COOPERATIVE MEMORIAL SOCIETY
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    • Calgary, Airdrie and Cochrane 2020-22 >
      • Plan A-1 Funeral Service with Burial
      • Plan A-2 Funeral Service with Burial (Green Casket)
      • Plan B-1 Basic Cremation
      • Plan B-2 Basic Cremation with a Funeral Service
      • Plan B3 Basic Cremation with Visitation and Funeral Service (Rental Casket)
      • Plan C-1 10% discount on the casket, the first urn (full-size or keepsake) and professional service fees
      • Additional Costs to CCMS Plans
    • Lethbridge area 2020-2022
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      • Medicine Hat, Lethbridge & Taber
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Alternative Funeral options

Acording 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
Suite 204A, 223-12 Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2R 0G9
403-248-2044  Toll free: 1-800-566-9959
admin@calgarymemorial.com

​
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet our Board
    • Our Bylaws >
      • Bylaw changes
    • Annual Meeting
    • History
    • Presentations
    • We're a co-op >
      • Funeral co-ops
    • Memorial societies
    • Legislation >
      • Consumer protection
    • Giving back
    • Testimonials
  • Plans
    • Calgary, Airdrie and Cochrane 2020-22 >
      • Plan A-1 Funeral Service with Burial
      • Plan A-2 Funeral Service with Burial (Green Casket)
      • Plan B-1 Basic Cremation
      • Plan B-2 Basic Cremation with a Funeral Service
      • Plan B3 Basic Cremation with Visitation and Funeral Service (Rental Casket)
      • Plan C-1 10% discount on the casket, the first urn (full-size or keepsake) and professional service fees
      • Additional Costs to CCMS Plans
    • Lethbridge area 2020-2022
    • Medicine Hat area 2021-2023
    • Taber area 2021-2023
  • Membership
    • Sign up here
    • Purchase by mail
    • Privacy policy
    • Terms & conditions
    • Member forms >
      • Print member card
  • Login
    • Member Login
    • Service provider sign in
  • Education
    • Newsletter
    • Final Arrangements
    • Family-Led Deathcare
    • Grieving Together
    • Permits and Registration of Death
    • Cemeteries >
      • Calgary and area cemeteries
      • Medicine Hat, Lethbridge & Taber
    • Anatomical Gifting
    • Organ donation
    • Cremation >
      • Effect of cremation on environment
    • Green burials
    • Medical Isotopes
    • Useful links
    • Financial Decision Making
    • Getting Finances in Order
    • Education Programs in the Community
    • Services for Seniors
  • Contact us
    • ​Troubleshoot: Why you are not receiving our emails