Testimonials
February 28, 2022
"We purchased a membership for my Dad in 2005 shortly before his passing. At the time we were able to pre-plan and pay for his funeral through your society and it was an excellent experience." - Jennifer "At your recommendation, my wife, Sharon, and I met with Bill Robertson this morning. We have been unsuccessful in trying to get our “ducks in a row” for some time. We were feeling greater “urgency” as the time went along. As we met with Bill, our concerns were quickly reduced. His obvious understanding of exactly where “we were at” made it very easy for us to address these matters. He had obviously dealt with these issues before. In fact he was answering many of our questions before we even asked them. Everything he said made GREAT sense. If I don’t remember it all, it is because of my own cognitive failing and clearly not his fault. He explained things I had not even considered. As our very pleasant meeting went along, it felt as though we were dealing with an old friend… not a stranger that we had just met.
Sharon and I will have to sit down and “review” what we have just learned. But our “fear” that we will create a catastrophe for our family to go through is eliminated. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for putting us in this situation. I can’t really express what it means to us to have our arrangements finalized. Not to mention the reduction of our stress over this “end of life” matter. I’m sure we will be okay. And thank you so much for providing a “guide” like Bill Robertson. As my grandkids would say, “He was awesome.”" - Larry A. "Both me and my sister are big fans of the society’s model and happy our mom made that choice when she did.
Thank you so much for your help and for doing such good work for people when they need it most." - Wil M. May 2022 "I tell everyone about CMS. When my husband died at the hospice, they asked me what I would like to do. All I did was pull his membership card out of my wallet, and everything was answered." - Lola
"I am Marlee from High River and I have MS. I am not able to get out much so I depend so much on my computer to get things done. I had heard about the Co-operative Memorial Society so I checked it out online. The site was fantastic, so easy to navigate and I purchased a membership. I followed through with McInnis & Holloway and did all of my pre-planning. Now I can rest assured that I saved money and my executor will not be overwhelmed with decisions. I thank you all so much for your incredibly valuable service." - Marlee C.
"In 1999, my good friend Stuart died of cancer. I was his primary caregiver, enduring power of attorney and also an executor. This was a very emotional and painful experience for me, but through helping Stuart, I learned some valuable lessons that I pass on to you. First, let’s review some typical funeral costs in the Calgary area. Another friend just lost his father early in 1999. The most simple cremation, with no service cost the family $1900! My mother told me about the Calgary Co-Operative Memorial Society. She has been a member for almost 10 years. We knew Stuart would die soon, perhaps hours, days or weeks. It was important to sign him as a member quickly, as only the living are allowed to join. I contacted the Society and Stuart became a member that day.
When he died a week later, the benefits were enormous. Stuart had requested cremation with no service and no urn. The simplest possible process. Through the Memorial Association the funeral arrangements were made ahead of time. The Funeral Home selected, McInnis & Holloway were excellent and followed all the pre-arrangements perfectly. On Monday, they picked up and delivered Stuart to the crematorium, filled out all legal and government required documents, assisted with the wording of the obituary for the newspaper, placed the obituary in the paper, and returned the ashes, death certificates and burial certificate to me on Friday. The cost? LESS THAN $750!! Take it from someone who has been there. Becoming a member of this volunteer society should be the next thing you do. Where else can you spend $20 and save at least $1000? I get no benefit from telling you this except the knowledge that my friend's death has produced a legacy of value for us. TRUST ME! FILL out the application form (this takes five (5) minutes - DO IT NOW!). MAIL $20 per adult to the Calgary Co-operative Memorial Society Ltd. (Children under 18 years are covered for free). COVERAGE starts as soon as the envelope is in the mail. ACT NOW! Written and submitted by Alan Davis. Please note that the financial details mentioned are dated from a previous provider contract, however, the intent of the message still rings true. "My husband passed away on Mar 18, 2013 and we had Shannon J. of McInnis & Holloway from Airdrie as our funeral director. We had excellent service. We were very pleased with the Funeral Home. Thanks for your services too. We had the body transferred from Red Deer & the whole bill was $1494.68. That's a huge savings compared to what it would have cost us without a Memorial Society Card. This is a tremendous service at a critical time. It is such a blessing to be able to go through a death & funeral without incurring a huge debt as well. Thanks again."
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"Mom was the one who found out about your organization and persuaded some of her children to buy memberships. Being part of the Memorial Society helped us as we planned her memorial. Thank you for the work you do. Your words of condolence brings us comfort in our journey of grief." - Marita (Nina's daughter)
"The society was very helpful when my husband passed away. Service was great and the price was very reasonable. My mom's funeral cost over $12K in Lethbridge (not including casket she pre-purchased, and not including funeral plot. This was not through the Memorial society)". - Kyera L. via Google
"I am astounded and very touched by the quickness and clarity of your response. It is a great help at this time." - R. Birks.
"A shining light in the darkest hour. This week a miracle occurred. A young man called CMS. He explained to me that his wife's only sibling had died during her sleep the evening before. He had no idea of what to do or where to start. He and his wife have three children under the age of seven. As it is with many families, they were responsible for planning and paying for the wife's sisters' funeral. With shattered hearts and a small bank account, how were they going to plan and pay for a costly funeral and somehow provide a Christmas for their little boys? Here is where the miracle occurs. The man learned that a colleague of his wife's sister had purchased a membership for the sister in CMS. The funeral costs would be much lower than expected. Meanwhile, some neighbours learned about the predicament the family faced. They collected money, gift cards and toys for the family and delivered them just before Christmas. As I drove home, I realized if only this one story could be shared, people would realize the importance of $40, and how a few acts of kindness saved a family's Christmas." - Caroline
"I have had the CMS involved in my mother's and recently my best friend's passing. This is one of the greatest gifts anyone can leave survivors. Clear instructions on how YOU want things to go on your passing. Both families were so grateful for the foresight of the deceased to have gone through the CCMS. Everything went exactly as planned. No surprises. Excellent.
Buy a CCMS membership for a Christmas present, for yourself and others. The information you receive alone is worth the price of membership. Save money and get peace of mind! Cheers," - Brian H. "This is a note to let you know how pleased my father and my family were over the service provided by McInnis & Holloway for the cremation of my mother Hilda H., who was a member of your Society. The people at McInnis & Holloway took plenty of time to explain everything to us, and provided very good value for the money spent. I would recommend them to anyone. Please send me a membership form. Your Co-operative provides a very valuable alternative for people."
David H., Calgary "I wish to thank you very sincerely for the kind consideration you showed to me, my son and his wife during the recent sad period. I do not think anyone could have been more helpful. Certainly the services performed by the funeral home were just what was requested. Once again I thank you for your very timely help." - Peter J. B, Balzac
"My gratitude and appreciation go out to you for supporting the 3rd Equinox Vigil on Sep. 20, 2014. The event gets bigger and more meaningful every year. With over 50 artists, production crew and volunteers along with people from companies like yours, we are creating a wonderful evening of remembering and celebrating together. With attendance at over 400 this year (the commemorative hankie count) many Calgarians participated in over 15 performances, artists shrines, memorial making throughout the 3 hours of dusk to dark. A hosted tea tent (sponsored by the #1 Legion) offered a cozy gathering place with live music and memorializing activities. There were sponsor boards on site and a verbal mention at the opening ceremonies as well as the Mayor dropped in and gave a shout out to the sponsors. Again, thanks and let's meet again next year! Sincerely, Sharon Stevens, Founder, Equinox Vigil
"Before meeting your membership manager from the Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS) I had never considered the cost of funerals, or the impact that cost can have on those in mourning. In the course of my work with CCMS I have witnessed the stress that people go through as they are mourning, and the incredible gratitude that members have for the services they receive from CCMS. It’s amazing that such a small fee, and a lifetime membership, can lead to such incredible savings and peace of mind for people of all walks of life. When I saw the discounts it seemed too good to be true, but in learning more I discovered that this is just an example of the amazing potential of a cooperative structure. The fact that the membership can also help people plan ahead, empowering them to make their own decisions about what they want after they’ve passed away makes it even more valuable and important." - Shannon H.
"I joined CCMS as a member in 1995 along with my family members because I wanted to provide an economical yet a dignified funeral." Nellie M., Calgary
"I believe the Society promotes and delivers an important service to individuals by providing the chance to plan sensibly and affordably for themselves and their families when death occurs. Emotions run high when a loved one dies, so it is best to plan and communicate your wishes beforehand. The Society provides the means to do that. However, in order to continue working with the community, they need support. Because I believe CCMS does offer a very worthwhile community service, I have contributed to the society for the last 25 years." - Sigrid W., Calgary
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