What is the value in viewing?

Viewing is an important time because it reinforces the reality of death. It may not be easy to do but that is okay. Viewing allows family and friends to see that their loved one is at rest and free from pain and discomfort. It gives us a peaceful memory to cherish.

Why is embalming recommended?

Embalming is important for maintaining the health and safety of the public and the funeral home staff. This procedure ensures the preservation of the body from the time of death until disposition and it allows us to create an acceptable physical appearance of the deceased for the visitation time. Certain regulations exist that makes embalming necessary if the body is to be conveyed by public transportation.

How do I get an Official Death Certificate?

British Columbia residents applying for an official death certificate must apply through a local Vital Statistics Agency. There is $27.00 charge for each Death Certificate.

What is a Funeral Director’s Statement of Death?

It is a document supplied by the funeral director that can be used as proof of death in most cases. It contains the name and age of the deceased, the place and date of death, and the name and address of the funeral service provider. It does not include the cause of death.

Are You Competitively Priced?

At Oliveira Funeral Services Ltd. We dedicate ourselves to serving families well. This not only means we strive to assist them in putting together services that will be meaningful to them, it also means we strive to do so in such away as to make things affordable and value added. When some one you love passes away, you don’t want to have to worry about whether or not you are getting the best price. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our fee and those of our competitors. We honor all Memorial Society Contracts.

How do you make funeral Preplanning?

It is not a difficult or complicated task. Simply call our office and make an appointment or come by for a tour and cup of coffee. There are no fees for preplanning consultation. We provide price quotations on all our products and services without cost or obligation. Preplanning can be made at our Funeral Home or in the privacy of your own home. Your wishes will be recorded in writing and retained on file until needed.

Who Preplans a funeral?

People of all ages.Family members or an executor who is responsible for the care of someone in a nursing home or extended care facility.Family members who are caring for someone terminally ill.Anyone can consider preplanning.

What are the advantages of making Prearrangements?

Peace of mind and the assurance that your wishes are recorded.Preplanning provides an opportunity to ask questions and to get clear and concise answers on all aspects of the funeral.Personal choices can be considered and economic decisions made without emotional stress.Relieves family members of difficult choices at time of death. Preplanning is a practical idea that makes sense.Funeral Preplanning is every bit apart of sensible estate planning as Making a Will is or signing a personal directive.

Can a Preplan funeral be prepaid?

Yes, it’s your choice.Based on the last five decades, we know the cost of cemetery and funeral arrangements will continue to increase. Prepaying allows the costs to be frozen at today’s prices.Payment can be made in installments.You can also Pre-plan without payment.

If I choose to Pre-pay my funeral what Prepayment options do I have?

With a Pre-Need Funeral Trust Plan.Payments can be made by single payment or up to 5 year installments.(with interest free Payments) The funeral home must deposit your funds in trust. The accrued interest growth is applied to any cost increase when the services are required.

What happens when a death occurs at home?

If the death occurs unexpectedly or suddenly, the family should immediately contact the local police and inform them. The Coroner’s Office will be notified by the police and a Coroner will come to the place of the death to investigate the death. The deceased will then be transported to the nearest hospital for further investigation. After their investigation has been completed, the deceased will be released into the care of the funeral home selected by the family.If the death has been anticipated and the deceased was under a physician’s care, it is not necessary to contact the police. The family should advise the attending physician of the death and have the doctor complete a medical certificate of death. The family can also contact a funeral home of their choice to arrange for the transport of the deceased to the funeral home. The funeral home staff will then proceed to the residence and transfer the body to the funeral home without delay.

What happens when a death occurs in a care facility?

If an anticipated death occurs in a care facility, the attending physician will be notified and asked to complete the medical certificate of death. After the physician has signed the medical certificate, the care facility will notify the selected funeral home and they will come promptly to the deceased’s room at the care facility and transport the deceased to the funeral home.The family will have many options to consider following the death of their loved one so it is wise to consult a funeral director and determine the needs and wishes of the family. Consultation with a funeral director prior to the time of death will provide the family with information that can ease some of the burden faced when a death occurs. It also allows the family to supply the care facility with the name of the desired service provider so that the hospital can contact the funeral home as soon as possible following the death.

What happens when a death occurs while away from home?

When a death occurs away from home, it is preferable to contact a funeral home in the area where you wish to have the funeral service and interment. It will be more cost effective if the funeral home deals directly with a funeral firm in the place of death, rather than the family making the arrangements. After contact with the family, the funeral provider can then proceed to the place of death, if it is within a reasonable distance, or they can arrange for a local funeral firm to complete the necessary preparations to have the deceased returned home. Once the family returns back to their home, the remainder of the funeral arrangements can then be made with the funeral service provider.

How Long Do You Have to Wait For Your Loved One To Be Cremated?

In BC, you will need to wait 48 hours before a deceased body can be cremated by law. This is because cremation is a final process, and you will not be able to determine the exact cause of death after the cremation is completed.

How Does The Cremation Process Work?

Most cremations take place in a crematory. After a body is prepared for cremation, it is placed in a casket and slid into the cremation chamber. Only one casket is permitted at a time. Once everything is in place, an operator begins the cremation process, and this usually takes between two to three hours. Here the temperature is raised to approximately 1,400-1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, and after a period of two to three hours, the physical remains are consumed by heat.

Can I Watch The Cremation Process?

This may be possible with sufficient notice. You can contact Oliveira Funeral Home for additional information on rates and requirements.

What Happens After The Cremation Process?

The cremated remains are carefully removed from the cremation chamber. The cremated remains are then cleared off all metallic articles and are then run through a processor. These remains are transferred to an urn. Urns are labelled correctly with proper identification to ensure they are not misplaced or misidentified. The remains are then handed over to the family.

Is Cremation Becoming More Common?

Cremation has become the more popular over the past 2 decades. It may be due to cultural or religious requirements. In comparison to burial, cremation may be a less expensive option. Some people view cremations as being a greener option than burial.

What Can You Do With The Cremated Remains?

There are several different things that people choose to do with the cremated remains. You can keep the urn in your home, scatter the cremated remains on land or water, bury it in a cemetery plot or any other option.

Is Scattering Cremated Remains Illegal in B.C?

In British Columbia, cremated remains do not come under the laws and regulations for burials or cremations. If you plan on scattering the cremated remains on somebody else's property, you will need prior permission. You may scatter the cremated remains on water but make sure that it is not a marine park.You may have questions about Cremating a loved one and we’ll try our best to answer some of them for you below. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at Info@oliveirafuneralhome.com.

Cremation or Burial : Choosing What Feels Right for Your Family

October 7, 2026

Choosing between cremation and burial is deeply personal. Both options can include a meaningful service, family traditions and a lasting way to remember someone. The decision is less about finding the universally correct choice and more about understanding what mattered to the person who died and what will support the people mourning them.

Many families begin with one question: Cremation vs. Burial: Which Option Is Right for Your Family? The best place to start is with the wishes, beliefs and practical needs that matter most to you.

Start With Any Wishes Already Shared

Some people leave detailed instructions in a preplanning document or discuss their preferences openly. Others mention only a small detail, such as wanting a particular cemetery, having their ashes placed near a spouse or keeping the service simple.

Those conversations can provide direction. If no clear wishes were recorded, the family may need to consider the person’s values, religious or cultural traditions and the type of gathering that would feel true to their life. There is no need to force certainty where none exists. A funeral director can explain the choices while the family takes time to talk.

When relatives disagree, it may help to identify the few priorities everyone shares. Honouring a faith tradition, keeping the gathering accessible or giving people time to travel can provide a practical place to begin.

What Cremation Allows

Cremation often gives families flexibility in when and where they hold a memorial. Relatives may need time to travel, or the family may want to gather at a later date that carries meaning. Cremated remains may be kept in an urn, placed in a columbarium, interred in a cemetery or handled in another way that follows local requirements and the family’s wishes.

Choosing cremation does not mean giving up a viewing, funeral or formal ceremony. Those elements can still take place before or after cremation. Families may also choose a smaller private gathering. The arrangements can be shaped around the person rather than around one fixed format.

What Burial Offers

Burial provides a specific resting place that family and friends can visit. For some people, that physical location is an important part of grieving. It becomes somewhere to bring flowers, mark an anniversary or spend a quiet moment.

Burial may also align closely with religious practice, cultural tradition or an existing family plot. It does not have to feel elaborate or impersonal. A graveside service can be small, and a traditional funeral can still include music, stories, photographs and details that reflect the person being remembered.

Think About the Complete Arrangement

Cost is a real consideration, but comparing only cremation with burial can leave out important details. The total depends on the services, merchandise, cemetery arrangements, gathering and memorial choices the family selects.

Cremation is often less expensive than a traditional burial, but a memorial, urn, niche or other arrangements still carry costs. Burial may include a casket, cemetery plot, opening and closing fees and a marker. Ask for an itemized explanation so your family understands what is included and can make decisions without pressure.

Consider How Your Family Grieves

Different relatives may need different things from the goodbye. One person may find comfort in a gravesite. Another may value the freedom to hold a memorial later, once everyone can be together. Strong feelings are common, especially when the person who died did not leave instructions.

It can help to separate the method of disposition from the memorial itself. The family can choose cremation and still hold a traditional service. It can choose burial and still keep the gathering quiet and intimate. Looking at those decisions separately often opens more room for agreement.

A Choice Your Family Can Carry Forward

There is no single answer to Cremation vs. Burial: Which Option Is Right for Your Family? The right arrangement is the one that respects the person, works within the family’s circumstances and creates a goodbye they can live with in the years ahead.

Oliveira Funeral Home offers traditional funerals, burial, cremation, memorials and viewings for families throughout Greater Vancouver. The team can explain each option clearly and help you build an arrangement around your family’s traditions, preferences and budget.