CATHOLIC CEMETERIES
Cremation Services Ottawa
Catholic crematorium since 1988.
Cremation Services
The loss of a loved one is an emotional journey. We attend to every detail of the cremation process with the utmost empathy and care required for a dignified farewell. We offer traditional cremation services and various burial and memorialization options to honour your loved one’s life meaningfully.
We're committed to:
Compassionate Guidance: Our experienced team understands the importance of traditions in the grieving process. We’re here to guide you through every detail with compassionate support.
Comfort: We prioritize creating a comfortable space for burials and inurnments so family and friends can share memories, offer condolences, and find solace in each other’s company.
Professional Care: You can entrust that we treat your loved ones with the utmost respect and care throughout the cremation process. We adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and transparency.
Cremation Process
Cremation is a respectful and time-honoured method of handling the earthly remains of our loved ones. At Catholic Cemeteries of Ottawa-Cornwall, we’re dedicated to a precise process:
- Identification: Before the cremation process begins, we ensure proper identification of the deceased with comprehensive documentation.
- Placement in the Cremation Chamber: We respectfully place the casket or container in the cremation chamber, which is heated to a high temperature.
- Cremation: We will monitor the cremation closely. The heat reduces the body to bone fragments. This process typically takes a few hours.
- Ashes and Remains: The bone fragments are carefully processed to become ashes following the cremation. These ashes are placed in a temporary or permanent urn selected by the family.
- Returning the Ashes: At your request, we can either retain the ashes for you to pick up. Depending on personal and religious beliefs and preferences, some families choose the interment of the ashes in our cemeteries. Others may scatter them in a meaningful location or keep them in a cherished place at home.
Throughout this process, we’re here to answer any questions—we understand that you want the best for your loved one.
Choosing Cremation
Selecting cremation for yourself or a loved one is a significant decision. At Catholic Cemeteries of Ottawa-Cornwall, we’re here to walk beside you every step of the journey. Here are some things to consider regarding this choice:
- Personal and Cultural Beliefs: Consider the religious and cultural beliefs of your loved one and family. Some faiths have specific guidelines regarding cremation, while others may have traditional funeral customs to follow.
- Final Disposition Options: Consider where you’d like to place the ashes. This decision can be influenced by your loved one’s preferences or the significance of a particular location.
- Memorialization: Consider what type of memorial (bronze plaque, granite monument) you would want to commemorate your loved one.
If you’d like support when choosing a cremation service, we’re here to provide valuable insights and help you make informed decisions.
Cultural and Religious Considerations
Different faiths and traditions have unique views on cremation. Cremations have been permitted by the Catholic Church since 1963. Catholic Cemeteries of Ottawa-Cornwall accepts all religions and beliefs, and we will help you find suitable arrangements to honour your loved ones with the dignity they deserve.
For more information about our services in Ottawa, contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cremation is a method of final disposition where the deceased is placed in the crematorium, and their body is reduced to ashes. After cremation, the remains are placed in a temporary or permanent urn. From here, families and loved ones can choose to bury the urn or put it in a niche, an above-ground location where urns are stored.
It is important to note that cremations have been a part of human history for thousands of years as a post-funeral rite or an alternative to burial. Nowadays, cremations take place inside a crematorium in a closed furnace.
Cremated remains, also called ashes, include minerals like carbonate and bone fragments. That is left over after the body has been through the crematorium furnace. Cremated remains are typically buried at a cemetery or in a niche at a sacred site like Catholic Cemeteries.
When selecting a reputable cremation service provider, ensuring they have the proper license authorized by the Government of Ontario and the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is critical. Other factors to consider when choosing a cremation service provider include the deceased’s religious and spiritual beliefs. Sometimes, the deceased may detail their preferences for a cremation service provider in their last will and testament.
At Catholic Cemeteries Ottawa, we have been providing reputable cremation services in the Capital and surrounding areas since 1988. We are the only Catholic crematorium in Ottawa and accept all religions and beliefs.
Different faiths and religions have unique views on cremation. It’s essential to consider your loved one’s religious and cultural beliefs about cremation before deciding whether this is the correct funeral process for them. Within the Catholic Church, cremations have been permitted since 1963.
At Catholic Cemeteries Ottawa, we accept all religions and beliefs and will help you find suitable arrangements to honour your loved ones.
Once the cremation is complete, we can hold the ashes for you to pick up once you decide on an urn. We then carefully place the cremated remains in the urn and promptly return them to you. What happens next largely depends on the deceased’s final wishes and preferences.
Depending on your preference or religious beliefs, you may choose to bury it or place it in a niche and dignified resting place. Both options are available through Catholic Cemeteries.
The cremation process takes around three hours to complete.
Before beginning the process, we ensure proper identification of the deceased with comprehensive documentation. Then, we proceed with placing their body in the crematorium. Cremation requires immense heat, which takes time for the furnace to reach and maintain. The process is carefully monitored to ensure it properly reduces the body to ashes before placing them in an urn with care.
Our staff are sympathetic to all families and loved ones who seek out our services for cremation. We can help with funeral arrangements and urn selection, guiding you every step of the way. We put great care and consideration into this process and pay keen attention to every detail. Please contact us if you would like to inquire about being present during the cremation.
Cremation costs can vary greatly depending on the cremation service provider. In general, costs include transporting the body to the crematorium, essential documents such as death certificates, and the urn. For a precise estimate of fees associated with cremation at Catholic Cemeteries Ottawa, please get in touch with us.
There are some environmental concerns associated with cremation. For example, the crematorium furnace requires immense heat that must be maintained between 650-1090 degrees Celsius over two hours. This process involves natural gas, which can create carbon dioxide.
However, it is important to note that burials often involve other environmental concerns, such as chemicals to embalm the body and the use of various fertilizers to maintain cemetery grounds. If you would like to discuss the environmental considerations of final disposition processes, we encourage you to reach out to us.
There are several ways to personalize a cremation service, including different types of memorials, including bronze plaques or granite monuments, which are excellent options for commemorating your loved ones.
Another option is choosing a unique urn to represent your loved one. Selecting a suitable urn is a personal experience; we will help you through this delicate decision. Here are some of our memorialization options for cremated remains:
- Traditional Urns: Providing a sense of elegance and timelessness, these urns come in various materials, including wood, marble, and brass.
- Companion Urns: These are designed in mind for couples and close family members, offering a touching way to share eternity.
- Biodegradable Urns: The most environmentally friendly option, we offer biodegradable urns that naturally return ashes to the earth.