FAQ: Cremation Questions

Unlike burial, cremation is irreversible. This requires us to be extra diligent in obtaining cremation authorization from the legally identified executor, as well as those from any necessary agencies (such as the coroner). The Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act of BC requires a minimum of 48 hours to pass between the time of death and the act of cremation. 

You can find our cremation pricing and our pricing model proudly displayed on our website. Because we are an indepdent funeral home with our own crematorium we are able to offer the lowest cremation prices on Vancouver Island.

When you enter into a discussion with us about the cost of your loved one's cremation, whether on the phone or in-person, every funeral home in BC is legally required to provide you their full price list. That list details the actual cost of our cremation services, which is a combination of our basic professional services fee, the fee charged by our crematory for the use of the facilities, and any additional charges related to the transportation and safekeeping of the deceased prior to the cremation.

The answer to this is simple: we have to pay for these second-party services or merchandise at the time we make the purchase on your behalf. This requires us to ask for payment for all items at the time the cremation service contract is agreed to, and signed by the responsible family member. For more specific information about our payment policies, please contact us.

When a person passes away at a facility without a morgue (ie. care home, palliative ward, hospice or residence), we must have staff and a vehicle available to respond within 2 to 3 hours. This requires a staff member to be on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and  with this comes increased staffing costs.

The short answer is "no", but there are exceptions. Let's say you want to have a delayed viewing or visitation. If that's the case, it may be prudent to embalm your loved one, so they look their best for the event. In addition, repatriation of your loved one to another province or country may require embalming.

You'd be surprised how often we hear this question!  Most of the time the deceased is cremated in whichever clothing they were wearing when they died. Some people might choose to be undressed so as to 'go out' the same way they 'came in' to the world. Otherwise the deceased is dressed in the clothing they've selected prior to their death, or chosen by family members after their passing.

It depends upon what you mean as "special", but we do our best to accommodate the wishes of surviving family members. Most commonly, families will ask to place notes, children's drawings, or other personal messages of love. We encourage you to speak with your funeral director to learn what items are safe for cremation.

The answer to this question is "yes". West Shore Crematorium offers the opportunity for families to be as involved as they would like. We offer facilities for what is called a witness cremation where the family can watch the casket enter the cremation retort and actually start the cremation process at the press of a button. Visit the cremation process portion of our website to learn more.

Most cremators use natural or L.P. gas, a fact which troubles some who want to see cremation as an "environmentally-friendly" alternative to burial. If you're concerned about the impact of cremation on the environment, speak with your funeral director. There are alternatives, such as burial in a "green" or environmentally-pristine cemetery.

Our cremation equipment is the most advanced and efficient in British Columbia, but this question is best answered when we talk specifics: what types of casket did the family select? How large an individual was your loved one? Usually it takes 2 - 2 1/2 hours for the process. A cool-down period follows, and then the cremated remains are processed for a uniform appearance.

We would never presume to tell you which service is best for your loved one. But your funeral director will be pleased to guide and advise; explain the differences between service formats (traditional funeral, memorial service and celebration-of-life), and share stories of meaningful services they've been a part of–all with the intention of empowering you to make the decision for yourselves.

You are welcome to provide an urn, or other container, that you have purchased elsewhere. A funeral home cannot prevent you from, nor can they charge you an extra fee for, the purchase of a third-party cremation urn. However, we are not able to guarantee its quality or strength.

Again, as we've said elsewhere, the word "should" need not be part of our conversation. There are many things you can do with their ashes–including simply taking them home with you for safekeeping. There may come a time when you know exactly what you'd like to do with them, but it may not be right now. Be patient; the right way to care for them will surface in time. After all, there are a lot of options: scattering them on land or sea is one of the most common; but you can also use the cremated remains in keepsake jewelry or to create meaningful pieces of art. As we said, there is no have-to-do; there's only a want-to-do (and you are in complete control of it).

Yes, you can. The burial can be in-ground, or your loved one's cremation urn can be placed in a columbarium niche. Speak with your funeral director to learn more about your specific cremation burial options.