First Steps in Funeral Planning — A Canadian Starter Guide
For Canadians starting funeral planning for the first time, the choices can feel overwhelming. The five decisions below cover the foundation; everything else follows from these.
Decision 1: Disposition
What happens to the body?
- Burial (traditional)
- Cremation
- Green burial
- Body donation to medical school
- Aquamation (where legal)
See our funeral planning complete guide for the tradeoffs.
Decision 2: Service style
What kind of gathering?
- Full traditional funeral
- Memorial service (no body present)
- Celebration of life (informal)
- Direct cremation, no service
- Religious-tradition specific service
Decision 3: Budget
What's the financial range?
- $500-$2,000 (direct cremation, no service)
- $2,000-$5,000 (cremation with simple service)
- $5,000-$15,000 (traditional service)
- $15,000+ (premium service)
Budget influences other choices.
Decision 4: Location
Where physically?
- Specific cemetery (family plot, religious cemetery, green burial ground)
- Specific funeral home (chosen for service and coordination)
- Specific city (if multi-city family)
- Specific religious institution (church/synagogue/mosque/temple/gurdwara)
Decision 5: Who to involve
Who needs to know and contribute?
- Spouse or partner
- Close family
- Religious leader if relevant
- Funeral home (if pre-selecting)
- Lawyer (if part of broader estate plan)
- The deceased's preferences if known
What to do
- Sit with the 5 decisions above
- Form initial preferences (can change later)
- Document somewhere your family will find — written document, the Funeral Pre-Planner tool, conversation with family
- Optionally consult a funeral home (free pre-planning consultations)
- Review annually as part of estate planning
What we focus on at It's Simple Will
The Funeral Pre-Planner walks you through these decisions and documents your preferences in a structured way that family and executor can use when needed.
Related guides
Citations & sources
- [1]Funeral Service Association of Canada — Funeral Service Association of Canada
Frequently asked questions
When should I start funeral planning?
Any time. Common triggers — major life event (retirement, illness diagnosis, milestone birthday), recent funeral in your circle highlighting gaps, doing your estate plan. The right time is 'before it matters' which is essentially always now.
Do I need a funeral home to pre-plan?
No. You can document your wishes in a personal document, with a lawyer as part of estate planning, or using the [Funeral Pre-Planner](https://app.itssimplewill.ca) tool. The funeral home can be selected later (or selected as part of pre-planning if you prefer). Documentation comes first.
What if I don't know what I want?
Common starting point. Learn the options — see our complete [funeral planning guide](/resources/funeral-planning/funeral-planning-canada-complete-guide/). Talk with family about preferences (yours and theirs). Visit funeral homes for consultations (free). Most people develop preferences through learning.
How much does pre-planning cost?
Zero if you do it yourself or use a free tool. The funeral home pre-planning consultation is also typically free. Pre-payment (separate decision) is where actual money commits.
What's the single most important thing?
Document your wishes somewhere your family will find. The specific decisions matter less than the family having clear guidance instead of guessing. A simple written document beats no document.
Who should I involve?
Spouse or partner first. Then close family if relevant. Then funeral home if pre-selecting one. Religious leader if relevant tradition. Lawyer if integrating with broader estate plan.