Cremation in Moose Jaw: What to Expect

Daniela Fortino
Daniela Fortino
January 6th 2023 - 7 minute read
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Families that choose cremation in Moose Jaw for their loved ones often ask about the process. Here is a step-by-step guide on what to expect.

After the death of a loved one, planning a funeral can be challenging and stressful while grieving. At Eirene Cremations, we make funeral arrangements simple while providing support to families. As part of that process, we have created a guide outlining what to expect when choosing cremation in Moose Jaw.

Arranging cremations for Moose Jaw families

Here is the step-by-step process on what to expect when cremation arrangements are made in Moose Jaw with Eirene.

Step 1: Initiate cremation arrangements

At Eirene, start cremation arrangements online by clicking on the "Start Arranging" button in the top menu. Choose the options that best suit your needs, and this will open an online form that can be completed independently or with our help.

For assistance, our team can be contacted by phone at (306) 992-1625 or by email at support@eirene.ca. Arrangements can be made entirely over the phone or by email if preferred. Jan Porten, Eirene's Managing Funeral Director in Saskatchewan, will take client information and walk them through the steps to complete arrangements. In-person meetings at our office in Regina (approximately a 50-minute drive from Moose Jaw) are also available on request.

Step 2: Transferring your loved one to our facility

Upon confirmation of Eirene's services, Jan will dispatch Eirene's local transfer service. They will bring your loved one into our care at our facility in Regina.

If family members would like to spend more time with their deceased loved one or care for them (bathing, dressing, etc.), they would arrange with Jan to travel to Eirene's facility in Regina.

Step 3: Funeral documentation and logistics

Throughout the cremation arrangement process, Eirene handles most of the planning and details, such as collecting information from family, submitting required funeral documentation, collecting payments, obtaining death certificates, etc. (More about this can be found here).

Once the required paperwork is completed and the payment has been made, Jan will make arrangements with a crematorium in North Central, Regina. Eirene offers a cremation package that allows families to spend more time with their loved one at the crematorium. This can involve identifying the deceased person, providing an opportunity to say goodbye before cremation. Families can also observe the cremation container as it is placed into the retort (cremation chamber). More information can be found in the "Witnessing" package here.

If an individual dies outside Moose Jaw, Regina, or other surrounding cities, Eirene will reach out to the nearest crematorium to ask for them to conduct the cremation for us. Eirene's transfer service can also transport your loved one's body to the crematorium in Regina.

Step 4: Cremation Process

Once paperwork and logistics are handled, the deceased person's body is prepared for cremation. Preparation includes the removal of metal implants that contain a battery (e.g., pacemakers) or pose a safety risk to crematorium staff. Materials like metal implants or fillings remain on or in the body, as does clothing. Jewelry is removed and returned to the family.

Cremation involves exposing the body to flames and extreme heat (760 to 980 C / 1400 to 1800 F) in a cremation chamber at a crematorium facility. Organic matter is reduced to bone fragments. Any metals not removed beforehand survive the process and are removed and recycled after a cooling period. Bone fragments are reduced to a coarse grey or brown powder known as cremated remains or ashes.

Returning your loved one's ashes in Moose Jaw

After cremation, our staff picks up the urn or container from the crematorium and makes an appointment with families to ensure an in-person delivery of their loved one's ashes. Cremated remains will never be left on someone's doorstep or in a mailbox. This is the standard service in all locations we serve.

Jan is present during in-person deliveries to Moose Jaw. Along with your loved one's remains, she brings the Funeral Director's Death Certificates, which allow families to handle estate requirements. Jan also shares a web link for families to create an account with Eirene's partner, Cadence. The Cadence team advises families on after-death matters that the executor or Authorized Decision Maker (next of kin) needs to complete.

Funeral payment plans available to Moose Jaw families

Eirene believes quality death care should be accessible to everyone. To help with this process, we have partnered with Affirm, which offers payment plans to assist families that need additional financial help. Eirene will also provide payment alternatives for families ineligible for an Affirm plan.

Learn more about additional funeral financial assistance in the articles below. You can also contact Eirene by phone at (306) 992-1625 or email support@eirene.ca for more information.

What makes Eirene's cremation arrangements in Moose Jaw unique?

Eirene's online platform makes cremation arrangements simple. It allows clients to plan a cremation funeral entirely online. Also found on the Eirene website are end-of-life resources to assist, educate, and inform clients and their families.

You will find our blog and help centre with helpful articles, tips, and advice on our website. For example, our cremation questions and answers article is a helpful resource to answer the most common questions.

Visitors can learn more about Eirene, our staff, and the services we offer. We also invite you to browse the online urn catalog to purchase from our diverse selection of cremation urns. Shipping is free to all addresses in Saskatchewan (and across Canada).

Additional website information and resources

Learn about Eirene's cremation arrangements on our website by clicking the "Services" or "pricing" menu option at the top of our site.

We offer Moose Jaw families traditional cremation as well as alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation). Families can also choose prepaid arrangement services. At Eirene, we value transparency, so all packages are itemized and easily accessible.

Our online platform allows families to have as much or as little involvement as they would like in their loved one's final arrangements. This enables families to memorialize their loved ones in a more personalized way. "My sincere hope is that the care I provide the family and their loved one brings even a small amount of peace during this time of grief," said Jan.

Eirene also values transparency, offering straightforward services with no surprises or hidden fees. Our all-inclusive cremation packages are also itemized and easily accessible to clients.

"My goal is to ensure that families feel taken care of, and that they are given the opportunity to plan their own celebration of life.  My focus is to do everything I can to alleviate some of the stress during this time for the family,  and to look after their loved one, that they have entrusted to my care," she adds.

Questions about cremation in Moose Jaw?

For questions about cremation in Moose Jaw and all communities in Saskatchewan, reach out to Jan Porten via email at support@eirene.ca or call her at (306) 992-1625.