Three important things to know when planning a funeral in Mississauga or the GTA

It’s a difficult topic that we usually don’t think about very often, but still a very important one: What to do after someone close to us passes away.

Skinner & Middlebrook, a long-standing Mississauga funeral home serving the Greater Toronto Area, provides guidance on the after-life process. The funeral home has been a stalwart in the Port Credit Community since 1910 and has been a trusted guide and partner to many families in honoring their loved ones.

There’s a lot to consider after the passing of a loved one. If you aren’t sure what to do, the stress and confusion can make an already difficult situation even harder.

Here are three important things to keep in mind after a loved one passes away:

1. Not sure who’s responsible for making the funeral arrangements? It depends on whether or not there’s a will.

As you may know, a will is a person’s written testament detailing how they want their wealth and property distributed after they die. A will typically names a specific person (the “executor” or “executrix”) who will be responsible for carrying out this distribution as required. This person is also responsible for making all of the necessary funeral arrangements and decisions.

If there isn’t a will, then priority for making funeral arrangements goes to the deceased’s spouse, children over 18, or parents, in that order. Addressing final proceedings can be simplified through a Pre-arrangement Process, in which a person can create a bespoke plan for their final arrangement, irrespective of if a will exists. A Pre-arrangement Process is an efficient and cost effective approach to organizing ones funeral arrangements in advance of their passing, and provides a defined approach for their final wishes while eliminating undue stress for loved ones and friends.

2. There are a range of options to celebrate your loved one, depending on the type of service you wish to have, and your budget.

While open-casket funerals are the most common in North America, it’s important to remember that there are a multitude of services available to you, so you can choose what you think is the best for your situation.

Here’s a quick breakdown of each:

• Funeral service: A ceremony with or without visitation, with the deceased in a casket that’s either open or closed. The service can be followed by an interment in a cemetery where the casket is placed in a grave, or cremation.
• Graveside service: Similar to the funeral service but done at the cemetery where the casket is buried.
• Celebration of Life: For those looking for something less traditional than the options detailed above, a Celebration of Life Ceremony is a unique alternative in which loved ones, with the assistance of a Funeral Director, can curate a gathering to honour the life of the deceased. This option is more casual in nature and allows for the style and programing of the gathering to be customized to taste.
• Direct burial or cremation: Simply burying or cremating the body with no service.

3. You have multiple options for what to do with the remains of the deceased.

If you wish to bury your loved one, you’ll need to purchase a grave at a cemetery. If you decide to cremate the remains, you can purchase a grave for burial or purchase a niche in a columbarium to entomb them, or simply scatter the ashes or keep them at home. Cremated remains can be scattered on private property (with consent), on unoccupied Crown lands, or on Crown lands covered by water.

If you need additional information on the topics discussed above, or assistance with your preparations, Skinner & Middlebrook’s experienced and sympathetic staff can help guide you through this difficult process and make the process less daunting. The long-standing funeral home offers a myriad of services to help you provide the celebration of life that your loved one deserves.  Skinner & Middlebrook is located at 128 Lakeshore Rd E. in Port Credit, Mississauga, and services the Greater Toronto Area, including Mississauga, Oakville, and Etobicoke for funeral services.

Mention this article for a 10% discount on your funeral service (contact Skinner & Middlebrook for more details).

In light of COVID-19, Skinner & Middlebrook has continued to operate but with increased efforts to keep their staff and the families they serve safe, including keeping their space and equipment clean and sanitized.

For more information on their services and how they can help you, visit Skinner & Middlebrook’s website, email them at [email protected], or call them at 905-278-5546. You can also follow them on Instagram.