Navigating the Immediate Need: Your 24/7 Guide to Beginning the Cremation Process

When a loved one passes away, the immediate rush of grief is often compounded by the need to make important, time-sensitive decisions about final arrangements. This is a time of profound emotional weight, and the last thing a family needs is added stress or complexity. We understand that this is one of the most difficult moments in life, and a question we often hear from families is: "What do I do first?" Our experience has shown us that having a clear, compassionate guide for the initial hours can make all the difference. At Sensible Choice Cremation, our streamlined process and dedication to 24/7 personal support are designed to ensure you receive immediate guidance and can begin the arrangement process with dignity and ease, even in your most immediate time of need.

The most critical step in an immediate need situation is reaching out for professional guidance. We want to reassure you that you are never alone. A compassionate, knowledgeable funeral director is available around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide support and answer any questions you may have. This support includes providing initial aftercare information and beginning the necessary process of transfer and documentation. Whether it's the middle of the night or a weekend, a simple phone call starts the process of transferring the deceased into our care.

Our primary service, the Sensible Choice Online Package, is an affordable and straightforward direct cremation option priced at $1,525.00. This package, which covers all necessary services, professional fees, disbursements, and taxes, is an excellent foundation for immediate arrangements. For families in Scarborough seeking a simple, dignified, and low-stress option, this transparent approach offers great peace of mind. To learn more about how we serve the Scarborough community, you can visit our general service area page which has information about our direct cremation services in Scarborough.

Once you contact us, we immediately put the "Minimum Services" plan into action. The Minimum Services charge covers the essential, non-declinable actions required to facilitate the disposition of the deceased. This is a critical, respectful process and includes:

• Initial Transfer: The deceased is transferred from the place of death—whether it’s a residence, a hospital, or the Coroner's Office—to our holding room. This initial step is covered in the Minimum Services charge.
• Secure Holding: The deceased is then securely held in a refrigerated sheltering facility until all necessary documentation is completed.
• Minimum Preparation: This includes the basic care of the deceased for safe handling.
• Pacemaker Removal: If the deceased has a pacemaker or a radioactive implant, removal is required prior to cremation, and there is a specific fee for this additional service. This is an example of an additional fee that may apply.
• Final Transfer: Once the legal requirements are met, the deceased is transported in a service van or coach to the crematorium.

It is important to note that the Minimum Services charge is a component of the total package, and additional fees may apply for things like mileage beyond 40 km, or a transfer fee if it occurs outside of regular operating hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). An after-hours transfer fee is $400.

A significant part of our role as funeral professionals is handling the complex documentation required by law. We manage all the legal forms and permits necessary for the cremation to proceed. For cremation to take place, two key pieces of documentation must be obtained:

1. Municipal Death Registration: This is a required step where we register the death with the local municipality on behalf of the Province of Ontario. The municipality then issues a burial permit. The mandatory fee for the Municipal Death Registration Fee is $45.
2. Coroner’s Cremation Certificate: A provincially set fee of $75 is charged by the coroner to issue the certificate that legally allows cremation or alternative disposition to occur.

These mandatory, third-party fees are known as Disbursements and are paid to outside parties on your behalf. The Sensible Choice Cremation Package includes the total cost of all mandatory disbursements, as well as the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) Fee of $30, which funds the BAO's regulatory and consumer protection activities. For those interested in a full breakdown of the package and its components, you can view the price breakdown on our Pricing page.

Even when the need is immediate, our core process remains the efficient online arrangement model. By utilizing email and digital signatures to handle documentation, the process is streamlined, which directly contributes to a lower overall cost compared to traditional arrangements. This allows families to manage the necessary legal steps from the privacy and comfort of their home in Scarborough, rather than needing to travel to a funeral home for lengthy in-person meetings.

Once the necessary documentation is ready, the deceased is transported to the crematorium at the earliest practicable opportunity. Our package includes the Cremation Fee at North Toronto Crematorium of $695. This is the most efficient and sensible path to conclusion, allowing you to focus on planning a memorial or celebration of life once the immediate need is resolved. You can begin an arrangement right now through our Start Online Arrangement portal.

Within the $1,525.00 package, a Victoriaville Cardboard Cremation Container is included, which is a required supply for the cremation process. Also included is a Temporary Cardboard Container for the cremated remains at no charge.

However, we offer a range of economical and more decorative urn selections for those who desire a permanent vessel. Our economical collection includes:

• Fiberboard Urns: Such as the NewPointe Taurus, starting at $120.
• Cast Aluminum Urns: Like the NewPointe Comet Meteor or Tempest, priced at $150.
• Hardwood or Bamboo Urns: The NewPointe Hartley Urn (Select Hardwoods) and Stratton (Bamboo) are both priced at $150.

For additional memorialization, we also offer a wide array of Bronze, Sheet Metal, Marble, and Unique Urns, with options such as the Braxton Maple engineered wood urn at $295  or the high-end The Aristocrat solid bronze urn at $1,795 .

In the immediate wake of loss, your focus should be on your family and your grief, not on navigating complex logistics and unexpected costs. Our transparent, all-inclusive package and our commitment to 24/7 personal support are designed to lift that burden and ensure a simple, dignified process. For our neighbors in Scarborough and the surrounding communities, we are dedicated to providing compassionate care during your time of need. Navigating this journey is never easy, but you don't have to do it alone. If you are in immediate need of our services, or would like to learn about the steps to take, we are here to help.