FAQs

• How much will a simple cremation cost?

• Where do I begin?

• I'd like to have my arrangements in place, to make it easier for my family? Can this be done? 

• When do we receive death certificates?

• What do we do with cremated remains?

• How do we move someone when they’ve died?

• Is embalming required?

• Do I have to identify my person?

• What type of farewell services are available? 

• Will you come to me to make arrangements for after life care?

• Who has legal authority to make final arrangements? 

How much will a simple cremation cost?

A basic cremation will cost $1475.00 plus gst. We strive for affordable pricing and relationship service to help reduce financial burden and distress degree, at this significant time of loss. 

Where do I begin?

If you need help or information, feel free to give us a no pressure, no obligation call (780-910-6432) or email. Your questions are important. 

I'd like to have my arrangements in place, to make it easier for my family? Can this be done? 

Yes. It can.

There is more than one way to put your after life care arrangements into place. Pine Box Funerals Inc. provides a method that gives options for self funding, allows for budgeting and provides your thoughtful written wishes as a document for inclusion in end of life planning. We call this your Letter of Preference.

When do we receive death certificates?

The Funeral Director Statements of Death is usually available within a few days of making final arrangements. Pine Box Funerals Inc. provides 10 Funeral Director Statements of Death. These are legal documents. The Executor will use these at banks, insurance, government agencies, etc. 

What do we do with cremated remains?

You receive the equivalent of about a 5-lb bag of sugar. Cremated remains are returned in a box unless an urn is purchased or provided. Cemeteries usually have several options available to inter cremated remains. Pine Box can help you with cemetery enquiries.

Some questions you and your family might consider, include:

• Do you need one or several urns?

• What about keepsakes or jewelry?

• Are you planning to scatter the remains? 

Here are some options for cremation and urn products:

• Pacific Urns

• Commemorate Group Inc.

• Custom wood urn by local artist Ken Hawtin

• Lovedremembered.com (Canadian jewelry)

There are many artisans like Ken Hawtin who create containers that will house final remains. Pine Box believes in “support local.” If you know of someone or are an artisan that would like included on our “Resources” page, please reach out through an email or call.

There are very few restrictions on scattering remains in Alberta: Scattering Cremated Remains In Alberta.​ Families are surprised at the broad span of locations available to them. Careful consideration of where and how final remains are to be scattered is advised. It is an irreversible act that can have unintended burden on grief.

How do we move someone when they’ve died?

Pine Box Funerals provides transportation services to carry decedent from the place of death, including home, to the funeral home. Transportation is also provided, when required to the funeral location and cemetery for burial. Transport occurs 24 hours per day. 

Many centres (hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities) in Alberta don’t have capacity to hold deceased for more than a couple of hours. Staff greatly appreciate after life care services to be in place before death occurs. Having to figure it out at 2:30 a.m. on the morning of death, greatly adds distress to families.

Is embalming required?

Embalming is not legally required in Alberta, nor is it always required. It is the process of preserving a deceased body through the process of removing bodily fluids and replacing them with chemicals. For a small family viewing, (5-7 people) a minimum preparation is likely what is required. For a larger gathering with open casket viewing, embalming may be required. Every family is a unique family and circumstance. Embalming is available if it is deemed necessary.

Do I have to identify my person?

Responsible decision makers are provided with the opportunity to identify their deceased. It is not currently a legal requirement nor is it a Pine Box Funerals policy, at this time.

What type of farewell services are available? 

Funeral services go by many names these days; traditional funeral service, memorial service, celebration of life, family gathering. The type of service held is sometimes determined by the method of body disposition, be it body burial or cremation.

Services can be simple, elegant, traditional, private or public. They may be held in many different types of locations. These could include a church, a funeral chapel, a community hall, at the lake lot, the golf course, a favourite restaurant or simply at graveside. Pine Box Funerals provides Celebrant officiant services to assist in coordination and planning.

When burial is the chosen disposition, cemetery costs add considerable dollars to your costs. 

• Traditional Burial Service – This involves a service in a church, funeral chapel, or other facility with the embalmed decedent present. Burial requires a concrete liner. There is usually a reception (pre-covid) followed by burial or cremation. This is likely the most costly choice for after life care.

• Burial Before Service - This involves a graveside gathering, followed by (either immediately to within about 6 months) a memorial service or gathering.

• Green Burial - A certified designation provided by the Green Burial Council of Canada. No vault, no embalming, shroud or simple casket.

• Natural burial takes place in an already established cemetery within the established plotting system. No vault, no embalming. A shroud or simple Pine Box casket, is most appropriate. Natural burial is available in Strathcona County.

• Memorial Service/Celebration of Life - A memorial service is held when the body is not present. For example, the deceased may have been buried immediately after death, cremated or donated for medical research prior to the service.

When cremation is the chosen disposition, family members have additional time to pull together a more personalized farewell. This can be a DIY event or it can be hired out to the funeral home or an event planner. Pinterest and Instagram provide endless ideas for celebrating life.

Will you come to me to make arrangements for after life care?

Of course. If you are in the Edmonton area, yes. There are several ways to complete arrangements. You can come to the Pine Box Funerals shop, we can come to you and we can also complete online. Let’s start with a phone call.

Who has legal authority to make final arrangements? 

After death occurs, who holds authority as authorized decision makers is as follows:

Alberta Funeral Services Act Regulations Section 36(2)           

Subject to an order of the Court, the right to control the disposition of human remains or cremated remains vests in and devolves on persons in the following order of priority:

(a)    the personal representative designated in the will of the deceased;

(b)    the spouse or adult interdependent partner of the deceased if the spouse or adult interdependent partner was living with the deceased at the time of death;

(c)    an adult child of the deceased;

(d)    a parent of the deceased;

(e)    a guardian of the deceased under the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act or, if the deceased is a minor, under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act or the Family Law Act;

(f)    an adult grandchild of the deceased;

(g)    an adult brother or sister of the deceased;

(h)    an adult nephew or niece of the deceased.