Funeral Financial Assistance Programs
Funeral costs can be a significant financial burden. Listed in this guide are several programs available to help Alberta families cover some of these expenses.
Funeral Insurance – Do You Need It?
As a Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS) member, you’ve already taken a big step toward ensuring your end-of-life wishes are respected while reducing the financial and emotional burden on your loved ones. But you may still be wondering whether funeral insurance is necessary or beneficial alongside your CMS membership. In this article, we break it down.
Repatriation Insurance Protection for CMS Members
Repatriation insurance covers the costs and logistics of transporting a deceased individual’s remains back to their home city if death occurs more than 100 km away from home. Learn more about how this insurance can benefit you and your family.
Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA)
Members should read the Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) document to understand how it allows them to appoint a trusted person to manage their financial affairs if they become mentally incapable due to an accident or illness. By familiarizing themselves with the EPOA, members can ensure their financial matters are handled according to their wishes and avoid complications or legal processes in the event of incapacity.
YouTube Video Presentation: Funeral Planning on a Budget
This 2024 CMS presentation on budget-friendly funeral planning provides practical tips and strategies to help you save money without sacrificing dignity and respect. Discover how to make informed decisions that align with your values and financial needs, ensuring a meaningful farewell on any budget.
Your Rights and Choices in Funeral Planning
Navigating the funeral industry can feel overwhelming, with confusing pricing, upselling, and limited choices. Everyone deserves a funeral that aligns with their wishes and budget—without pressure or hidden costs. Read this to learn about your rights and choices in funeral planning.
Funeral Planning Guidance Form
This form allows you to communicate your funeral service preferences and provide vital statistics information to your next-of-kin and Personal Representative or Executor. It serves as a critical resource to guide your loved ones and should be presented to the funeral home during the initial funeral arrangement process. It is good practice to share this form once completed and to review it periodically. DO NOT SEND THIS FORM TO CMS – it is for personal use only.
YouTube Video Presentation: End of Life Planning and Care
In this 2021 presentation, you will learn how you can have a peace of mind knowing that you have planned for this part of life’s journey so that it relieves your family or executor of the need to make difficult and potentially expensive decisions at a very stressful time. Cooperative Memorial Society provides simple, dignified alternatives to the elaborate and increasingly costly funeral services promoted by the conventional funeral industry.
Information can also be found here about financial support for Métis in Alberta.