Whether we like it or not, every human being will come to the end of his or her life at one time or another, but it is possible to choose how this will happen. This is why Martin (a fictitious name) should have planned his funeral pre-arrangements in order to make things easier for his loved ones and especially for his wife Claire, but also to ensure that his last wishes were respected according to his own preferences.

Last year, Martin was diagnosed with cancer that turned his own life upside down, as well as that of his wife. Concerned about many other aspects of life, they unfortunately did not have time to settle all the details of Martin’s passing.

At the time of Martin’s death, Claire found herself unprepared and really didn’t know where to start. She discovered the services of Crématorium Montréal on the Internet to help her with the rest of the procedures. Not knowing who to turn to, she was really reassured finding someone who could assist her in a humane and caring way in her grieving process.

Crématorium Montréal’s advisors also explained to her the importance of making her own funeral pre-arrangements to give her peace of mind and lessen her loved ones’ responsibilities. Doing so would enable them to avoid the burden of organizing and paying for her funeral. In addition, Claire could draw up a list of wishes that she would like to include in her funeral arrangements and that will reflect her personality: choice of urn or casket, selection of the type of ceremony (religious or civil), the type of buffet, the type of music that will be played in her memory, the type of flowers, whether she would like donations to go to a particular organization, etc. She will also be able to set the budget that will be allocated to the various aspects of her funeral, so as not to leave this task to her grieving loved ones. In the end, Claire realized that pre-arrangements and documents outlining her last wishes are as important as her will and can be opened separately, so it is essential to prepare them in advance.

During a second meeting, the Crématorium Montréal advisors then helped her prepare her own funeral arrangements. Claire felt immense support and great respect from the staff who assisted her—a feeling of trust was immediately established. With the help of an advisor, she also took the opportunity to write her protection mandate (formerly called a “mandate in anticipation of incapacity”). These steps are never fun to take, but they are important for your own peace of mind.

If you are looking for help to assist you in preparing such documents, don’t hesitate to do like Claire and contact a Crématorium Montréal advisor. You can also start by visiting our website under the “Our Services” section and pay for your pre-arrangements by filling out our online form. An advisor will then contact you to discuss the process, finalize the documents and help you with the rest.