A prearranged funeral is part of your estate planning. This is a time for you to ask questions and be sure you understand the services to be performed and the costs involved. The idea of arranging a funeral ahead of time is so that you can make rational unhurried decisions before a death occurs. Some of these decisions are:

-Visitation involved, how long?
- Is the funeral going to be held from the Funeral Home or the Church?
-What type of Casket should I select? Wood, Metal or Cloth?
- Do you prefer burial or cremation, and where?
- Do you belong to any social organizations? Do I want that organization involved in my funeral?
- Do I prefer a certain clergy?
- Other details such as newspaper notices, radio, flowers, memory boards, pictures, hymns or songs to be played or sung?

With this information at hand and on record with the funeral home and your next of kin, thoughtful, easily informed decisions can be made and will serve as a guide for family and friends.

Pre Pay or not to Pre Pay

-The answer is yes, depending upon your own personal views about prearranging. If you are pre paying, then your money is fully protected by a Compensation Fund administered by the Board of Funeral Services. The Funeral Director's and Establishments Act (1989) requires the funeral director to deposit the pre paid funds in a trust account with a bank, trust company, credit union or the Guaranteed Funeral Deposits of Ontario (Fraternal) until the services are required or canceled.

If you are not pre paying, then nothing changes in your prearrangement except for the fact that of course your family or estate will be responsible for current prices incurred by you as you requested.

Questions That Need To Be Answered

- You're name, address, birthdate and birthplace
- Social Insurance Number
- Father's name, where was he born, Mother's name and maiden name and where she was born
- Where did you work and title held?
- Did you have a will? What is you're executor's name?
- Do you have cemetery property and where is it located?