Top 5 Cremation Centres in Ottawa

Losing someone you love can be a disorienting feeling. But with the help of a reputable cremation centre in Ottawa, you won’t have to deal with the chaos of preparations alone.

Along with our review of some of the top cremation centres in Ottawa today, we also cobbled together a list of FAQs at the end of the article. 

The Top Cremation Centres in Ottawa

With the related costs somewhat clarified, let’s take a closer look at the top cremation services in Ottawa.

We used the following criteria for this selection:

1. Ottawa Cremation Service Inc.

Founded in 1994, Ottawa Cremation Service Inc. aims to provide a more affordable alternative for direct cremation and burial services. It’s a business that’s duly licensed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.

Its services are comprehensive so the bereaved won’t have to fret about things like registration, documentation, transportation, and other administrative concerns. The centre carries funerary-related items like caskets and shrouds, as well.

The rates for services are quite reasonable with cremation fees typically amounting to just a little over $580. There are also other accommodations to hold the cremated remains for a limited time, as well as requests to scatter ashes privately.

Ottawa Cremation Service Inc. is staffed by a licensed funeral director at all hours for quick response to initial calls. It’s a straightforward crematorium service that unfortunately doesn’t offer memorial service accommodations.

The centre only demands payment in full once the cremation services are fully rendered. The downside is that it doesn’t offer a financing plan for its clients.

Customer Reviews

Kind, responsive, efficient and good value for money

“You can’t beat kind, responsive, efficient and good value for money. David delivered all of these in spades. Highly highly recommend.” – Lynda Partner

Provided excellent and professional service during a hard time

“David provided an excellent and professional service during a hard time. Very reasonable price. I am forever grateful to him and his staff for their help. I definitely recommend them!” – Helene M.

2. First Memorial Funeral Services

Established in 1996, First Memorial Funeral Services holds an Ontario Funeral Establishment License with the goal to be a “cost-sensitive” option for the bereaved. 

Its basic cremation services start at just $1,415 (excluding HSTs and cash disbursements). Families or friends who want a celebration of life or memorial service for their deceased can opt for these, as well.

There’s a convenient accommodation for online arrangements with a licensed funeral director in attendance. This is available 24 hours a day and comes with a general price list so family and friends can plan the services in the comfort of their own homes.

First Memorial Funeral Services also offers pre-planning services to give clients different choices on how they want their lives to be celebrated. We find this particular service both a thoughtful and convenient one, though it would be great to have some price guides posted on the website for reference.

Customer Reviews

The funeral director was very professional, compassionate, and understanding

“We had to arrange very quickly at the last minute for the cremation of my father as a result of rapidly declining health at St-Vincent Hospital in Ottawa. We contacted First Memorial and all arrangements were done over the phone. The funeral director we dealt with was very professional, compassionate, and understanding. The cremation itself and the return of the ashes was very prompt along with all paperwork that included the death certificates and all other necessary documentation.” – Rick Lachaine

The experience was entirely welcoming, and every detail was met

“The experience was entirely welcoming, and every detail was met. They make sure everything is taken care of and provide the best price and services.” – Kizzy Scott

3. Hope Cemetery, Chapel, and Crematorium

Since 1988, Hope is the only Catholic crematorium in Ottawa and the surrounding areas. It’s situated on 50 acres of grounds that have columbaria, a chapel, a mausoleum, and other modern cemetery facilities.

Its cremation process and rituals strictly adhere to the Catholic tradition so this is not a cremation centre for other faiths and religions. In fact, it’s the only crematorium held by the Archdiocese of Ottawa.

Aside from burials, cremation, and funeral services, Hope also provides customizable menus for catering and chapel rentals for memorial services on the grounds. As well, it has a reception room that can accommodate small or large gatherings and is a good venue for a full Catholic mass.

There are funeral service products to honour the memory of a loved one ranging from urns to mausoleums and crypts. The downside is that there’s no price guide for either menu of services or products anywhere on the website.

Customer Reviews

Helpful, caring and understanding staff in a time of great loss

“Helpful, caring and understanding staff in a time of great loss. Great location and easily accessible.” – Max the Third

Very professional and sympathetic

“The people who handled my mother’s cremation at Hope Cemetery were very professional and sympathetic. I highly recommend them.” – Sean Migneault

4. Basic Funerals and Cremation Choices

Basic Funerals offers direct cremation packages that range from $1,499 to $2,999. The company simplifies its pricing based on location, service packages, and other options that already include HSTs, disbursements, and required fees.

The company offers clients peace of mind by way of affordable options for cremation and funeral services. For transparency, Basic Funerals lays out its process from first contact to the preparation of Proof of Death certificates.

We appreciate that the company does all the funeral and cremation arrangements on behalf of its clients. Since there are different options for crematory services, clients can request a customized quote that’s guaranteed for 60 days.

Different cultural and religious funeral services are welcome here. Even non-religious funerals can be accommodated.

There are caskets, keepsakes, and urns available for purchasing online. The products catalogue can accommodate all types of preferences, budgets, and other memorialization considerations, which is pretty helpful.

Basic Funerals also provides a Funeral Education Guide that’s free to download upon registration. The downside is that it requires customers to subscribe to its monthly newsletter, too.

Customer Reviews

A well thought out, professional and friendly team that has delivered on every service 

“Everyone I talked with was very well informed with the complete process and were very aware of the stressful situation these kinds of things usually surround. A well thought out, professional and friendly team that has delivered on every service we needed at the highest level and all for a reasonable cost. It is very refreshing to look back on the ‘experience’ and know that a business is able to provide a no-pressure product while ensuring everything is done correctly while still making an acceptable profit to allow them to stay in business. Thank you!” – Patrick Z.

It took only a single phone call to get plans moving and that took away a lot of the stress 

“The people we spoke with at Basic Funerals were polite and helpful. The way that choices were presented made it fairly easy to come up with the plan that best met our and our mother’s requirements. The pricing seemed fair and there were no surprises. Having everything in place in advance meant that it took only a single phone call to get plans moving and that took away a lot of the stress of having to make decisions at a very emotionally sensitive time.” – Albert L.

5. Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery, and Cremation Services

A not-for-profit organization called The Beechwood Cemetery Foundation runs the Beechwood funeral, cemetery, and cremation services in Ottawa. It offers practically everything related to cremation, funerals, burials, memorial services, life celebrations, and even catered services in a single location.

What’s great about Beechwood is how it always has the diverse backgrounds of its Canadian clients in mind. In fact, one of the rooms in its memorial centres is the result of extensive consultations with a multi-faith council and local faith leaders.

And while its primary service deals with making the bereavement process a more dignified and solemn affair, Beechwood is also open to everyone who wants to have quiet moments. There are concerts held at its Sacred Space, a unique urban wetland, guided tours, and an annual spring display of over 35,000 tulips, too.

The website doesn’t list a price guide for its services and products or a calendar for its community activities. However, it encourages clients to make no-obligations requests and inquiries.

Customer Reviews

The ambiance and the respect are stellar

“Nothing but praise for this Funeral and Cremation Services. The ambiance and the respect are stellar. The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. Our Military and Veterans are well honoured with this cemetery.” – Gilles Laframboise

Always been treated with the utmost respect

“Visiting Beechwood is hard. But anytime I have been there I have always been treated with the utmost respect. My first experience at Beechwood was in 1973; my last was in 2018. I can visit with a lot of my family members at Beechwood.” – Brend Kropp

FAQs About Cremation in Ottawa

We hope that this review of top cremation centres in Ottawa can be a helpful resource for you and your loved ones. We welcome other suggestions for cremation services so please send us a message about them.

You can also read our other published posts about planning for the future:

• Top Funeral Homes in Ottawa
• Best Life Insurance Companies in Ottawa
• Best Wills Lawyers in Ottawa