Funeral Pre-Planning Decision Checklist — Canadian Guide

Last updated July 3, 2026 · 3 min read
Quick answer
The funeral decisions worth pre-arranging in Canada — disposition method (burial, cremation, body donation, green burial, aquamation where legal), service type (full traditional, memorial only, celebration of life, none), religious or cultural elements, specific music or readings, where the body should rest, who should officiate, who should be notified, and the budget level. Most Canadians have opinions on all of these but never document them — leaving family to guess under grief pressure. A 90-minute conversation with your spouse and a written record solves it.

For most Canadians, the funeral they want is significantly different from what their family ends up arranging in their grief. Not because family doesn't care — because family doesn't know, and is making decisions under pressure with an industry that has its own commercial interests. Pre-planning closes the gap. This checklist organizes the decisions.

When to use this checklist

For Canadians of any age who want their funeral wishes documented. Most useful when:

  • You have specific preferences (religious, cultural, environmental)
  • You want to spare family from decision-making under grief
  • You want to comparison-shop funeral providers in advance
  • You're updating your estate plan and want to address funeral wishes
  • You've recently experienced a difficult funeral situation in your family

The checklist

Disposition — what happens to the body

  • Traditional burial (in-ground, embalmed)
  • Cremation followed by burial of ashes
  • Cremation followed by scattering
  • Cremation followed by family-kept ashes
  • Green/natural burial (no embalming, biodegradable casket)
  • Aquamation/alkaline hydrolysis (where legal in your province)
  • Body donation to medical school
  • Other (specify)

Service type

  • Full traditional funeral service (visitation, service, burial)
  • Memorial service without body present
  • Celebration of life (informal, often non-religious)
  • Direct cremation, no service
  • Religious ceremony per specific tradition (specify)
  • Private family gathering only
  • None — no service desired

Location of service (if any)

  • Funeral home (which one if pre-selected)
  • Religious institution (church, synagogue, mosque, temple, gurdwara)
  • Cemetery chapel
  • Family home
  • Outdoor location (park, garden, lakeshore)
  • Other (specify)

Officiant

  • Religious leader (specify denomination/tradition)
  • Funeral celebrant
  • Family member
  • No officiant
  • Specific person preferred (name)

Specific elements

  • Music to play (specific songs, hymns, or genres)
  • Readings (specific scriptures, poems, or texts)
  • Eulogy by specific person(s)
  • Cultural or family traditions to observe
  • Specific photos or memorabilia to display
  • Casket open or closed (for traditional burial)
  • Specific flowers or no flowers
  • Pall-bearers (specify or leave to family)
  • Reception/gathering after the service (where, what style)

Final resting place

  • Cemetery (which one if pre-selected, with plot info if pre-arranged)
  • Existing family plot
  • Cremation niche
  • Scattering location (specify)
  • Memorial garden
  • Other (specify)

Memorial markers

  • Headstone or grave marker (style, inscription preferences)
  • Niche plaque
  • No physical marker

Notifications and communications

  • Specific people to be notified personally (by family)
  • Newspaper obituary (which paper, length, content style)
  • Online memorial page
  • Donations in lieu of flowers (which charity)

Practical and financial

  • Pre-arrangement made with which funeral home (if any)
  • Pre-payment made (yes/no; amount; details)
  • Budget level (modest / moderate / no constraint)
  • Any specific items already purchased (casket, urn, plot)

Download a print-ready PDF

Download the Funeral Pre-Planning Decision checklist PDF →

Want a checklist customized for your situation?

This is the standard version. It's Simple Will customers complete the Funeral Pre-Planner module — a structured questionnaire that captures every decision above (and many more), generates a personalized document for your family and executor, and integrates with your Will. The personalized document is far more detailed than this standard checklist and reflects your specific choices.

Learn more about the Funeral Pre-Planner →

Citations & sources

  1. [1]Funeral Service Association of Canada — Funeral Service Association of Canada
  2. [2]Bereavement Authority of Ontario — Bereavement Authority of Ontario (delegated administrative authority)

Frequently asked questions

Why does pre-planning matter?

Two reasons. First, it removes decisions from the family at the worst possible time — they're not deciding between options under grief pressure, they're following your wishes. Second, decisions made in advance are usually better — there's time to compare costs, visit funeral homes, consider preferences thoughtfully. Pre-arranged services often end up costing less than reactive ones — you can comparison shop, pre-payment can lock in current prices, and family aren't pressured into upgrades under grief.

Do I need to pre-pay?

Pre-planning and pre-payment are separate decisions. You can document all your wishes without paying anything (free); your family pays at the time of service from the estate. Pre-payment locks in current prices (good if you expect to live many years, less useful if your estate will easily cover the cost) but ties up money that could earn returns elsewhere. Most Canadian financial planners recommend pre-planning yes, pre-payment maybe — depends on circumstances.

What if I don't want a funeral at all?

That's a valid choice and Canadian funeral providers accommodate it. Direct cremation (no service) is increasingly common; some Canadians choose no event at all, with cremation followed by family-handled scattering or interment. Document the wish; the family will respect it. Some families still want a memorial gathering for their own grief; you can honour that while still skipping a formal funeral.

What about green or natural burial?

Green burial is available in many Canadian provinces, with dedicated green burial grounds in Ontario, BC, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and others. Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis) is legal in some provinces but not all. Body donation to a medical school is another non-traditional option (see our dedicated guide). Each has different cost, location, and timing implications.

How much do Canadian funerals cost?

Wide range. Direct cremation with no service — roughly $700 to $2,500 (more in some major cities). Cremation with simple memorial — $2,000 to $5,000. Traditional burial with full funeral — $7,000 to $15,000 (more in major cities). Cemetery plot and headstone — $2,000 to $10,000+ (highly variable by location). Costs vary significantly by region and provider. Comparison shopping in advance can save thousands.

Should I tell my family in advance?

Yes. Documented wishes that family knows about are honoured almost universally. Documented wishes that family discovers post-death are honoured less consistently — family in grief sometimes second-guesses. A conversation now is worth a stack of paperwork later.

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