A D V A N C E D P L A N N I N G & F i n a l A r r a n g e m e n t s G u i d e C O N T E N T S 2. About us 4. Travel assurance 10. Pre-planning 13. Funeral funding 14. Funeral arrangements 15. What is a funeral? 17. Practical information for your family 22. Product selection 24. Green burials 28. Honoring the lives of those who serve 32. Helping a friend cope with loss 33. Experiencing grief 34. Expressions of sympathy 36. Frequently asked questions 38. What to do: A checklist 40. To my family and loved ones 48. Recommended Partners T H I S F U N E R A L G U I D E H A S B E E N D E S I G N E D A N D P U B L I S H E D B Y If you wish to feature in the next publication, please contact us on (917) 993-9898 info@mabelandmabel.com mabelandmabel.com Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content in this guide, Mabel & Mabel are not liable for the accuracy of any content recieved from 3rd parties. All content within this guide is copyright of Mabel & Mabel Media and it may not be reproduced in any format without prior permission. W E L C O M E T O T H E T R I N I T Y F U N E R A L H O M E Bereavement & Funeral Planning Guide Planning a funeral can become overwhelming; however, please rest assured that we are here to help you every step of the way. We will answer your questions and offer reassurance as you embark on this emotional journey. Our professional experience and training, together with our own personal experiences, means that we understand what you are going through and will make the process as smooth as possible. Here at Trinity Funeral Home, we believe a funeral is a time to honour the life of the deceased and celebrate the heritage of the family. It is an important time for relatives and friends to gather, tell stories, acknowledge loss, and support each other. It would be our greatest privilege to help you prepare a respectful, fulfilling experience that meets the individual needs of your family and your loved ones. We pride ourselves on giving the very best service to the families that we serve. We aim to: • Replace confusion with calm • Add certainty to doubt • Provide answers to questions • Create a fitting memorial for your loved one Please take a moment to read through this brochure; we hope you will find it to be an informative guide to the services and options available from us. If you are in immediate need of assistance, or require any further information, then please do not hesitate to call us. 1 A L I T T L E A B O U T U S . . . here at Trinity Funeral Home We can be reached by phone: 7 8 0 - 4 74 - 4 6 6 3 or by email: I N F O @ T R I N I T Y F H . C O M Or our website can be viewed at: T R I N I T Y F U N E R A L H O M E . C A Trinity Funeral Home was founded in October 2009 under the premise that a funeral home can exist which is able to offer families extraordinary professional service and quality merchandise at an affordable and reasonable price. We have been successful in achieving this goal by creating and introducing a unique concept to funeral service in Edmonton... First and foremost, we are a family owned and operated business. Our only priority is the families we serve. We are neither bound by, nor directed by a corporate mandate and we do not report to shareholders or a society’s board of directors. This allows us to control every aspect of our business; from ensuring we have the lowest prices to hiring the proper staff to provide the highest level of service to our families. The people we select to employ at Trinity are passionate about their careers and serving families is their calling. From your first contact with Trinity until the time your loved one has been buried or cremated, you can expect to be treated with a level of professionalism and attention to detail that is unparalleled in the industry. We truly have your best interests at heart and you will never be rushed, misled or upsold in any way. At the core of our unique service model is our “No hidden fee guarantee”. We will never misrepresent ourselves nor will we ever mislead you at any point of contact with us. Unfortunately, the funeral industry is notorious for quoting prices over the phone in order to ‘lead’ you into their establishment only to change things when you arrive. Our staff members will ask what you are looking for and “listen” to your requests. We are here to serve you and what we quote you on the phone will be the same when you walk through our doors regardless of which of our Funeral Directors you speak with. Our candid approach to funeral service is our greatest strength. Trinity Funeral Home has been the catalyst of many changes in the Funeral Service Industry, and our unique concept to funeral service has been emulated not only in Edmonton but across Alberta. We are now recognized as the Funeral Home in Edmonton to offer all three elements of quality, service and price. From our humble beginnings with a small location in North Edmonton to where we are today, in the heart of Downtown Edmonton, our vision remains the same. ...being “everything a funeral home should be...” 2 T R A V E L A S S U R A N C E With Trinity Funeral Home So many Canadians are away from home these days for business, family visits and recreation. Traveling has become second nature to most of us and we tend to forget that when we’re away from home... anything can happen. • Although we are extremely experienced in repatriation services – there are some things a person should be aware of... • A funeral home, where the death occurred, needs to be contacted and their costs have to be paid for by the family • Consular services will be required to ensure proper documentation is in order for the deceased to return home • Transportation costs will vary depending on the airline and those costs are out of our control • The costs associated with bringing a loved one home could be well over $13000 • It could take up to two weeks or more for the deceased to finally return home Who can purchase the guaranteed travel assurance plan? The Guaranteed Travel Assurance Plan can be purchased by anyone with no restrictions as either a stand alone product or as part of your pre-arranged funeral plan. Even if you have made your pre-arrangements at another funeral home, you may still purchase the Guaranteed Travel Assurance Plan directly from us. G U A R A N T E E D T R A V E L A S S U R A N C E P L A N Lifetime Membership $425 USD including GST Key benefits of this VERY AFFORDABLE lifetime plan include: • Return of deceased from anywhere in the world when death occurs 100 kilometers from their legal residence • Preparation of the deceased for transport home to Canada or direct disposition where death has occurred • Consulate paper work, fees, legal proof of death certificate • Minimal necessary casket and or air tray for transport • Coverage of all airline fees and charges associated with the transportation of the body • Legal translations of documents, interpreter referrals, emergency message transmission to family members • Assistance with the return of accompanying pets • No health questions; no age restrictions – everyone qualifies • No renewal fees; one time fee for lifetime coverage regardless of amount of travel For more information or to purchase the Guaranteed Travel Assurance Plan please contact us at 780-460-0637 4 The death of a loved one is a challenging time and the job of an executor can be stressful. We will be your guide through the many administrative steps you need to complete over the coming weeks. You don’t have to do this alone. Examples of how we can assist you include: • Life Insurance claims • Coordinating bank and investment accounts • Personal budgeting • Estate distributions • Managing the death of a shareholder • Mediating disagreements between beneficiaries Our team will be with you the whole way. It starts with a phone call or an email. Reach out today. Dawn Vader, CFP Dawn specializes in estate planning for families and business owners. Dawn has been making a real difference in clients’ lives for more than 30 years as a Financial Planner by simplifying the process of passing on wealth to loved ones. David Lord, CPA, CMA, CFP David specializes in working with business owners to improve operational and tax efficiency at any phase in the lifecyle, from startup to wind-down. David has more than 15 years experience in guiding owner operators through both lean and profitable operations. Where your business has been impacted by the death of a key shareholder, David can help. Call us now at 780-906-5487 or email dawn@redsealfinancial.com Meet the team at www.redsealfinancial.com | Recommended Partner | The Red Seal Financial team is here for you. Let us help you with expert financial advice. Insurance and Financial Advice You Can Trust Dawn Vader, CFP David Lord, CPA, CMA, CFP | Recommended Partner | During times of tragedy, let us be a source of comfort. Centrally located in Edmonton, just 400 metres from rapid transit, you can park with us for free while other downtown hotels charge you for parking! You’ll love our contemporary guest rooms, each complete with all of the comforts of home. For your convenience, we have custom designed furnishings and oversized writing desks in most rooms. Dine in our full restaurant and lounge before relaxing in our indoor salt water pool and hot tub. We also offer 24-hour food service in the Tim Hortons coffee shop attached to the lobby. To book, call us at 1-800-666-5026 or visit our website for more information bestwesternedmonton.com 11310-109th Street Edmonton, Alberta T5G 2T7 | Recommended Partner | P L A N N I N G A F U N E R A L A brief overview... Most of us are not prepared to plan and carry out a funeral ceremony for someone we love. So much of the information available on this critically important subject fails to focus on what is most important: having a personalized, meaningful funeral that helps families and friends begin the healing process of mourning after the death of someone we love. Our dedicated and experienced staff are here to help you and can play a critical role in planning and carrying out a meaningful funeral or memorial service. Our licensed funeral directors are intimately familiar with the funeral planning process, key decisions a grieving family must make, and the necessary legal documentation that is required during this difficult time. Our funeral professionals can handle all of the details and help you create a unique service that meets your needs and values. Funeral ceremonies can make a significant difference in how families channel their grief towards health and healing. During the funeral, the community comes together and responds to the reality that someone has died, and also to the reality that those remaining will need support, compassion, love, hope, and understanding. The funeral encourages you to think about the person who has died and to explore the meaning of his or her life and the ways in which he or she touched the lives of others. The remembering, reflecting, and choices that take place in the planning and conducting of the funeral service are often an important part of the process of grief and mourning. Ultimately, this process of contemplation and discovery creates a memorable and moving funeral experience for all who attend. The following list of information will be needed when funeral arrangements are being made: • Full name of deceased • Date of birth • Place of birth • Social insurance number • Father’s name • Mother’s maiden name • Last or usual occupation • Cemetery information, if available • Veteran information, if available • Alberta health care number AD SPACE 8 Your journey has been challenging enough. Let us deal with CRA. St Arnaud Pinsent Steman. Personal and corporate tax professionals. For more information, call John Pinsent on 780-448-0399 or email john@sps-ca.ca www.sps-ca.ca | 1653 91st Street SW Edmonton, AB T6X 0W8 | Recommended Partner | P R E - P L A N N I N G The advantages of planning ahead The idea behind planning ahead is simple. One day, a great deal of vital information about you or a loved one will be needed by your family and anyone whose responsibility it is to assist them. Those who plan ahead can be assured that not only will their personal wishes be fulfilled, but other unnecessary problems may be avoided. Both you and your loved ones can benefit when funeral arrangements are made well ahead of need. It can be beneficial to include your immediate family in these plans, ensuring those left behind are aware of your wishes and able to plan a meaningful funeral that will help them begin their mourning. By discussing plans in advance, you can take time to make decisions about cremation or burial, the type of ceremony, and other elements of the funeral. You may want to discuss your thoughts and decisions not only with your family but also a funeral service professional. This planning guide can be used to capture your wishes and biographical information in advance. Upon completion, simply store it in a safe place with your other important documents. Most of us plan ahead in life. We plan for our wedding, our children’s education, family vacations, and other significant expected life events. We also plan for the unexpected events of life by purchasing home, auto, and medical insurance. Understanding the benefits of pre-planning has prompted many to take the step to plan their own arrangements. Why pre-plan? Peace of mind Pre-planning takes the burden of making important decisions away from your loved ones during a difficult time. Financial assurance Pre-payment of your funeral through our funeral home will render the costs associated with your final expenses inflation-proof. Longevity Pre-planning your funeral will make certain that your choices are respected and carried out, without leaving your family to wonder what your wishes may have been. There are many different ways to begin the planning ahead conversation. You know your family and how your loved ones might best respond to the topic. For some families, it might be a casual conversation over dinner or another family gathering. For other families, a formal meeting might be better suited. Regardless of your approach, the conversation is much easier to have when death is not imminent. Discussing the subject with loved ones earlier in life when they are younger, and most likely healthier, makes the topic easier to talk about and keeps the focus on the celebration of life rather than an impending loss. Pre-planning is a loving gift you can make for your family and survivors that provides complete peace of mind to everyone involved. Why should you make pre-arrangements for your funeral? • You can plan together as a family • You help spare your loved ones from having to make difficult decisions • It ensures your wishes are well-documented and carried out • It ensures all your personal documents are organized and easy for your survivors to locate • It helps control costs and reduces emotional overspending • You can personalize your plan to reflect your unique personality Here are some tips that may help you start the advance planning conversation with your loved ones: Set a time to have the conversation. Schedule it as an appointment with your loved ones, whether you want to share your plans with them or ask them to make their plans to share with you. Tell your parent or loved one that you want to ensure their final arrangements are done according to their wishes, and you need their help to make that happen. To open the discussion to learn more details about your loved one’s wishes, ease into the conversation with questions such as: • Have you ever thought about where you would like to be buried?” • “What type of funeral would you like to have?” Take advantage of funeral-related opportunities. Attending the funeral of a friend, family member, or colleague or watching a movie or television show with funeral scenes may naturally prompt the discussion. Talk about what you liked or didn’t like about the services you saw or attended. H O W D O E S P R E - P L A N N I N G H E L P ? 10 11 P R E - P A Y M E N T Methods of funeral pre-payment Life insurance Life insurance is often used as a method to pay for funeral services. Many people feel that if they have life insurance, everything will be taken care of because their loved ones will have the means to carry out their wishes. There are several considerations when funding with insurance. Unfortunately, over time, life events occur that can jeopardize the death benefit we once felt was sufficient. While insurance policies are very helpful, it is wise to ensure they are kept up to date from time to time by confirming the benefit, the owner, and the beneficiary. We may forget that we took a loan out, thus reducing the death benefit. Policies sometimes lapse due to other economic needs requiring our attention. Confirm your policy is not just an accidental policy, or a policy that terms out at a certain age. Ensure that over time inflation has not eroded the value and that it will still provide that for which you have planned. If your policy is assignable, you may want to discuss your funeral/cremation expenses at the funeral home. You may want to discuss the benefits of assigning your policy to the funeral home and how to protect the funds for those purposes. While insurance is certainly a way to fund funeral expenses, it is important to understand what can happen to policies so that you are able to ensure the policy performs as you wish at the time of need. Life insurance provides funding, but unless you make your wishes known, your family may not necessarily know, or agree. It is important to pre-plan your final wishes, as much as it is important to fund your final wishes. We can assist you in making your arrangements to complement the funds in your policy. Guaranteed funeral funding Insurance policies can provide funding, while pre-need policies combine both funding and the arrangement. Creating your arrangements involves deciding on your final disposition (burial, or cremation) and selecting goods and services based on how you wish to memorialize your life. Once that step has been completed, funding options for an arrangement through a policy designed to work in concert with your arrangement are available. These types of arrangements are referred to as pre- arrangements, or pre-need. Pre-need insurance is a special policy that has been created for funeral homes to fund in the exact same amount of your funeral pre- arrangement. The policy can be purchased in a simple single premium, or in monthly payments, through the funeral home. Funds are held securely and safely in the name of the Purchaser and are flexible with changes and cancellation. The pre-need policy is structured to pay the funeral home directly for the goods and services originally selected. The cost of goods and services will be covered by the benefit amount in your pre-need policy and there will not be any additional cost to your family. 13 | Recommended Partner | Whether you’re planning for yourself or for a loved one, the funeral service is one of the most important elements of a person’s final arrangements. There is no one right way to plan a funeral service: we truly believe that each funeral should be individual and memorable. By providing you with the opportunity for personalization, the funeral service can reflect the uniqueness of the life it honours. When planning your own funeral service in advance, think about the way you want to be remembered. Perhaps you’d like a traditional funeral aligned with certain religious or ethnic customs, or a celebration focusing on great memories made with family and friends may be your preference. Maybe it’s a combination of both. You can have one service, or several, to honour your life. Regardless of whether you or your loved one have opted for burial or for cremation, the funeral or memorial service fills an important role. It can: • Honour, recognize, and celebrate the life of the deceased • Allow friends and family to say their last goodbyes • Provide closure after the loss of a loved one • Allow friends to console the family of the loved one F U N E R A L A R R A N G E M E N T S W H A T I S A F U N E R A L? Elements of a funeral service Burial Plans When considering final arrangements for yourself or a loved one, one of the first decisions you might make is whether you prefer a burial or a cremation. This decision will often influence other important considerations, such as elements of the funeral service and the type of cemetery property. Funeral or celebration of life service A formal or informal ceremony or ritual prior to burial or cremation, a funeral service often provides a sense of closure to family and friends. Although your faith or culture may dictate some of the elements, you may want to personalize other aspects of the service. At a funeral service, a casket or urn is present, though you may choose to have the casket open or closed. Visitation, or viewing Held the day before or immediately prior to the funeral service, the visitation — also called a “viewing” — provides a way for friends and acquaintances to pay their respects and offer condolences to your family. As with the funeral service, you may want to decide if you want an open or closed casket, should one be present. Graveside service As its name implies, a graveside service may be held at the grave site, just prior to burial of a casket or urn. It usually consists of final remarks, prayers, or memories. The service may occur after or in place of a funeral service. Regardless of the service or services you choose to include in your funeral plan, you can personalize them in almost any way imaginable. For example, just consider the following questions: • Where should the funeral be held? At your place of worship? At the funeral home? • Who should officiate the service? • Will your service adhere to the traditions of your faith or culture? • Do you want a eulogy, and who should deliver it? • Would you like an open or closed casket? • What music should be played? • What readings would you like to have? • Is there a special poem you’d like shared with the guests? • Are there any special photographs or other memorabilia you would like displayed? 14 15 P R A C T I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N For your family In addition to pre-planning your funeral, completing a personal information form and giving a copy to your estate trustee, spouse, and children will give you the peace of mind of knowing they will have all the information they need to properly handle your wishes and the details of your estate. Keep this information safe but don’t put it in your safety deposit box, as these can remain sealed until after the funeral. In this section, we’ve answered the most common questions we are asked about funeral options. If you require further information, please contact us at any time. Cremation Cremation is an alternative to earth burial or mausoleum entombment: it does not limit the funeral in any way. Should you choose cremation, you will still have the same options for memorialization that any other family has. Cremation can take place before or after the funeral service. A few facts about cremation: • Cremation cannot occur until there is a signed death certificate by a doctor. • If you choose cremation for your loved one, you can still have a service. • You have numerous options for the final resting place. • You can place the cremated remains in a special urn to display at home. • You can bury an urn in a cemetery, providing a permanent resting place where family and friends can visit. • You can place a portion of cremated remains in an urn and a portion in a columbarium niche, providing a permanent location where you can pay your respects. • You can scatter the cremated remains. What is cremation? Cremation is a process of reducing the body to bone fragments by applying intense heat for a period of two to three hours. The cremated remains are then removed from the cremation chamber and processed into finer fragments to be placed in a temporary container. They typically weigh between three and six pounds. An urn may be selected for the final disposition of the cremated remains. Do we need to buy a casket? Cremation by-laws require that at a minimum, the deceased must be placed into a rigid combustible container. Many options of caskets and containers are available to you. Can we place personal mementos in the casket prior to cremation? Many personal items may be placed in the casket; however, some items may need to be removed prior to the cremation process. All items left in the casket will be destroyed during the cremation. Your funeral director can advise you on which items may stay and which items must be removed from the casket. Do we need to have a funeral if we select cremation? Cremation does not limit the type of funeral service that may be chosen. The same options that apply to earth burial are available with cremation. Some of these choices include casket 17 In-Home Healthcare Set up a free assessment today by calling: 780-809-7884 or email: info@infinity-8.ca www.infinity-8.ca | Recommended Partner | Home Support Companionship Meal preparation Cleaning Pet care Laundry services Coordination of home and yard maintenance Errands, grocery shopping Personal Care Dressing Bathing Mobility assistance Nursing Care Wound care Medication administration Vital signs monitoring Dementia care Palliative and end-of-life care Coordination of doctor visits Pharmacy refills Here at Infinity Healthcare, we offer a unique and personalized combination of premier care and community-based services across Alberta. We operate 24/7 and offer a variety of payment options. Above all, Infinity Healthcare empowers people to maintain an independent lifestyle in the community and successfully age in peace. type, location of the service and visitation, music selection, open casket, and the display of personal mementos. Some families elect to have a complete service at the funeral home or place of worship. If cremation: • Would you like to use our chapel for a short service prior to the cremation? • What type of urn would you prefer (metal, wood, marble, ceramic, etc.)? • What type of final resting place would you prefer for your loved one (choice of burial, above ground niches, or scattering of cremated remains)? • Would you like other members of the family to be with your loved one in the future? This determines the size of the resting place. Decisions to be made regarding burial of an urn: • What type of memorial do you prefer (bronze or granite marker set flush with the ground or an upright memorial)? • Would you like to protect your loved one’s urn with a vault? Decisions to be made regarding above ground niches: • Would you like the niche to be inside a building or outside? • What type of material would you like the niche to be constructed from? Granite or bronze are choices for outdoor niches and marble or glass are choices for indoor niches. Scattering: Some cemeteries have scattering areas on their property. Please check local laws for scattering. • Would you like to be present for the scattering? • Would you like a memorial to be placed in the area? Taking an urn home: Many people prefer to have the urn at home with them. Shipping: You may wish for the cremated remains to be shipped to another country. We can look after these arrangements for you. You may also be permitted to take the cremated remains yourself to another country. Check with us first and we can assist you. If casket burial: • Would you like other members of the family to be with your loved one in the future? This determines the size of the plot. • What type of memorial do you prefer (a marker set flush with the ground or an upright memorial)? • Would you like to protect your loved one’s casket with a vault? • What type of presentation would you prefer for the burial service, e.g. a tent canopy, chairs, mats leading to the grave, etc.? Burial Most people are familiar with the concept of burial, or interment, but may not be aware of the variety of options that are often available. Many cemeteries offer one or more of the following: • Ground burial: burial of the casket below ground. A “vault” or “outer burial container” is required at many cemeteries. • Mausoleum, or community mausoleum: a large building that provides above ground entombments. • Private family mausoleum: a small structure that provides above-ground entombment of, on average, two to twelve decedents. • Companion crypt: permits two interments or entombments side-by-side. • Private family estate: a small section of a cemetery, usually bordered by gates, shrubbery, or other dividers, that allows for ground burial of several members of the same family. T H E A R R A N G E M E N T S A R E O V E R . . . Now what? Most individuals are not aware that when a family member dies survivors and executors are then faced with a myriad of administrative tasks to complete. Unfortunately, this process is challenging and much more serious than you think. In today’s world, extra measures need to be taken to prevent the deceased from being a victim of identity theft. It’s critical that the administrative responsibilities are done right. Fortunately Trinity Funeral Home will make this process as safe-guarded and easy as it should be. Our Final Document Service saves survivors and executors hundreds of hours and likely thousands of dollars by completing the required tasks efficiently, securely and economically. Trinity offers a basic document service as well as an extended document service. The extended service includes everything covered with the basic service as well as items all marked with an asterisk – * Categories covered by final document service basic & extended document services... • Notification of Death to Service Canada • Notification of Death to Canada Pension Plan • Notification of Death to Old Age Security • Notification of Death to Canada Revenue Agency • CPP Death Benefit Application • CPP Survivors Benefit Application • Notification to RCMP – Firearms License • Notification to AISH • Social Insurance Number cancellation • Notification to Alberta Seniors Benefit • Notification to WCB • Notification to Alberta Health Care • Notification to Alberta Blue Cross • Notification to Alberta Motor Vehicles Division • Notification to Equifax Canada • Notification to TransUnion Canada • Notification to Passport Canada • *Final Document Service – Extended • Certified declaration of legal marriage* • Certified declaration of common-law union* • Certified Canada Post address change letter* • Request to disconnect mobile phone services* • Cable TV / satellite (Shaw & Telus)* • Request transfer or cancellation of residential utilities (Enmax, Epcor Etc.)* • Request to transfer rewards cards* • Notification to home / auto insurance brokers* • Notification of death to pensions* • Notification to credit card companies* 18 19 | Recommended Partner | Benefits of Funeral Livestreaming Funeral livestreaming has been around for years, but it is only recently that this service is gaining in popularity. Here are just a few of the ways that families benefit from funeral livestreaming: • Convenience: Family members who are ill or frail might not be able to travel to the service location. Livestreaming allows them to participate from the comfort of home. • Family Gathering: The family of a deceased loved one who was well-known in the community might feel more comfortable keeping a service smaller, providing a link so that a larger circle of those who want to pay their respects can do so remotely. Livestreaming provides access to the public while maintaining an intimate gathering for close family and friends. • Distance: When loved ones live across Canada, or even in another country, traveling to a funeral might be too expensive. You can livestream a funeral service to provide access to those who cannot afford the travel costs. • Recording: Not only does a funeral livestream feed provide access for real- time viewing, but the family may appreciate having a recording of the services. This recording will capture the many stories and memories shared during the event. • Reduce Costs: Hosting a virtual funeral or memorial makes it easy to reduce costs. If your budget is tight, use funeral livestreaming to skip the venue fees, catering bills, and travel costs. www.rispektmedia.com Call or email us today at (780) 449-4495 dean@rispektmedia.com Why Livestream your Funeral? When we experience the death of someone we love, a funeral service fills several important needs. Funerals helps us acknowledge that someone we love has died, they provide a support system for us, friends, family members and the community. Funerals allow us to reflect on the meaning of life and death. Under normal circumstances, attending funeral services in-person are almost always the preferred choice. Family and friends want to pay their respects and find closure in their grief, but there is always some people who are unable to attend the funeral due to cost, timing, distance, health and other circumstances. Even though it might be one more thing to add to your to-do list, don’t underestimate the benefits of funeral livestreaming. Streaming is a great option to provide accessibility for those who cannot attend in person, connecting people from around the world and creating an opportunity for group healing and closure after the loss of a loved one. Not being present does not mean these people do not mourn the loss. In times past, the obituary in the paper was the best way to get word of ones passing out to the community. Now with online obituaries and social media sites the methods of notification have changed. In the same way, livestreaming of the funeral service has become a valuable resource in the planning process, ensuring that everyone can take part in honouring the life of a loved one. More and more people are now part of a generation that grew up watching television. We have all become connoisseurs of the medium. We want the “full” experience of “being there” in high definition, with multiple camera angles that can give us the detail that we are accustomed to seeing in the programs we watch. This is exactly how riSpekt Media approaches the livestreaming of a funeral, offering the viewer the best seat in the house. Unless the family requests otherwise, this coverage includes opportunities throughout the service for online viewers to see images of the family and friends that they cannot be with in person. A funeral is a private affair, livestreaming the service does not mean it is any less private. The connection to the livestream is as private as you want it to be. The funeral can only be viewed by those who have been invited with a link. However, if you would like the service to be more widely available to your community, the link can be placed in the online obituary or posted on your social media sites. You have complete control over just how public or private you would like the service to be. Finally, a livestream isn’t just live. The link is available after the service for as long as the family wishes. Something a preferred partner like riSpekt Media also offers is a keepsake version of the service that is distributed as a downloadable file through a private link, so anyone around the world whom the family shares the link with can keep a copy of the service much like DVD’s in the old days, but without the shipping. If you decide to livestream funeral services, you will find it an effective way to create unity among the many friends and family who want to participate in the event. Technology supports the group in finding healing amidst their loss, while connecting people from all parts of the world. Words cannot describe how grateful we are that you helped make my grandmother's funeral so special. We have received many calls and messages from family and friends around the world how they have seen virtual funerals but nothing like my grandmother's. I know that we had many questions, additions/changes and appreciate your patience and honesty. Also appreciate you working with the funeral home to reduce stress and make us feel supported during this time. Thank you once again, Christina M. Every home has a story, we’d be honoured to tell yours. Having sold inherited property and property in probate we have experience in the nuances of probate law and what this means for the sale of your home. I’ll make sure you’re well prepared, well informed and make what can be a difficult process as simple as possible for you. | Reccommended Partner | schmidtrealtygroup.com I’d love to hear from you... Sarah Sear 780-318-4510 | sarah.sear@weselledmonton.com Schmidt Realty Group Inc. 4736 99 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6E 5H5 Schmidt@weselledmonton.com P: 780.437.2030 P R O D U C T S E L E C T I O N At Trinity Funeral Home, we have a wide selection of funeral products available. We are here to help you with your choices, whether you are in immediate need or are pre-planning. Casket selection When choosing a casket, your first decision should be whether to have a wood or metal casket. From there, it is then a choice of the type of wood or metal. Caskets can be customized using additional adornments such as custom corners or personalized panels, all of which provide a unique, fitting selection for your loved one. We have provided a brief summary of the different options that are available to you: Wood caskets Mahogany: Mahogany has a reddish-brown hue and a closed grain, which lends itself to deep, rich colours and high lustre finishes. A mahogany casket is an elegant choice when the very best wood casket is desired. Walnut: A hardwood casket of walnut will be both elegant and dignified. Walnut has a striking grain colour and pattern, together with a natural lustre. Oak: Known for its prominent grain, oak is a hardwood that depicts strength and durability. Oak is naturally a light to medium brown colour, which can have a variety of stains and finishes added to it. Pine: Pine is a durable wood that is characterized by a straight grain with a colouring of pale yellow to light brown. Due to being a “softer” wood, pine caskets can be stained and finished to achieve the desired effect. Pine makes an economical solid wood choice. Cherry: Cherry is a beautiful hardwood with a warm, creamy reddish colouring. Caskets are available in a variety of styles. Maple: Maple is a popular choice for hardwood caskets. It encompasses strength and beauty and is wear resistant with a grain that can either caskets. It encompasses strength and beauty and is wear resistant with a grain that can either be straight or wavy and has a natural lustre. Pecan: A strong, heavy hardwood that is light in colour, pecan caskets are popular among families desiring a fine hardwood casket, but who wish to moderate their expenses. Eco-friendly: There are several options available for those who are environmentally conscious, while still combining beauty and strength. Please ask us for information on the options. Metal caskets Bronze: Beautiful finishes and solid construction delivers the very finest of metal caskets, encompassing superior quality, strength, and durability. Copper. Naturally non-rusting, a copper casket has a rich beauty, with a selection of finishes available. Stainless steel: A natural choice for those who desire the added protection of a metal casket but at a more moderate price. Stainless steel is a popular choice, with a selection of styles to choose from. Carbon steel: Available in a wide choice of colours, finishes, and styles, a carbon steel casket can have various thicknesses. Cremation containers Traditional wood casket: Adds warmth and beauty to a viewing service. Wood cremation casket: Specifically constructed to be used for c