A sensible way to make informed decisions before

your time of need.

Handling the death of someone you care for, together with wanting to make the right decisions, leaves many families feeling overwhelmed. This is especially true when you are emotionally impacted and have a limited amount of time to attend to all the details. This leaves our loved ones asking, “Did I do the right thing? Is this what they would have wanted?” When plans are not in place ahead of time, difficult financial and emotional choices need to be made when a family is least prepared. Many people have done everything they can to protect their family’s future: invested wisely, opened savings accounts and acquired insurance on their life and home. However, they haven’t taken care of their own funeral arrangements - leaving one of the most difficult tasks to their loved ones to figure out at a time of sadness and loss. That’s why it’s so important to give serious thought to your personal wishes and to plan your services in advance.

Be informed about

the choices available.

How would you like to be remembered? Your funeral or cremation service should be personalized to reflect your wishes and should bring comfort to your family and friends. Today, no two services are alike. Videos, photographs, music, special readings and the involvement of family and friends are all encouraged.



Prearranging gives you the opportunity to become informed about your options in a no-pressure environment, while you have the time to think things through. You’re in full control and you can select and specify the services that truly have meaning to you and your family.

Our Family Service Counsellors and Pre-Planning Advisors can explain all of the options available to you and can accommodate wishes to make your celebration a truly unique and personal experience.

Record your wishes.

Many people think they have taken care of everything by writing a Will, establishing a Power Of Attorney or even purchasing their cemetery plot. But that’s not all.

A Will’s simple purpose is to leave instructions for the handling of an individual’s financial affairs after a death occurs. Power Of Attorney documents are instructions for the living when once can no longer chose for themselves. The funeral or cremation service still remains to be planned and paid for.

Your loved ones benefit the most when you pre-plan your funeral arrangements. When a funeral or cremation service is not prearranged, someone who may not be aware of your wishes may have to make all of the decisions. Prearranging ensures that your wishes are known.



You should make sure that your wishes are recorded in writing and shared with family members. You should also keep a copy with your important papers in a place that is easily accessible to your family members. We offer a valuable Personal Planning Guide that can help you record your wishes.

Share with your family and incorporate their wishes.

A funeral or memorial service is an important part of the grieving process. For family members and loved ones alike, the service provides an opportunity to

express their grief, to share memories and to celebrate a life well lived.

When planning your funeral or memorial service, the opinions and wishes of your family can be considered. Prearranging is an excellent time for families to discuss

and make objective decisions calmly and rationally together, away from the pressures and stress that often occur at a time of sadness and loss.

Involving those closest to you who will be most affected by your death can bring peace of mind and relief to those who will have to carry out your wishes. More

importantly, knowing your wishes and carrying them out can bring great comfort to surviving family members and friends.

Don’t be afraid to ask

about prices.

The cost to arrange a funeral or cremation service can vary from place to place. Be careful to choose a funeral home that presents its prices clearly and simply.

Unfortunately, funeral and cremation costs are subject to inflation. When you prearrange, you benefit from selecting at today’s prices, free from future inflationary pressures.

Pre-arranging also gives you the opportunity to become informed about your options and their various costs in an unpressured environment. You’re in full control, and you can make objective decisions regarding affordability. You may decide to spend less or more, but the decision remains yours.

Prearranging enables you to choose a comfortable financial commitment with payment plans while eliminating the future financial burden placed on your surviving family members.

Consider Planning

and Prepaying for

your arrangements.

The cost to arrange a funeral or cremation service can vary from place to place. Be careful to choose a funeral home that presents its prices clearly and simply.

Unfortunately, funeral and cremation costs are subject to inflation. When you prearrange, you benefit from selecting at today’s prices, free from future inflationary pressures.

Pre-arranging also gives you the opportunity to become informed about your options and their various costs in an unpressured environment. You’re in full control, and you can make objective decisions regarding affordability. You may decide to spend less or more, but the decision remains yours.

Prearranging enables you to choose a comfortable financial commitment with payment plans while eliminating the future financial burden placed

on your surviving family members.

Insurance may not be enough.

Usually life insurance provides a one-time, lump-sum benefit after a death has occurred. However, there is no guarantee that the funds will not be consumed by the expenses that result from a long illness or serious accident.



Insurance cannot make the many decisions that are required at the time of need. Even with insurance in place, the actual funeral or cremation service still needs to be planned and paid for, and this can be a complicated task at a time of grief and loss.

In addition, insurance policies are not protected against inflation. Prices of products and services will continue to rise, while the amount of your policy coverage remains the same. Your survivors may not have enough left from the insurance proceeds to cover the higher cost of your funeral expenses. Insurance is not paid out the day someone passes away. Sometimes it can take weeks to months sometimes for your family to see those funds. Would they be prepared to pay the funeral in full right away and carry that burden until they see those insurance funds?

Prearrangements purchased through Families First Funeral Home combine the benefits of insurance with a guaranteed service and price , leaving the life insurance untouched for the living.

It’s the details that make a difference.

A funeral service is unlike any other event. It is the culmination of a lifetime distilled into a singular tribute. From a simple tribute to a more elaborate affair, the most memorable ones are planned with attention to detail and include many personal touches that reflect the individual. So when you put a plan together, start by reflecting on what’s most important in life. Do you

love to travel? What about sports, dancing or family traditions? Your final send-off should truly be a celebration of what makes you, unique. There are many opportunities for expression and personalization such as music, readings, mementos, food and flowers. Our Team have earned a reputation for celebrating each life like no other. Let us do the same for you.

Complete the personal

planning guide.

The Personal Planning Guide will be of value to you and your family. Once completed, it is a confidential record of your personal information and your wishes. It has been designed to provide you with a simple method of making information available to those who will need it in the event of your death or debilitating illness. Since the number of decisions to be made and the amount of information to be gathered at such a time can be overwhelming, we encourage you to complete this guide today.