COOPERATIVE MEMORIAL SOCIETY
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Alternative Funeral options

According to the Canadian Integrative Network for Death Education and Alternatives (CINDEA) caring for your deceased loved one at home is simpler than it may seem. The fact is for many centuries that is how the preparations following a death was handled. 
Keep in mind certain tasks (including the filing of paperwork) do need to be done at specific times — see CINDEA's timeline below.   Embalming is usually not necessary, and in most places there is no legal requirement to make use of a funeral home.
Post-death care includes getting the body from the hospital or hospice (unless your loved-one died at home); washing and dressing the body; cooling it with dry ice or Techni-Ice/Cryopak blankets; making or buying a simple shroud or casket, and decorating it as you choose; putting the body into the casket or shroud; and then finally transporting it to a crematory or burial ground.  
Resources to support you in post-death care vary between provinces/territories.  The primary ones are available on CINDEA's website at Post-death Care at Home, Resources Pre-Death and Resources Post-Death.   We also recommend you check with a local Hospice or other advocacy groups to find resources such as grief counselling in your area.   
We are working on compiling more related information and resources for our members. Stay tuned!

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Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS)
Suite 204A, 223-12th Ave. S.W. Calgary, Ab. T2R 0G9 Canada (Appointments required)
1-403-248-2044 
​Toll free: 1-800-566-9959
admin@calgarymemorial.com

​
  • Home
  • About
    • Presentations
    • Newsletter Issues
    • AGM Materials
    • Board of Directors >
      • Bylaws
    • We're a co-op >
      • History
      • Memorial societies
      • Funeral co-ops
      • Do we need a Funeral Co-op in Calgary?
    • Legislation
    • Privacy policy
    • Terms & conditions
    • Contact us
  • Locations & Plans
    • Airdrie
    • Bashaw
    • Blackfalds
    • Calgary >
      • 2023-2025 M&H Plans
      • Additional costs to plans
    • Castor
    • Cochrane
    • Coronation
    • Didsbury
    • Eckville
    • Edmonton
    • Ft. Saskatchewan
    • Innisfail
    • Lacombe
    • Leduc
    • Lethbridge
    • Linden
    • Medicine Hat
    • Olds
    • Ponoka
    • Red Deer
    • Rimbey
    • Rocky Mountain House
    • Spruce Grove
    • Stettler
    • Sundre
    • Sylvan Lake
    • Taber
    • Three Hills
    • Trochu
    • Wetaskiwin
  • Membership
    • Sign up here
    • Purchase by mail
    • Testimonials
    • Member forms & card
    • Troubleshooting
  • Login
    • Member Login
    • Dealing with Log-In Issues
  • Planning Ahead
    • Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta
    • Personal Records
    • Wealth Management Assistance >
      • Getting Finances in Order
    • Hospice Calgary Programs
    • MAID: Medical Assistance in Dying
    • End of Life Planning & Care Video
    • Organ Donation
    • Body Donation
    • Family-Led Deathcare
    • Cremation >
      • Effect of cremation on environment
    • Green Burials
    • Cemeteries >
      • Calgary and area cemeteries
      • Medicine Hat, Lethbridge & Taber
      • Red Deer and Area
    • FAQs
  • Death of Member
    • Final Arrangements
    • Obituary - Writing
    • Permits and Registration of Death
    • Executor Duties
    • Death Benefit
    • Last Post Fund
    • Grieving Together
    • Services for Seniors
    • Useful links
  • Member Update