Core funeral home services Every provider charges this whatever you choose: professional fees, documentation and death registration, transfer into their care, basic preparation, use of the building, and the administrative vehicle.
Lean provider Community or not-for-profit pricing, minimum non-declinable services only. $2,900 Low Typical provider The middle of the market across Ottawa and the surrounding towns. $3,600 Medium Full service provider Larger firm, extended coordination, higher facility and staffing charges. $4,400 High
Final disposition What actually happens to the body, billed by the crematorium or the cemetery.
Cremation Crematorium fee, including the transfer to and from the crematorium. $750 Low Green or natural burial Hand or light equipment opening of a natural burial lot, no vault, shroud or simple container. Only certain cemeteries offer this service. The interment work costs about the same as a traditional grave, the savings come from skipping embalming, a vault, and a sealed casket. $1,750 High Traditional burial Opening and closing the grave at an Ottawa area cemetery. Winter, weekend, and holiday openings add several hundred dollars. $1,800 High
Preparation for viewing Only needed if the body will be seen. Embalming is not required by law in Ontario.
Not needed No viewing, or a closed casket with no public visitation. No cost Basic preparation and dressing Bathing, dressing, setting of features for identification or a short private viewing. $335 Low Full embalming Sanitation and temporary preservation for a longer or multi-day visitation. $600 High
Ceremony Where the service happens changes both the facility fee and the staffing behind it.
No formal ceremony Family gathers privately, or holds something themselves later. No cost Graveside committal Short service at the plot. Chairs, tent, lowering device, staff attendance. $450 Low Church or place of worship Staff to run the service off site, plus the clergy honorarium and musician. $700 Medium Funeral home chapel Chapel use, sound and seating, staff to coordinate and oversee the service. $900 High
Visitation Room time with staff present, before or on the day of the service.
No visitation Skip the public viewing entirely. No cost Two hours One short window, usually right before the service. $950 Low Half day, about four hours Afternoon or evening window with staff and a register book. $1,300 Medium Two days Evening plus the following morning, in a larger room. $2,300 High
Vehicles Procession vehicles are billed separately from the transfer into care.
No vehicles required No procession and no separate service vehicle charge. No cost Service vehicle only Moves flowers, equipment and paperwork. No procession. $150 Low Funeral coach and lead vehicle Hearse to the church or cemetery, plus the vehicle leading the procession. $700 Medium Coach, lead vehicle and family car Adds a vehicle to carry the immediate family between locations. $1,000 High
Casket or urn Prices vary more here than anywhere else on the list, and the container has no effect on the outcome.
Already have a casket or urn You purchased, made, or received one ahead of time. No extra charge for the container. No cost Basic cremation container or scattering tube Plain wood container, or a biodegradable tube for scattering. $200 Low Basic urn Metal, plastic, marble or rosewood, standard adult size. $400 Low Premium urn Hardwood, bronze sheet, granite or glass, with an engraved inscription. $850 Medium Entry level casket Solid wood, natural finish, crepe interior. Suitable for burial or cremation. $1,100 Low Mid range casket Poplar, oak or 20 gauge steel with a satin finish and standard interior. $2,800 Medium Premium casket Solid cherry, oak or 18 gauge steel, velvet interior, sealed. $5,500 High Top tier metal casket Solid copper or bronze, high gloss, velvet interior. Not suitable for cremation. $7,800 High
Rental casket for a viewing before cremation If you want a full open viewing and then a cremation, a rental shell with a removable insert is the usual route.
Not needed No viewing, or a casket has already been chosen above. No cost Basic rental casket Simple ceremonial shell, price includes the cremation insert. $1,100 Low Standard rental casket Oak or maple ceremonial shell, price includes the cremation insert. $1,450 Medium Premium rental casket Higher end shell and finish for a longer or larger visitation. $1,850 High
Reception and catering Pick how many guests you expect, then check off only what you actually want served. Food and drink are priced per guest, and the rest are flat charges.
Room or hall rental Funeral home reception room, church basement, legion or community hall. $350 flat charge Hostess and serving staff Someone to set up, pour, refill and clean up afterward. $275 flat charge Linens, china and coffee urns Rented tableware and equipment when the venue does not supply it. $150 flat charge Coffee, tea and cold drinks Urn service with juice and water. $200 $4 per guest Squares, cookies and dessert trays The classic after service sweet table. $300 $6 per guest Sandwich, wrap and veggie trays Light finger food, no hot service. $650 $13 per guest Hot buffet Two hot mains, sides and salads, served buffet style. $1,400 $28 per guest Full plated catered meal Sit down service with courses instead of a buffet. $2,250 $45 per guest Bar service Licensed bartender, beer and wine, permit and insurance. $800 $16 per guest
Reception subtotal: $1,775
Flowers A casket or urn piece, standing arrangements, and anything for the reception tables.
No flowers Donations in lieu of flowers. No cost Modest arrangements One casket or urn piece and a couple of small arrangements. $250 Low Standard floral package Full casket spray, standing sprays, and table pieces. $600 Medium Elaborate florals Designer arrangements throughout the chapel and the reception. $1,200 High
Cemetery plot or niche Cemetery costs are billed separately from the funeral home, and include a care and maintenance contribution.
None needed Ashes kept at home, scattered, an existing family plot is used, or the plot was already purchased. No cost Cremation lot or urn garden Small in ground space, interment of cremated remains, care and maintenance. $1,250 Low Columbarium niche Niche purchase, inurnment, and lettering on the front. $3,200 Medium Single adult grave Interment rights, care and maintenance fund, vault or liner where required. $3,600 High Double or family lot Two interment rights, larger care fund, premium location. $6,800 High
Headstone or marker Usually ordered weeks later, which is why it is the bill families most often forget to plan for.
No marker Nothing placed, or the cemetery supplies a plaque. No cost Flat granite lawn marker Flush to the ground, standard engraving, plus the cemetery setting fee and base. $1,100 Low Bevel or slant marker Low angled stone, larger engraving area, setting fee and base included. $1,800 Low Single upright granite headstone Stone on a base, standard lettering, cemetery foundation and installation. $3,000 Medium Bronze marker on granite base Cast bronze plaque set on granite, common in lawn and veteran sections. $2,900 Medium Double upright companion monument Wider stone for two names, standard design work, foundation and installation. $4,800 High Custom monument Carving, etched portrait or scene, unusual shape or premium granite colour. $7,000 High
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