Cremation & Funeral Options: Witnessing of Cremation

Witnessing of Cremation

Witnessing a cremation gives families the opportunity to gather at the crematorium in order to be present for the beginning of the cremation process. The witnessing of a cremation can follow a traditional funeral service or take place as an independent ceremony. At the gathering, a clergy person or officiant may be present to offer a prayer or say a few words. Typically, the service ends soon after the cremation has begun.

witnessing cremation st. john's norway crematorium

Final cost for a Witnessing of Cremation typically ranges from $2,500 – $3,500 depending on your service package and options. Please phone our staff or fill out a Quote Request for an exact amount.

	Budget	Basic	Priority
Standard Services
Professional Arrangement
Transfer from Place of Death (24/7 if required)
Additional Staff for Transfer (if required)
Facilities for care of deceased
Coordination of Documents
Removal of Pacemaker (if required)
Transfer to Crematorium
Cardboard Cremation Container
Pre Filled CPP Forms
Online Obituary

Additional Services
Proof of Death Certificates	5	Unlimited	Unlimited
Premium Executor Service
Basic Urn
Cremated Remains Delivery
Average Process Timeline	7 days	7 days	3 days

Additional Items for Witnessing
Staff for Witnessing
Witnessing Fee from Crematorium

Disbursements and Taxes
Death Registration
Coroner’s Certificate
Cremation Fee
HST

When my mom had died unexpectedly I was not only in shock, but I felt helpless as I didn't know where to turn to for help in preparing her last wishes for cremation. The whole team at Basic Funerals and Cremation were very kind, understanding, and sympathetic and took care of everything exactly as to how my mom would've wanted it. There were absolutely no surprises and everything was done exactly as agreed. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Jessica and Rachel for helping us through a very difficult time in my and my families' lives. RIP momma, come visit us often and know that you're in our hearts forever. We'll all be together again.read more

Frank Frankie3beme

01:28 13 Jan 22

Kyle, Fr. Larry, and the entire Basic Funerals team did a truly wonderful job guiding my family through the process of giving my grandmother her final rites. Throughout the process they were kind, empathetic, and constantly working to comfort us as we organized and carried out the funeral and cremation. They handled my grandmother with care and ensured that she could be sent off looking like she always did. At the funeral there were present and ensured that everything went off without a hitch and afterwards made sure we received all the necessary paperwork to settle her affairs. We could not be more thankful for for their guidance through this mourning period.read more

Devlin Santos

21:00 06 Jan 22

Was extremely pleased with the services provided by Basic Funerals. The whole experience was well executed from pre-arranging to need fulfillment and follow up. Would recommend both pre-arrangments and Basic Funerals.read more

Gerard Grimm

13:56 02 Oct 21

All staff at Basic Funerals have been compassionate, patient, supportive and efficient every step of the way. They really did a great job easing our minds and making our lives easier at a time when we really needed all of that! They are quick and responsive too. The work they did on the obituary and photo gallery helped my family feel more peace and closure than they expected at a time like this.read more

Alana Hunt

14:32 24 Aug 21

The Ottawa Administration Team for Basic Funerals were all so kind, courteous and very helpful with making arrangements regarding my late father. Sam took my initial phone call and emailed me information about various options for cremation. Darlynn helped me decide which option was best, and did not try to up-sell things we did not need, but added on a couple of things we wanted. Marty drove all the way to our home to pick up clothing. All of the paperwork was done over email / phone and the urn was delivered directly to our home by Brandon. Tania was involved in coordinating that delivery and also sent follow-up emails . I am so pleased with the service and how helpful, caring and polite everyone was. Such a refreshing change from a lot of places nowadays. I appreciate each and every one of you for helping us through this difficult time. Your team is exceptional. Thank you!read more

Sherry Hickey

16:09 21 Jul 21

A great team there. Always doing what it takes to look after their clients.

Micheal Davis

13:13 30 Jun 21

Amazing. I am completely blown away with how wonderful the team, especially Jessica, has been. Pleasant, kind and ever so helpful, they have made this sad experience more tolerable. Thank you for everything.read more

gayle mills

19:25 14 Jun 21

My first experience making funeral arrangements for a family member was made so much easier and on so many levels, thanks to Basic Funerals Mississauga. I didn’t have any idea on who to call, what services I needed, and associated costs. I google searched and called many different funeral homes. When I read the reviews for Basic Funerals and compared their costs to all other homes, I thought they sounded too good to be true. I took the chance and secured their services, and I couldn’t be happier. I dealt with a number of different staff members throughout the process and everyone was fantastic, efficient, helpful and sympathetic. They never tried to up-sell me, in fact, they explained why a less expensive item/service was more practical for our needs. There is absolutely nothing that I could possibly suggest for improving their services or fees. I can’t thank them enough for making this difficult time easier. I wouldn’t hesitate to refer Basic Funerals to my family and friends!read more

Lisa Cooper

19:24 27 May 21

The absolute best value for your money. I saved a ton by not going the regular funeral home "rip you off" route. 1st Class service. Was extremely surprised how efficiently they handled my Father's funeral. Recommend 100%...WITHOUT RESERVATION....read more

George A

19:47 26 May 21

I would highly recommend Basic Funerals. The service my sister and I received after our mom's passing was exceptional. Darlynn was so compassionate and calming. She was so very helpful it took a big burden off our shoulders. We cannot thank her enough.Renette and Linda.read more

Molly D

21:32 09 Apr 21

Basic Funerals are a bunch of empathetic and compassionate individuals. I have had a very satisfying experience with them recently and Chelsea and Jenna, both went over and above their responsibilities and helped us with their services. Extremely helpful and compassionate.read more

Mohit Goyal

17:47 04 Apr 21

They came recommend by a friend. Basic funerals made the difficult process much easier. Professional, kind and very efficient. I would highly recommend Basic Funerals to anyone.Mark Griffithsread more

mark griffiths

18:39 20 Jan 21

I recently engaged Basic Funerals to handle the Funeral needs of a good friend. This was all new to me, but they were just fantastic! They were so very efficient, helpful, patient and understanding, without once trying to upsell. They displayed a lot of sympathy and caring while answering a lot of questions. Their free linked service via Executorschoice.com was equally outstanding and helpful with filing all the necessary stuff online with the different Govt. Agencies,etc.read more

Austin Noronha

18:19 28 Dec 20

We do thank you all for the very professional services, the family was highly pleased with all the stages of the process. We called Basic Funerals for shipping the deceased abroad.The arrangements and communications were excellent especially during these difficult COVID times, we have had the understanding for the short delays but overall it was a real five stars service.read more

Michael Colceriu

21:15 26 Nov 20

It was exactly as I my loved one requested. There was never any pressure and no surprises. I have recommended Basic Funerals to others. The online obituary was done professionally and remarked on as such by all who viewed it.read more

Hugh Floyd

01:22 04 Nov 20

My mother's funeral was handled thoroughly and professionally by the team at Basic Funerals. Special thanks to David who patiently answered my many questions and oversaw the funeral on the day of. He was empathetic and was attentive to all of my family's requests. And thank you to Jessica for the communication and Amanda who assisted with the funeral as well.read more

Sarah Kim

19:56 14 Oct 20

The team at Basic Funerals were very professional all the way through for our "graveside" service. On the day of the funeral, the coach arrived on time (early actually!), it was very clean and polished, they had a map of the cemetery and pre-planned out their route, the staff communicated well with us, provided us with everything that we need, and even did last minute adjustments to my grandpa's positioning/the padding to optimize the open-casket viewing. Andrew was our director for the day and he was amazing!Highly recommend graveside service, esp during COVID.read more

Tammy Lee

15:21 21 Sep 20

I highly recommend using Basic Funerals and Cremation Choices. The staff are professional and helpful. I have told others about Basic Funerals and Cremation Choices for a cost friendly and simple alternative. Not once through the process did I feel I was 'cheaping' out. Our friends/family really appreciated the online obituary, video memorial and tribute wall.read more

K Wright

17:22 18 Sep 20

We had the pleasure of having basic cremation to have my grandmother there her name is Maria Gomez it’s been almost 3 weeks since she passed away the customer service here was fantastic and amazing Chantelle did my grandma’s makeup for her viewing it looked exactly like my grandma when she was alive as we are still grieving her loss Chantelle did an amazing job and I’m so grateful for her I took a picture of my grandma and I have that forever in my heart Basic cremation service is definitely recommend Thank you for everything and Chantelle you are amazing your art is beautiful and you did an amazing job on my grandma God bless you girl! Thank you with love Priscilla Nielsen & Familyread more

Priscilla Familia

18:08 24 Aug 20

I used the repatriation service of Basic Funerals. Although I had some problems with some documents, the company reached out to me to help me with my problem. Therefore I would recommend them to other families.read more

Evelin Halász

15:55 15 May 20

During a difficult time, the staff at Basic Funerals we compassionate and professional as well as helping us navigate through the paperwork. We would recommend those considering an alternative to an expensive funeral consider contacting Basic Funerals to understand the less expensive alternatives for their loved one that has passed (or will be passing).read more

dennis dillon

19:49 24 Feb 20

My mom always led us to believe her final arrangements had been made and paid for. What a shock it was when she passed away to find out that wasn’t the case at all. Mom had a plot and a memorial marker paid for at the cemetery she wanted to rest in, that was it. I contacted the place mom had chosen and was shocked at how outrageously expensive everything was. Sorry to say but this place was too rich for my budget.So now, I’m bargain shopping a funeral for my mom. I chose Basic Funerals and Cremation by website reviews and pricing and have never looked back. I didn’t know what to expect since they were much more affordable than the “original” place but the professionalism and compassion shown by Basic Funerals staff is second to none. Mom was treated with respect and dignity throughout the whole process. I say whole process because due to illness in the family, we did not have mom’s service until mid February and she passed away the previous November (nearly 3 months prior). They kept mom safe and didn’t pressure me until we were ready.I should mention that everything was arranged mostly through email and the odd phone call as I live a couple hours away? I thought it was going to be extremely difficult to arrange mom’s cremation from afar but Katelyn (my first contact) made it easy and didn’t force me to make the drive unnecessarily.Mom’s service was everything I could have hoped for and so much more. Karoline Lebrun was the funeral director and memorial specialist assigned to us through the Legacy Celebrations department. I cannot say enough kind words for everything Karoline did to make mom’s final send off perfect. The clergy Karoline chose to perform the ceremony was a gem. His service wouldn’t have been much better if he had actually known mom or our family previously. Karoline arranged for mom’s urn to be transferred from the service to the cemetery for burial and personally made a couple of flower arrangements out of the flowers there to go with mom and for us to take home. She was very professional. compassionate and personable. It was an absolute pleasure to finally meet her and thank her in person for everything she did to help me arrange mom’s service.I highly recommend Basic Funerals and Cremation. The services they provide are at fraction of the cost of other funeral homes and they do so with the utmost respect, courtesy and without upselling or guilting into more than you desire. You sacrifice nothing in terms of service by choosing Basic Funerals and the Legacy Celebrations department is top notch.Cindy Byersread more

cindy byers

15:32 22 Feb 20

My Mom passed away just over a week ago. Our family was in dismay from the death and I had to make funeral arrangements immediately. Basic Funerals went above and beyond to accommodate our family's needs. From picking Mom after her passing, to funeral details, to the official program and cremation, everything was affordable and professional.The funeral took place on Saturday and everyone I spoke with was impressed by what they saw, family included. I'd highly recommend Basic Funerals to anyone looking for professionalism and affordability when it comes to caring for their deceased loved ones.read more

Christopher Neblett

22:46 01 Jan 20

In August of 2019 I became in need of Basic Funerals services.My husband had specified exactly what services he wanted and when I called Jena, she provided a plan that included everything we needed.She was very efficient, professional, and kind, and answered any questions that I had.When my husband died, I appreciated the support I received, which made a difficult time easier for me. Later, I found the package regarding closing affairs particularly helpful. Using it, I was not confused or anxious as everything I needed to do was set out for me.The experience I had with Basic Funerals leads me to highly recommend them. Thank you.read more

Marion Dick

17:20 06 Nov 19

They were attentive and responsive for all the steps for my grandmother's funeral. They came to our home to pick up her clothing and ensure that everything was prepared for the visitation and service. The final paper work was received quickly and in order. Highly recommend them.read more

Areti Papadopoulos

15:16 27 Sep 19

I can’t say enough good things about Basic. They actually know what customer service actual is. Very knowledgeable staff, great rates and well organized. There really is a plan for every type of funeral you could possibly be interested in. Robyn is an delight to work with.read more

Mary Gorman

19:01 19 Sep 19

Kaetlyn B was superb at handling Mom's affairs and handling me! Although our mother's death was expected, it was still quite overwhelming. I had never been responsible for this type of arrangement, and am very grateful for Kaetlyn's professional, yet personal manner. Every phone call was answered promptly, and my issues were addressed immediately. Kaetlyn made sure I had everything I needed to start the process, and has provided me with lots of information and direction for the days and weeks ahead. I couldn't be more pleased. I have already spread the word about Basic Funerals, and Kaetlyn. God Bless You All!read more

Karen Drake

19:11 06 Sep 19

Jessica, thank you very much for all your advice and patience and, most of all, for guiding us through this difficult time. All Cremation arrangements at Riverside Chapel were well planned . You are very kind and thank you very much. Also, thank you to everyone else at Basic Funerals and Riverside Cremation for your help.read more

sandy SAGAR

03:59 21 Aug 19

The meeting was very informative and casual. All our questions were answered in a professional manner. We did not feel pressured in any way. We are very happy with the arrangements.read more

Lina Elliot

22:51 15 Aug 19

Helpful, didn't try to push any thing on us.Very affordable.

marg lahey

02:18 08 Aug 19

My experience with Basic Funerals was excellent. My first contact was with Robin. She was easy to talk with and was very quick at returning emails, and phone calls. The pre planning process went smoothly as did the final arrangements. We went with the Basic package, cremation no service. Mailings arrived quickly. The information provided before and after was valuable and the cost of the package was considerably less than arrangements through other funeral homes. I feel comfortable in recommending this company to others in need of this service.read more

Ken Fryer

12:11 07 Aug 19

Allarrangements were handled professionalism and kindness. Jessica was lovely to deal with. The process was very efficient and the cost was reasonable, no or sure was at any time put on you to spend more than your decided you wanted which is not the case in most situations with funeral homes. I will pre arrange for myself and my husband's in the very near future.read more

Debbie Mastin

00:31 07 Aug 19

Robin was very helpful and patient with me on things I didn't understand. I appreciate that very much. Thank you, I have recommended Basic Funerals.

Verda Matthew

17:49 18 Jul 19

Very understanding and absolutely no attempt to sell us anything than we asked for. Professional and very kind.

Viv

10:42 16 Jul 19

Jessica B was very friendly and helpful

Aaron Hachie

17:22 03 Jul 19

Everyone was so helpful in dealing with my brother John's funeral.

Judy Costantini

22:57 13 May 19

During a difficult and emotional time the services we received were exactly what we wanted. There was no attempt at "up-selling" nor was there any sense that we were being guilted into making unaffordable or complex choices. Rather, we received careful attention and very professional responsiveness to our needs. I would absolutely recommend this service for anyone struggling with all of the many other details and emotional distress that follow the passing of a loved one.read more

Debra Macphail

17:18 06 Mar 19

Karoline was the front-line Funeral Director who looked after my wife's final needs. Although I was, at first skeptical, Karoline soon put my mind at ease and she created the type of service that Shelley desired and in a special location that I requested.Throughout the entire process, Karoline offered support and in the event we needed clarification, Karoline did not hesitate. She proved herself to be a valuable asset. to Classic Funerals but also to the family they served.read more

D.C. Mahoney

08:46 31 Jan 19

Robin was awesome to deal with and answered all of my questions. I only wished I know of basic funerals when I was pre arranging my mother's. I was told all sorts of lies by a funeral home.read more

joann guenette

20:04 06 Sep 18

Robin was very professional, knowledgeable, organized and helpful. Great customer service! Thank you.

Louise Viersen

20:40 20 Aug 18

We decided that we wanted to make our pre-planned funeral arrangements and had the pleasure of speaking to Robin. She sat down with us, and clearly outlined all of our options. She reviewed earlier cemetery arrangements with regard to our family plot and what we still required. We are both pleased and relieved that everything is in order and that the Executor of our estate will only have to call one number..read more

Soosy Q

19:29 24 Jul 18

Excellent customer service! Excellent prices! Convenient payment plans. Could not ask for more!

Jaden Winfree

20:08 21 Jun 18

I prearranged my own funeral all on line including payment etc..no muss no fuss....a great experience

John O'Hearn

19:38 24 Apr 18

Robin was very helpful!!! I feel very happy knowing my arrangements are done as per my wishes. This will be so helpful to my family when my time comes to depart this earth!read more

Sandra Stubbs

12:49 09 Apr 18

I contacted Basic Funerals & Cremation to pre-arrange services for my mother. I initially reached out for an appointment by email and received a very prompt reply. I set up the appointment via an email exchange and met with Robin at Basic F&C the following week. It was a very straightforward process and Robin went to great lengths to to explain and simplify the various options. I highly recommend Basic F&C for the ease of contact, arrangement and follow-up.read more

Rick Pringle

17:09 28 Mar 18

Very happy with their professional service. Quick to respond with any questions or concerns. Would highly recommend this company to anyone needing their service .read more

Gail Adamson

20:34 07 Feb 18

Convenient and respectful. This is the second time my family has used Basic Funerals and Cremations Choices. The first was 5 years ago when my father passed away and this time was for my brother. I didn't deal with Basic with my father's arrangements but my step-mother did and recommended them and honestly, I don't think I'd use anyone else moving forward. When we had word on my brother's terminal illness, I called 3 places to get quotes on the cremation he wanted. Let me preface this by saying that my brother said a Celebration of Life was acceptable but he didn't want a viewing or funeral so a cremation is what I was researching.Since this was my first time arranging such services, I had no idea what to expect. The first place (a local funeral home) quoted me $4000, so now I had a starting point. The second place (a local cremation facility) quoted me $1000 (wth? talk about a price difference!) but then stated I had to involve a separate "funeral home of my choice" for transfer services (huh?) and lastly I called Basic.Unlike the other two places I had called, Basic Funerals and Cremation Choices took the time to explain everything to me and offered to email me a quotation that contained all of the details. They offered me various packages to choose from depending on my needs and told me there was no pressure to decide now-I could decide when the time came. The three packages were Budget, Basic and Priority (I chose Priority and would recommend it for the slight price difference). They also confirmed that there would be no additional charges beyond what I was quoted (and there wasn't!).Unfortunately, it was a very short time after this call when their service was needed. I made the call to Basic and they took care of everything. They were incredibly professional the whole way through. From the initial phone call, to the follow-up call when my brother passed, to the young gentleman that came to deliver my brother's ashes and even follow-up calls, these people are top-notch.Basic Funerals and Cremations Choices took the worry out of making the arrangements. I have started recommending their service to friends and family and told my husband this is what I him to do want when my time comes.I'd like to end my review with a sincere thank you to Basic Funerals and Cremation Choices.read more

Connie P.

14:15 05 Feb 18

I was in need of immediate service and Basic Funerals were very helpful and right there tending to my request. The staff were very helpful and attentive to our needs. I would definitely recommend this service for anyone, thank you.read more

Don Mascarin

01:51 12 Jan 18

Our family lost a member who lived in Ontario while most of us are in Newfoundland. This could have caused a lot of confusion and extra expense that we did not need at this difficult time. Basic Funerals was amazing to deal with. Fast, clear, informative, inexpensive, and respectful of our wishes. We got the cremains in plenty of time for the funeral, as well as everything else we expected. I HIGHLY recommend Basic Funerals for anyone during this difficult time.read more

Cheerfully Twisted Entertainment

22:16 12 Nov 17

Communication was exemplary...clear, quick response times, helpful. I also appreciated the professional yet senstitive approach each person I spoke with had during our difficult time. One thing I very much appreciated was NO attempt to upsell whatsoever. Any tiny suggestion to get more money I would have not used their services and they never once did...very impressed by that.I was helped by David, Natasha and Kamilah and I was very happy with their customer service...I would highly recommend Basic Funerals.read more

Evangelina Coleman

19:47 12 Nov 17

My Mom had a prearranged plan with Basic Funerals at my recommendation. I found them on the internet and my Mom prearranged everything back in 2011. When my Mom passed we contacted Robin who was her Prearrangement Specialist and was extremely helpful from start to finish. I highly recommend Basic Funerals. Thank you so much Robin and staff for all your help at this difficult time!!!read more

Sandy J-Lee

18:13 12 Nov 17

Very helpful. Compassionate.

Nadine Kyle

13:59 12 Oct 17

Representatives on the phone and in person were so courteous, efficient and straight forward. It was a very difficult time for my elderly parents, and they made it so much easier and in ways enjoyable. Thank you Robin ans Stephanie for such professionalism ! The price is very affordable, no frills and up-selling. Highly recommended.read more

Dragana Skokovic-Sunjic

02:02 11 Oct 17

Prompt response. They understand and listened to your needs. Robin was extremely professionnal, caring and understood what I wanted in regards of my dad's pre-arrangements. It feels good to be understood. Robin was great and went above and beyond to provide me with a great service and no surprise in regards of the pricing.GREAT PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE.I would recommend highly BASIC FUNERALS.read more

Johanne Coshall

15:20 09 Oct 17

Basic Funeral and Cremation Choices was the right choice for my mother's cremation. I contacted Jessica a few days before the time and she provided a quotation after a few minutes on the phone. The quotation was exactly what we were looking for. The price was reasonable. Jessica was on site for the cremation and everything went as planned. I would highly recommend Jessica and her firm.read more

Ravi Aggarwal

16:13 05 Oct 17

Jessica, was wonderful She took her time walking my family through our options. The detailed information she provided was priceless. Guiding us through a very difficult time. This was the second time using her services. I'd definitely use Basic Funerals and Cremations again. Also considering prearrangement of my own aftercare services. Offering my family peace of mind that my wishes were already thought out and paid for!Louise Kruegerread more

Louise Munro

02:36 05 Oct 17

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Cremation & Funeral Options: Witnessing of Cremation

Witnessing of Cremation

Budget

Basic

Priority

Standard Services

Additional Services

Additional Items for Witnessing

Disbursements and Taxes

Funeral Education Guide

Request a Quote

Request a Quote