They guided me..

I can’t thank CMS enough for all the support during such a difficult time. They guided me through every step — from helping my husband transition from home to hospice to arranging his membership with CMS. The process was made so much easier thanks to their kindness and expertise. After my husband passed, I was amazed at how much we saved — our bill at McInnis & Holloway was less than $3,000. I am truly grateful for the care and assistance we received.

— Carmen (by phone)

It was a relief..

This service meant the world to our family. When my dad passed, everything—from bringing him into care to arranging the cremation—was smoothly handled. Knowing his wishes were honoured was comforting. The cost difference was striking too: my mom’s funeral cost $8,000, while Dad’s through CMS was just $2,700. It was a relief to focus on saying goodbye without the stress of complicated arrangements or high costs. Thank you for easing a difficult time.

We didn’t know where to start..

When our father passed away, we were overwhelmed with grief and the weight of making final arrangements. We didn’t know where to start. Thankfully, our dad had taken the thoughtful step of becoming a member of the Cooperative Memorial Society. What we experienced during those difficult days was nothing short of a gift. All the essential details, his wishes, and arrangements were already prepared. There was no confusion, no unexpected costs, and no disagreements among family members—only a sense of calm and relief during a painful time. CMS gave us the space to grieve without worrying about logistics. The support and guidance we received were more than practical—they were compassionate. It felt as though we had a caring community by our side, helping us honour our father’s memory in the way he wanted. We’ll forever be grateful for CMS for turning one of the hardest moments in life into a moment of grace and clarity. If you love someone, give them the gift of peace and certainty through CMS. It’s a legacy of love that will never be forgotten.

— Tracey P. and Brian L.

It’s truly one of the greatest gifts..

I have experienced the invaluable support of CMS during both my mother’s and, more recently, my best friend’s passing. It is truly one of the greatest gifts one can leave their loved ones—clear instructions on their wishes for after their passing. Both families deeply appreciated the foresight of their loved one in engaging with CMS, ensuring everything unfolded exactly as planned, without any surprises. It was a seamless and supportive experience. I highly recommend gifting a CMS membership for Christmas, both for yourself and others. The value of the information alone is worth the membership fee—it not only saves money but offers unparalleled peace of mind! Cheers,

— Brian H.

His profound understanding of our situation..

My wife Sharon and I had the pleasure of meeting with Bill Robertson from McInnis & Holloway this morning. We’ve struggled to get our affairs in order for some time, feeling an increasing sense of urgency as time passed. However, meeting with Bill alleviated our concerns swiftly. His profound understanding of our situation made addressing these matters incredibly easy. Bill’s experience in dealing with these issues was evident, as he preemptively answered many of our questions. Every piece of advice he shared made perfect sense, even covering aspects we hadn’t considered. Throughout our meeting, it felt like we were conversing with an old friend rather than a stranger we had just met. Sharon and I will sit down to review what we’ve learned, but the fear of creating a burden for our family has been dispelled. We sincerely thank you for putting us in this situation, and I cannot adequately express how meaningful it is to have our arrangements finalized. The reduction in stress over this end-of-life matter is immeasurable. We feel confident moving forward, and we are deeply grateful for the guidance provided.

— Larry A.

Thank you so much for your help..

Both me and my sister are big fans of the memorial society 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.

Now I can rest assured..

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 your service provider 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.

This emotionally taxing journey..

In 1999, I faced the challenging experience of being the primary caregiver, enduring power of attorney, and executor for my good friend Stuart, who battled cancer. This emotionally taxing journey taught me valuable lessons that I share with you today. Let’s start by reviewing some typical funeral costs in the Calgary area. A friend lost his father in early 1999, and even the most straightforward cremation, with no service, cost the family $1900. My mother introduced me to the Cooperative Memorial Society, of which she had been a member for almost a decade. Anticipating Stuart’s imminent passing, it was crucial to enroll him as a member quickly, as only the living are eligible to join. Upon contacting the Society, Stuart became a member on the same day. When he passed away a week later, the benefits were immense. Stuart had requested the simplest process – cremation with no service and no urn. The chosen funeral home, McInnis & Holloway, executed all the details flawlessly. On Monday they transported Stuart to the crematorium, completed all necessary legal documents, assisted with the obituary for the newspaper, placed the obituary, and returned the ashes, death certificates, and burial certificate to me by Friday. The total cost was less than $750! Take it from someone who has been through it – becoming a member of this non-profit organization should be your next step. Where else can you spend $20 (now $40) and potentially save over $1000 (now $2500)? I gain no personal benefit from sharing this except the knowledge that my friend’s passing has left a legacy of value for us.

— 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.

It is a great help..

I am astounded and very touched by the quickness and clarity of your response. It is a great help at this time.

— R. Birks.

I’m telling everybody about you guys..

I’m telling everybody about you guys and thanks so much for being available to people. I think it’s so important. Much love for what you do and for whoever actually thought of the idea to start this society.

— G. P. October 18, 2023

Service was great..

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 the burial plot. This was not through the Memorial society).

— Kyera L. via Google

I wish to thank you..

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

All I did was..

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

Your discounts seemed too good..

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 CMS 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 CMS. 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. Your discounts 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.

Emotions run high..

I believe the CMS 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 CMS does offer a very worthwhile community service, I have contributed to the society for the last 25 years.

— Sigrid W., Calgary