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!