start with this article: Government funeral assistance for end of life expenses or you can also see our Social Services page which has some additional useful resources.
We have also outlined below the federal programs in Canada that help a family afford a funeral. We have also summarized government programs in each of the Canadian province and territories below:
Here is a breakdown of various government programs that help with funeral costs in each Canadian province.
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If the deceased person served in the Canadian military, it's possible to get a civilian or official funeral paid for by Department of National Defence (DND). You will be responsible for the arrangements, and the DND will cover up to $15,291. Learn more on Canada.ca about the military funeral and burial benefit in Canada. See also the Last Post program.
If you can't afford to pay anything and don't qualify for any government benefits or related program, your only option left is to release the body by signing a form at your local coroner’s office. This means that the government will arrange a burial or cremation, and you may be able to claim the ashes in exchange for a fee.
This option will be a last resort for some. (That said, be sure to contact us at Eirene, as there are likely better options we can help you with.)
However in the interest of provide all options to our readers, here is the process for donating a body to science in Canada.
Schools or schools of anatomy are dependent upon the generosity of persons willing to donate their bodies to train future medical professionals, enhance skill sets and expand knowledge.
There are currently 17 medical schools or School of Anatomy across Canada that accept donations of bodies for science to train future health professionals.
Body donation means that your whole body is donated to a Schools of Anatomy for educational and research purposes only. It is different than only donating tissue or organs to help save a life.
Typically, the various university schools of anatomy offer what is called a Service of Gratitude, which is an event that family and friends of the deceased person are invited to attend. Learn more about the service of gratitude event at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
These events are a school’s opportunity to honour and remember their donors and their generosity. Remains are respectfully cremated and are interred in a school’s plot or, they may be returned to the family upon request.
Learn more about donating your body to science in Canada at the following resources:
Our expert team at Eirene can help you review ideas for funeral funding. Contact us today to access our experts and discuss your options.
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