July 2024 - Crémation Montréal

Commemoration Options After Cremation

At Crématorium Montréal, we understand the importance of commemorating a loved one in a way that is both meaningful and personal. Whether it’s through memorial jewelry, farewell ceremony reliquaries or ritual gatherings, any way is a good way to celebrate and preserve the memory of those who have left us.

In this article, we present the various commemorative product options offered by Crématorium Montréal as well as suggestions for celebrations to honour the memory of a loved one.

The importance of commemorative gestures

Commemorating the passing of a loved one is an essential step in the grieving process. Remembering a loved one through rituals or commemorative objects can provide significant emotional benefits to those who are grieving.

Commemorative gestures not only maintain the connection with the deceased, but also create a space for recollection and emotional support for the living.

Commemoration enables families to come together, share memories and celebrate the life and their love of the deceased. This collective act of remembrance strengthens the bonds between loved ones and provides a great source of comfort to the bereaved.

Commemorative jewellery: a keepsake to wear close to your heart

For some people, leaving the ashes of a departed loved one at the cemetery or columbarium is not an option. Instead, they feel the need to keep their loved one close to them at all times. For these people, memorial jewellery is the ideal choice.

At Crématorium Montréal, we offer a range of surgical stainless steel reliquary pendants. This commemorative jewellery lets you keep your loved one’s ashes with you, thereby transforming their memory into a tangible legacy that you can wear every day.

Available in dozens of symbols, these pendants can be chosen according to what best reflects your loved one’s unique personality. For example, a heart-shaped pendant can symbolize eternal love, while a tree of life represents continuity and renewal.

The advantage of reliquary jewellery is that since only a small portion of the ashes are inserted, it offers many loved ones the opportunity to keep a memento of their loved one close to their heart.

Discover all our reliquary options.

Reliquaries and other ash preservation options

We offer a variety of receptacles for preserving the ashes, adapted to the needs and preferences of each family. Our reliquaries, for example, are available in a number of styles and materials, including candle holders and pebbles in a variety of colours and shapes.

In addition to traditional urns, we offer biodegradable urns, designed to grow a tree with the ashes. This type of urn creates a living memorial with meaningful symbolism.

We also offer keepsakes such as crystals, canvases, flower vases and lanterns with the ashes embedded in the glass. These items are available in a wide range of colours, allowing you to personalize them in the image of the deceased.

Farewell ceremonies: coming together to better recoup

Whether you opt for burial or cremation, the ritual aspect of the funeral process plays an important role in the grieving process. These moments of coming together allow you not only to say a final good-bye, but also to strengthen family ties and find comfort in the presence of loved ones.

Whatever the scale of the celebration of life, what’s important is that it reflects the personality, life and values of the person being honoured. For example, organizing a small ceremony with readings, prayers or songs that were meaningful to the deceased can strengthen family ties and offer comfort.

As Lucie Marsolais, Executive Director of Crématorium Montréal, explains:

“Cremation for Crématorium Montréal is a different way of celebrating life. It’s less solemn, but also not as heavy. We’ll share memories, talk about the life of our departed loved one, reminisce about the good times we’ve had together, and even laugh and toast his or her health!”

Crématorium Montréal allows you to organize a farewell ceremony in our funeral home. Families can attend the cremation and gather together for a final farewell. We also offer an on-site reception room, where loved ones can get together and share memories over a meal provided by the caterer of their choice.

Annual commemorations: keeping their memory alive

It’s also possible to organize an annual commemoration, on the anniversary of a loved one’s birth or death. Planning an annual visit to the place where the ashes are kept, whether at home, in a columbarium, or in a cemetery, can become a meaningful tradition. This time can be dedicated to reflection, sharing memories and celebrating the life of the deceased.

If the ashes were scattered in a special place, such as a garden or forest, why not organize an outdoor day of remembrance? This can be a beautiful way to remember the deceased, while enjoying nature. You could also plant a tree or flowers in honour of your loved one each year in the place where the ashes were scattered.

Did your loved one like to entertain? You could organize an annual dinner where you get together as a family to prepare his or her favourite dishes. This provides an opportunity for loved ones to come together and share memories over a good meal.

Crématorium Montréal: your partner in commemoration

Choosing Crématorium Montréal for your cremation and funeral service needs means opting for a human and personalized approach, adapted to each family and each story.

To learn more about our commemorative products or to plan a cremation, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to support you through these difficult times and to help you pay tribute to your loved ones.

How to Choose a Cemetery or Burial Site

Choosing a burial site in Greater Montreal following a cremation is a deeply personal and significant decision involving a number of important considerations. Whether it’s a traditional cemetery, a modern columbarium or a private scattering site, each option has its own advantages and aspects to consider.

In this article, we will provide the details of the burial options available to you when choosing Crématorium Montréal’s cremation services for yourself or a loved one.

Questions to consider when choosing a burial site

When planning their funeral pre-arrangements or following the death of a loved one, many people opt for cremation as a means of disposing of the body. Once the ashes of a deceased person have been sealed in an urn, it is always possible to access the final resting place at a burial site.

Before choosing a burial site for your own urn or that of a loved one, it’s a must to consider several key factors that will guide that decision. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. As Lucie Marsolais, Executive Director of Crématorium Montréal, explains:

“When choosing a burial site for a loved one or for themselves, clients are often looking for a landmark, like a place close to their family, for example. Choosing a burial site is nebulous, nevertheless; it’s not like buying land for a house. You buy it for life”.

In order to make an informed decision, we encourage you to ask yourself the following questions:

What is your budget?

The first aspect to consider is the burial budget. Crématorium Montréal offers a range of options with various pricing levels, enabling families to find a solution that is in keeping with their financial means, while guaranteeing quality services.

Does the location have to be nearby?

For some people, the burial site, whether a columbarium or a cemetery, needs to be close to their home or that of their loved ones. Crématorium Montréal offers locations in several cemeteries in the Greater Montreal area, thereby ensuring convenient nearby access for families and loved ones.

Does the burial site have to be accessible?

Another important point is the accessibility of the burial site, so that loved ones can find their way around with flexibility. Crématorium Montréal offers environments that make it easier for loved ones to pay their respects, despite the passage of time.

What are the wishes of the deceased?

If the deceased expressed certain wishes before his or her death, whether in a will, a Record of Wishes, prior arrangements or simply verbally or in writing, it is of the utmost importance to respect them. Crématorium Montréal offers complete personalization of any burial site, including choice of urn, style of monument and engraved inscriptions.

Burying the urn at the cemetery: for a traditional burial

In the same way as for a body, a cinerary urn can be buried. Crématorium Montréal offers a variety of options for plots in private cemeteries in the Greater Montreal area, in order to better meet the specific needs of the families it serves.

Individual plot

Crématorium Montréal offers individual plots in underground vaults specially reserved for cinerary urns. These spaces offer a private and secure resting place, thereby ensuring peace of mind for bereaved families wishing to honour the memory of a loved one in a traditional way.

Family plot

Family plots are a popular option, enabling several family members to be grouped together at the same burial site. Crématorium Montréal offers plots for up to 6 people, with a customizable granite plaque to commemorate the life of the deceased in a lasting way.

Personalized monument

Did you know that Crématorium Montréal offers personalized monuments? These represent the unique values of each individual. With the ability to engrave inscriptions in 13 different languages, Crématorium Montréal recognizes and respects the cultural and linguistic diversity of Greater Montreal and thereby ensures authentic representation of the families it serves.

Find out when is the best time to have your monument made.

Ecological cinerary urns

Ecological urns are an environmentally friendly alternative for people looking to reduce their ecological footprint after death. Crématorium Montréal offers a selection of biodegradable urns, ideal for burial in a cemetery or in a private natural space.

Do you have more questions? Here’s everything you need to know about cemeteries.

Preserving the urn in a columbarium: an accessible and meaningful option

In terms of burial space for a cinerary urn, columbariums represent a space that is both solemn and intimate. At Crématorium Montréal’s columbarium, families can choose from a range of niches to suit their needs and budgets.

Like cemetery plots, columbarium niches are available in individual or family sizes. Concession prices usually vary according to length of stay, layout, maintenance, size and location.

At Crématorium Montréal’s columbarium, your loved one’s ashes will be carefully preserved, protected from the elements and the passage of time.

Still have questions? Here’s everything you need to know about columbariums.

Scattering the ashes or keeping them close to home

In addition to “traditional” burial sites, such as the cemetery or columbarium, it is also possible to keep ashes at home, divide them among family members or scatter them outdoors, according to the wishes of loved ones or the deceased. Each of these options has its advantages… and its points to consider.

Scattering the ashes

Scattering the ashes is a fairly common ritual in Quebec and elsewhere. It often comes about as a result of the wishes expressed by the deceased. If you want to scatter the ashes of a deceased loved one, it is important to note that it is against the law to do so where they could constitute a nuisance to others or in a way that violates the dignity of the deceased.

Keeping the ashes

For a number of people, keeping the ashes of a deceased loved one seems the most obvious option. Keeping the cinerary urn at home provides a period of transition after losing a loved one and thus slightly eases the grief of such a loss.

It is always possible to bury the cinerary urn or place it in a columbarium months or even years later, at the family’s convenience.

Funeral pre-arrangements: planning for a serene future

Crématorium Montréal’s online pre-arrangement form allows individuals to specify their preferences and make informed decisions without having to travel. This proactive approach gives families peace of mind, while ensuring that the deceased’s wishes are precisely and carefully respected.

The funeral pre-arrangement process at Crématorium Montréal is designed to be simple and accessible. With its intuitive form, families can specify urn preferences, type of burial, memorial service details and more, all from the comfort of their own home.

Choosing a burial site with Crématorium Montréal

Choosing a burial site in the Greater Montreal area is an important decision that deserves careful consideration. Crématorium Montréal offers a wide range of funeral and burial services to suit the needs and traditions of families from all walks of life.

Crématorium Montréal is committed to guiding you through the process with respectful, personalized solutions. Contact our team for assistance based on your particular situation.