The Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Hamilton

Planning Ahead

Catholic Cemeteries provides assistance and guidance to people who are pre-planning their funerals/burials.

We strongly encourage pre-planning because:

  • You decide exactly what kind of funeral/burial you want
  • Your pre-payment of the option you choose provides assurance that your wishes will be met
  • Your family or friends won't have to make major decisions during an already difficult time
  • Your family won't have to pay for your funeral/burial
  • You can purchase services at today's prices, but space the payment out over months or years
  • You have a greater chance of getting the lot, crypt or niche you want. Since so many people pre-plan these days, the specific location you have in mind may not be available if not purchased now.

Process

If you are interested in learning more about pre-planning, we offer:

  • A visit with our specially-trained staff. This is best done by appointment since not all of our cemetery offices have staff on hand at all times
  • Tours of any of our cemeteries or mausolea
  • A Family Records Guide to help you keep all pertinent information in one place. The 15-page booklet allows for the recording of such things as the location of important documents, personal information, financial information, people to notify and funeral/memorial instructions. Click here to download the guide.

    The Family Records Guide is also provided free of charge to people who seek pre-planning advice from The Catholic Cemeteries.

You may also submit a question, using our contact form, to John Foster, Manager of Family Services, for more information. Once you have made your planning decisions, we will give you a contract describing what you have purchased.

Questions to Consider

Here are some of the things our counselor will discuss with you when you meet:

  • What cemetery are you most interested in?
  • Will it be a full casket burial, cremation burial or entombment?
  • Do you need a double or single lot, crypt or niche?

The counselor's job is to help you narrow the choices. Once some of these basic decisions have been made, the counselor will review the costs and options associated with the choices made. Our counselors do not work on commission and have no vested interest in encouraging one decision over another.

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