Basic Cremation

Basic Funerals and Cremation Choices is well known for providing cremation services in Ontario. We take care of everything needed to facilitate the cremation such as all documentation, transfers from the place of death and to the crematorium, and the provision of death certificates. Our Basic Cremation service includes everything needed and there is nothing additional that is required to complete the cremation. This complete basic cremation service is only $1,695.50 (HST included) and if desired, anything can be added to it such as an urn, funeral, or memorial service.

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Arrangement Process

• Step 1
• Step 2
• Step 3
• Step 4

First Contact

Step 1 : First Contact Basic Funerals can be notified 24 hours a day, seven days a week to begin the process and arrangements can be made either online, over the phone or in person. We will take care of all the immediate requirements starting with arranging for the transfer of the deceased into our care. How does the arrangement process work?

Arrangements

Step 2 : Arrangements During the arrangements our directors will completely educate you on all of your options so that you can make an informed decision. However you can learn about these options in advance by using our Basic Cremation Quote Builder. The actual arrangements can be made online and over the phone or if you prefer an in person arrangement, we can meet with you in one of our arrangement locations in Ontario. If it is more convenient, we will send a funeral director right to your home to complete the arrangements.

Documentation

Step 3 : Documentation We will complete all of the documentation required for the cremation process including all required government forms. We also offer help with settling your estate through our Basic Estate Services. Documentation can be completed either online, over the phone, by fax, or in person in Ontario.

Completion

Step 4 : Completion Once the documentation is complete payment can be made by cheque, Visa, or Mastercard. Basic Funerals will then complete all of the arranged funeral services including delivery of the Proof of Death Certificates. After the cremation is complete you can claim the remains from the crematorium or we can arrange for delivery.

Additional Services Available with a Basic Cremation

Witnessing of cremation

A service where families wish to witness the actual cremation process. This is a very common request since this type of ceremony provides families and friends with a feeling of closure. This process can also include a short story from clergy and stories and memories from family and friends.

Identification

Being able to see a loved one before a final disposition is helpful for a sense of closure. This is not necessarily a funeral service, but an opportunity to briefly say goodbye before final disposition.

Additional Cremation Information

Benefits of Cremation

It is a more economical choice in general and in fact, 65% of all Canadians choose cremation. Besides cremations being less expensive than burials, cremation urns are considerably less expensive than caskets.

Burial costs of cremated remains are much less than the cost of burying a loved one in a casket. The costs involved with the burial of a casket are fees for the purchase and perpetual care of a grave plot, the opening and closing fees of the plot, a grave-liner and a grave-marker.

Also, cremation allows a much greater choice of location for the final resting of a loved one's cremated remains. This also allows families to choose a place of significance to scatter the loved one's remains.

Burial Versus Cremation

This question is asked of our funeral directors often, and it really comes down to what a family prefers. We are more than happy to facilitate either of these options and we offer direct simple burials and environmental options for those who choose burial. Please note that burial prices can differ due to the variation of fees in different cemeteries. The general pricing guide for our cremation option would remain the same.

What is Cremation

The word cremation comes from the Latin word "cremo" which means "to burn". Cremation involves the application of high temperature, typically between 1400 and 2100 Degrees Fahrenheit (760 to 1150 Deg. C), to a wooden box or casket which holds the deceased. The deceased and container are consumed by the heat. The entire process takes about 4 hours.

History of Cremation

Archaeologists believe that cremation started around 3000 BC. It was most likely used first in Europe or possibly the Near East. Between 800 BC and 600 BC in Greece and Rome, cremation was the most common method of final disposition. In other cultures however, other methods were being used:

The Christian church rejected cremation, partly because of its similarities with the pagan societies of Greece and Rome. The Christians buried their dead in graves. In ancient China, they were buried. Ancient Egyptians embalmed their bodies then buried them in tombs.

When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, other religions were exiled or exterminated. Burial then became the only method of disposition throughout Europe. An Italian, Professor Brunetti, developed the first modern cremation chamber in the 1870's. This caused movement towards cremation in Europe and North America. In 1886, the Roman Catholic Church banned cremations. Church members were excommunicated for arranging them up until World War II. The Eastern Orthodox ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople stated in 1961 that "There is no formal Orthodox rule against cremation, but there is a heavy weight of custom and sentiment in favour of Christian burial". There are approximately 1,100 crematories and 470,915 cremations per year in North America .