The Ritual of Spring Burials In Local Cemeteries

Tania Tack • April 29, 2022

When a death occurs in the winter months, it is quite common that the burial can’t take place until the spring. Our region has long, cold winters and this hinders a cemetery’s ability to conduct burials due to the frozen ground. It is not unusal for many families in our smaller communities thoughout Ontario to have to wait weeks, or even months to bury a loved one. This delay can prolong grief for the family and make it difficult for them to move forward.

Spring Burials for Caskets

We will store the deceased on premise or in cemetery vaults until burials can take place in the spring. This is unavoidable in many places across Ontario and this may be felt as an infringement on the mourning process. There could also be extra costs to families for having to return for the burial to take place in the spring.

Spring Burials for Urns

Cremation lends some flexibility in regards to burials. Urns can be stored by the family at their home instead of at the funeral home or in a cemetery vault. Storing urns at home until the burial takes place does provide comfort to some families.

Why Can’t Cemeteries Dig Graves in the Winter?

The frozen earth is too difficult for cemetery caretakers to work with. Many cemeteries in urban areas have the heavy machinery required to dig graves year round. However, it is too expensive for smaller cemeteries to buy the equipment for digging graves in the winter.

Other Obstacles with Spring Burials

In addition to being difficult for families, it is also a scheduling challenge for funeral homes. Funeral directors and cemetery caretakers must deal with the backlog of spring burials every year. There could be extra costs associated with funeral vehicles and staff to attend to the burial.

Delays Due to Flooding

The disappearence of snow can also lead to other delays. It is unsafe for cemetery caretakers and familiy members to be present when the ground is still soft. Unstable ground can lead to graves caving in and dangerous falls. It is also unsettling for families to see graves filled with water. Many cemeteries in Ontario can’t begin burying well into May or later. A cemtery can’t control nature and these timelines can vary from year to year.

Many of the cemeteries we work with on a regular basis are able to conduct burials throughout the year. Many cemeteries in metropolitan areas have the resources to do so. There are also other types of resting palces to choose from. We welcome you to reach out to our team directly if you have any questions.

Why Do Funeral Directors Ask About Pacemakers?

October 7, 2022
Funeral Directors routinely ask families during the arrangement process about pacemakers. Standard safety precautions are in place because of the explosive potential of pacemakers when heated. Pacemakers explode during the cremation process because of the rapid formation of gas which bursts the pacemaker’s casing. An explosion during the cremation process could cause serious damage to the crematorium chamber, as […] The post Why Do Funeral Directors Ask About Pacemakers? appeared first on Basic Funerals.

Death and Taxes

By Tania Tack • March 24, 2022
Tax rules are often complicated and never fun. In the case of pre-arrangements that is no different. When you pre-arrange your funeral there are some things to consider from a tax perspective that we hope to cover here. We will do our best, but unfortunately, we are not accountants and can’t give you personal advice […] The post Death and Taxes appeared first on Basic Funerals.

The Grave Woman

By Tania Tack • December 10, 2020
The funeral industry is changing. Catapulting that change are women like The Grave Woman, Joél Simone Anthony. She is based in Atlanta, Georgia, but is making waves all over the United States with her alternative approach to funeral service. We had the pleasure of speaking with her and learning more about her work. Joél Simone Anthony […] The post The Grave Woman appeared first on Basic Funerals.

Intestate: Dying Without A Will and How it Impacts Funeral Arrangements

By Tania Tack • November 24, 2020
Living without a will may relieve a person from having to think about their own mortality. Living without a will may also save a person some time and money. However, dying without a will can cause grave challenges and obstacles for those left behind. Dying in intestate means that the deceased person did not leave a Will. […] The post Intestate: Dying Without A Will and How it Impacts Funeral Arrangements appeared first on Basic Funerals.

Prepare Your Estate: Your Executor Will Thank You

By Tania Tack • November 10, 2020
Being appointed an Executor is often seen as an honour, but it can also be an extremely daunting task. The person selected to look after estate matters is often also likely to be the person grieving the most. In an effort to alleviate the stress associated with being an Executor or Administrator, we have compiled […] The post Prepare Your Estate: Your Executor Will Thank You appeared first on Basic Funerals.

Basic Funerals Awarded Best Rated Funeral Home

By Tania Tack • August 31, 2020
Basic Funerals has been listed as one of the Top 3 Best-Rated Funeral Homes. We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve such welcoming communities. We would not be considered ‘best-rated’ without you! Recognition for Excellence Our team was recognized for providing consistent high quality services in our area of business. We were reviewed by […] The post Basic Funerals Awarded Best Rated Funeral Home appeared first on Basic Funerals.

6 Ways Funerals (Can Still) Help Mourners Grieve

By Tania Tack • July 9, 2020
By guest blogger, Carrie Fawcett: Celebrant Ceremonies like funerals and memorials are intended to both honour the life of a loved one and meet the needs of those left behind. If current public health limits have you question if it is still possible to have a “good” funeral, I encourage you to see those limits […] The post 6 Ways Funerals (Can Still) Help Mourners Grieve appeared first on Basic Funerals.

Repatriation: How Covid-19 is Keeping Us From Home

By Tania Tack • June 12, 2020
Repatriation: How Covid-19 is Keeping Us From Home The long-lasting Covid-19 pandemic still has an impact on how the death industry is able to conduct services. Funeral and memorial services are still limited to small groups of 10 attendees and burials are to happen as soon as possible. Many funeral providers have also implemented new […] The post Repatriation: How Covid-19 is Keeping Us From Home appeared first on Basic Funerals.

The Healing Benefits of Meditation: Introducing Headspace.com

By Tania Tack • May 25, 2020
Basic Funerals and Headspace Promotion Basic Funerals has always worked hard to go beyond the funeral. We care about the families we serve. We understand that these difficult times make it even harder to grieve the death of a loved one. For this reason, we have coordinated an offer with Headspace.com to provide our families […] The post The Healing Benefits of Meditation: Introducing Headspace.com appeared first on Basic Funerals.

Commemorating Our Loved Ones When We Are Apart

By Tania Tack • April 11, 2020
During this time of isolation, everything has been impacted: from the approach to groceries, children’s schooling, and travel. Governments are introducing new programs while communities are learning to adjust. At times like this, we hope that people are expressing gratitude to those that assist us with our health care, our food, and all other essential […] The post Commemorating Our Loved Ones When We Are Apart appeared first on Basic Funerals.
More Posts