Funeral & Cremation Services

FAQs

When my loved one dies, what should I do?

The death of a loved one is one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to face that alone. With decades of experience serving diverse families, we are ready to help your family too. When your loved one dies, give us a call at 306.934.4888. We are here to respond to immediate needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will be able to answer your questions and arrange for your loved one to be brought into our care.

What are the various options for funeral services?

We specialize in the full range of funeral options, including traditional funerals, cremations, and customized celebrations of life. You can learn more here. Call us to discuss your family’s preferences. We’re here to help.

Why are you able to deliver lower prices than other funeral homes?

We can’t speak about why other funeral homes charge the prices they do, but for us, we’re 100% committed to delivering top-quality services at the lowest prices, because we believe that you and your family should be able to meaningfully honour your loved one without having to worry about cost.

Can I plan my own funeral in advance?

Yes, you can. In fact, making funeral arrangements in advance is a wonderful way to make a difficult time for your family a lot easier. We have created an easy, online form to allow you to share some of the initial details with us. You can find that form here. If you prefer, you can also pre-pay your funeral expenses, thanks to our partnership with Canada Purple Shield, which is underwritten by Assurant Life of Canada. Call us (306.934.4888) at your convenience to discuss your pre-planning needs. We’re here to help.

Burial & Cremation FAQ

What is opening and closing and why is it so expensive?

Opening and closing fees can include up to and beyond 50 separate services provided by the cemetery. Typically, the opening and closing fee include administration and permanent record keeping (determining ownership, obtaining permission and the completion of other documentation which may be required, entering the interment particulars in the interment register, maintaining all legal files); opening and closing the grave (locating the grave and laying out the boundaries, excavating and filling the interment space); installation and removal of the lowering device; placement and removal of artificial grass dressing and coco-matting at the grave site, leveling, tamping, re-grading and sodding the grave site and leveling and re-sodding the grave if the earth settles.

Can we dig our own grave to avoid the charge for opening and closing?

The actual opening and closing of the grave is just one component of the opening and closing fee. Due to safety issues which arise around the use of machinery on cemetery property and the protection of other gravesites, the actual opening and closing of the grave is conducted by cemetery grounds personnel only.

Why is having a place to visit so important?

To remember and to be remembered are natural human needs. A permanent memorial in a cemetery provides a focal point for remembrance and memorializing the deceased. Throughout human history, memorialization of the dead has been a key component of almost every culture. Psychologists say that remembrance practices, from the funeral or memorial service to permanent memorialization, serve an important emotional function for survivors by helping them bring closure and allowing the healing process to begin. Providing a permanent resting place for the deceased is a dignified treatment for a loved one’s mortal remains, which fulfills the natural human desire for memorialization.

What happens when a cemetery runs out of land?

When a cemetery runs out of land, it will continue to operate and serve the community. Most cemeteries have crematoriums, and some historic cemeteries even offer guided tours.

In a hundred years will this cemetery still be there?

We think of cemetery lands as being in perpetuity. There are cemeteries throughout the world that have been in existence for hundreds of years.

How soon after or how long after a death must an individual be buried?

There is no law that states a specific time from for burial. Considerations that will affect timeline include the need to secure all permits and authorizations, notification of family and friends, preparation of cemetery site and religious considerations. Public heath laws may have limitations on the maximum length of time allowed to pass prior to final disposition. Contact your local funeral provider for more details.

Does a body have to be embalmed before it is buried?

No. Embalming is a choice which depends on factors like if there is to be an open casket viewing of the body or if there is to be an extended time between death and internment. Public health laws may require embalming if the body is going to be transported by air or rail.

What options are available besides ground burial?

Besides ground burial, some cemeteries offer interment in lawn crypts or entombment in mausoleums. In addition, most cemeteries provide choices for those who have selected cremation. These often include placement of cremated remains in a niche of a columbarium or interment in an urn space.

What are burial vaults and grave liners?

These are the outside containers into which the casket is placed.  Burial vaults are designed to protect the casket and may be made of a variety or combination of materials including concrete, stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper, bronze, plastic or fiberglass.  A grave liner is a lightweight version of a vault which simply keeps the grave surface from sinking in.

Must I purchase a burial vault?

Most large, active cemeteries have regulations that require the use of a basic grave liner for maintenance and safety purposes.  Either a grave liner or a burial vault will satisfy these requirements.  Some smaller rural or churchyard cemeteries do not require use of a container to surround the casket in the grave.

What is Cremation?

Cremation is a process which reduces a human body to its basic elements through a process that exposes it to open flames, intense heat, evaporation and powderizing. Cremated remains are commonly referred to as ashes, however they really consist primarily of bone fragments, remains of the cremation container and any other incidental by-products of the process.

Is a casket required for cremation?

No, however Martens’ Funeral Homes requires that the deceased be cremated in a combustible, leak proof, rigid, covered container, which are available in a wide variety of materials from simple cardboard to solid wood, designed with little or no metal.

Can we attend our loved one's cremation?

You may. We can arrange for a ceremony similar to that which is held at the graveside. Clergy can be present for prayer and reflection, or you may just want to be present as the casket enters the crematorium, at which point most choose to leave. However, you are welcome to remain in our comfortable reception area until the process is complete, usually about two to three hours.

Contact one of our locations to start planning.