How to get help with funeral costs
Grieving the loss of a loved one while worrying about the cost of funeral services can be overwhelming. Often, burial expenses can get in the way of planning a ceremony and honouring them properly among family and friends. So how much does a funeral cost exactly?
The cost of a funeral can be substantial. On average, a funeral in Canada costs $8,500, ranging from $1,500 to $25,000 depending on the location and individual preferences. This includes the viewing, burial, service fees, transport, casket, embalming, and other costs.
Today, many families turn to crowdfunding to get help with funeral costs and create a new way for friends and family to support each other emotionally through this difficult time.
Cost of funeral services
Families often contact a funeral home to begin preparations when a loved one passes away. It’s important not to go alone and take an impartial party to help deal with sensitive decisions. The general price list covers tasks, including basic service fees, embalming, and funeral home costs.
If you’re wondering how much a funeral home service is in Canada, here’s an overview of some current prices:
- The average funeral costs between $8,000 and $9,000.
- In Canada, how much a funeral costs will depend on the province. For example, the average funeral cost in Ontario is anywhere between $1,500 to $20,000, while in British Columbia it ranges from $1,000 to $12,000.
Cemetery and burial costs
For burials, there is usually a procession to the cemetery for the burial of the body after the service at the funeral home. The associated funeral costs of a typical burial are listed on the general price list. These costs can add up quickly, including transportation, a burial plot, and a casket.
- Transfers to a burial home usually cost around $100. However, this will depend on the location, distance travelled, and whether the transfer is out-of-province.
- Church ceremonies can cost between $500 and $2,000. This includes fees for the priest, church attendant, musicians, and so on.
- The average cost of a burial in Canada is between $5,000 and $10,000.
- Burying someone in a cemetery can cost upwards of $10,000 for a new plot, headstone, and inscription. If you already own a plot in the cemetery, you only need to pay around $1,500 to open and close the plot and add an inscription to an existing headstone.
Cremation and memorial service costs
A cremation or memorial service offers flexibility and is usually less expensive for families looking to avoid both the process and cost of funeral services. A memorial involves a celebration of life but may vary from a funeral according to the family’s traditions, beliefs, and wishes.
Here’s an overview of the average cost of a funeral typically associated with memorials and cremation:
- Funeral homes can cost between $2,000 to $6,000 for a basic cremation. That includes the fee for cremation, a cremation certificate, and registration of the death.
- Additional services, such as visitation and embalming, or interring ashes at a columbarium, can see that figure climb to $10,000 or more.
- Caskets and urns can cost between $0 and $3,500.
- Professional funeral fees, such as guidance, planning, logistics, and paperwork can cost in the region of $200 and $1,000+.
Financial assistance for funeral costs
There are a number of ways you can get financial help with funeral costs if you find yourself in a difficult situation.
Provincial support
For those in need, provincial programs help to provide financial assistance for funerals. What support you receive will depend on your local province. Here, we list a few of the key provinces and what they offer, but we advise you to check out the government website for your local authority for a full breakdown of financial support.
- Ontario: Ontario Works can help to cover funeral costs such as transfers, cremations, the burial plot, and the urn or casket.
- Quebec: The Special Funeral Expense Benefit is granted if the deceased didn’t have the financial resources to pay for their funeral expenses. The maximum amount of the benefit is $2,500.
- British Columbia: A supplement is available for residents to cover funeral costs if the deceased person or associated responsible persons can’t afford it.
- Alberta: The Alberta government also has a fund to help pay for basic funeral expenses for those who cannot afford them. It can be used to cover the costs of a funeral ceremony, transportation, a cemetery plot, and more.
Death Benefit
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit is a one-time payment that’s payable to the estate or other eligible individuals. To qualify, the deceased must have made contributions to the CPP for at least:
- One-third of the calendar years in their contributory period for the base CPP, but no less than three calendar years, or
- 10 calendar years.
The amount of the death benefit is a single payment of $2,500 and can be used to cover any costs associated with a funeral.
Charity grants
You may also be able to apply for charity grants to cover the cost of a funeral. In most cases, what support is available will be determined by the province the deceased lived in and their personal circumstances.
For example, if the deceased was a veteran, then the Last Post Fund’s program provides funeral, burial, and grave marking benefits for eligible Canadian and Allied Veterans.
Other charities include Childhood Cancer Canada‘s Benevolent Fund, which helps families by assisting with the costs of the funeral service for their child, and ICNA Relief Canada’s Funeral Support Program, established to support the burial of loved ones.
Crowdfunding
People crowdfund towards funerals and memorials every day, too. By doing this, it means that anyone who wants to contribute can – and often helps in unexpected circumstances too.
A memorial fundraiser also provides a central place for people to offer condolences and come together to reflect on someone’s life through photos and written memories.
Although asking for donations for funeral expenses may seem daunting, it helps thousands of families who would otherwise struggle to pay for a service to honour the lives of their loved ones and give them the service they deserve.
Get the financial support you need
Now you know how much a funeral costs, you’re aware that services and memorials can be expensive regardless of the option you choose.
Crowdfunding can help with funeral costs and alleviate some financial burdens, providing support when you need it most.