The 5 Best Funeral Homes in Ottawa
Dealing with the abrupt loss of a loved one can be very difficult. To lighten your load a little, we’ve put together a short list of the top funeral homes in Ottawa that can help you celebrate your loved one’s life.
In addition, we’ll go over the qualities of a good funeral home, the average cost of funeral services, and the answers to a few FAQs at the end of the article.
What to Look for in a Funeral Home
Let’s start with what to look for in a funeral home so you have a sense of how to pick one from among our recommendations.
1. Availability
It helps to be able to contact funeral homes at any time of day to address your concerns. A good funeral home will have staff who are caring and supportive. It should be clear to you that they aim to make things easier for you and your family. If it feels otherwise, pick another funeral home!
2. Experience
Choosing a funeral home with a lot of experience makes the process a lot smoother. You will need as much support as possible, and funeral services you can afford. A good funeral home with experienced people will provide all this with professionalism, transparency and genuine compassion.
3. Personalized Services
Everyone mourns death and celebrates life differently so opt for one that offers personalized memorial services and grief resources.
4. Accommodation of Religious and Cultural Needs
With so many religions, cultures, and practices around the world, funeral homes should be able to accommodate these differences and honor your loved one in a way you believe is appropriate.
How Much Do Funeral Services Cost in Ottawa
We do our best to give a useful cost list of the services we’re writing about, but actual costs differ depending on the funeral home and the funeral itself. Here are some price estimates for typical funeral services in Ottawa at the moment, however.
| Service | Average cost |
| Traditional Funeral | $5,864 |
| Graveside Service | $3,157 |
| Memorial Service | $4,183 |
| Direct Cremation | $2,048 |
Top Funeral Homes in Ottawa
Now that you know how much the services tend to cost and how to pick a good funeral home, you’re ready for our list of the top options. Here they are:
1. McEvoy – Shields Funeral Home & Chapel
| BEST FOR | Overall funeral services |
| SERVICES | Option for Home Delivery of Ashes Multicultural Funerals Arrangements by Phone and Email Cremation Remembrance Jewelry Audio and Video Equipment Live Music Ritual Washing Catered Events |
| WEBSITE | https://www.dignitymemorial.com |
| ADDRESS | 1411 Hunt Club Road, Ottawa, ON K1V 1A6 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (613) 737-7900 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Always open |
Mcevoy-Shields Funeral Home & Chapel offers a wide range of funeral services to people of all faiths.
Their experienced funeral directors believe that funeral services should honor the life being celebrated. They have served thousands of families over 90 years, being the first funeral home in Ottawa.
With options from traditional burials to simple cremations, you have the option of including live music, catering, and a send-off in your package.
And as a member of the Dignity Memorial network, they work alongside other funeral homes to provide you with exactly what you need to celebrate your loved one’s life. In addition to all this, they can produce a tribute video.
On location, they have a large capacity chapel, a piano/organ, Celebration of Life Center, and a coffee lounge.
Pros
- Great service for online and over the phone arrangements
- Open 24 hours
Cons
- Higher costs than most
Customer Reviews
Customers say the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home & Chapel should be on this list for many reasons: experience, care, pre-planning, and staff. Check out these reviews:
“Compassionate and timely response during a very difficult time. The staff at McEvoy & Shields were genuinely concerned with my needs and feelings first and foremost, providing much appreciated assistance and direction. Thank you so much.”
“The care and compassion of all staff was outstanding. The attention to detail relieved the stress and allowed our family to concentrate on the bigger picture knowing we were in good hands”
2. Capital Funeral Home & Cemetery
| BEST FOR | Customizable services, nearby cemetery |
| SERVICES | Planning Ahead Reception Features Photos Grief Resources In-Ground Bronze Memorials Columbarium Niches Memorial Benches and Trees Online Tributes Sharing Memories Cremation Final Resting Place Options Urns Keepsakes Obituaries Upright Granite Monuments Chapel Graveside Service |
| WEBSITE | https://www.arbormemorial.ca |
| ADDRESS | 3700 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON K2C 3H1 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (613) 434 2301 (613) 434-2297 [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Mon – Fri 8:00am – 5:00pm Sat 8:30am – 4:00pm Sun 10:00am – 3:00pm |
The Capital Funeral Home & Cemetery sits on 75 acres of land. It’s surrounded by nature – trees, flower gardens, and a pond with a fountain.
This gives it a very peaceful and serene feel, say clients, who appreciate the atmosphere. The establishment has quiet visitation rooms too.
Moreover, they offer free grief resources to ensure that you’re doing well after the funeral services end.
Funeral directors help you fully customize your arrangements. They also respect all faiths and work well within your budget.
The rest of the staff is very warm and dedicated to creating the best experience, offering free memorials throughout the year as well. All in all, it’s easy to see why we think they’re one of the best funeral homes in Ottawa.
Pros
- Free memorials
- Nicely customized services
- Large and well-maintained cemetery
Cons
- Services are not 24/7
Customer Reviews
On top of having a beautifully kept cemetery, Capital Funeral Home & Cemetery consistently tops ratings thanks to their excellent funeral directors:
“James Gregory’s level of professionalism, compassion, and follow-up are second to none. I am truly grateful that you were there to look after my mother’s needs years ago when she pre-arranged her services, and again last month when she died.
A true man of your word, and a gentleman. The small things make all of the difference, and you made a difference.
Thank you James.“
“My wife and I had a zoom call with Derek Lemelin in order to prepare our final resting place with all of our options explained to us in as much detail as we wanted. Derek easily answered all of our many questions and made preparing for a “somber experience” fairly manageable. Our children will not be burdened with the cost or having to think of what Mom and Dad would have wanted.
Piece of mind for our whole family
Thank you Derek.
Yvon”
3. Funeral Co-Operative of Ottawa Inc.
| BEST FOR | Pre-planning and reasonable prices |
| SERVICES | Personalized Funeral Services Cemetery Liaison Burials Educational Literature Commemorative Items Caskets Urns Memorial Gatherings and Life Celebrations Referral to Bereavement Support and Community Resources Cremation Pre-Arrangements Obituaries Online Tributes |
| WEBSITE | https://www.fco-cfo.coop |
| ADDRESS | 419 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, ON K1K 2Z8 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (613) 288-2689 [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Mon – Fri 8:30am -4:30pm Sat 9:00am – 4:00pm Sun closed |
Funeral Co-operative of Ottawa Inc. has been up and running for ten years. It is a community-owned & operated funeral home.
All funeral arrangements are made on a not-for-profit basis for their members and they maintain high quality of service.
Their facilities can accommodate up to forty people for funeral services, visitations & receptions, all in an intimate environment.
It isn’t open 24/7. However, they do have a hotline that is available at all times.
They also assist you in deciding whether a pre-planned arrangement is right for you. This service is non-obligatory but one many clients will appreciate.
Pros
- A warm, welcoming, and tight-knit community
- Staff is on standby for calls 24/7
- Affordable funeral services
Cons
- Services are not available 24/7
- Closed on Sundays
Customer Reviews
Reasonable prices and great reviews put this funeral home right on our list. Check out a couple of reviews here:
“The Funeral Co-operative of Ottawa is exceptional. My younger brother, Kevin, passed away unexpectedly and Lisa Wilson, Managing Funeral Director, helped us to ensure that, while we grieved, all the necessary arrangements were handled with care. Our family was very fortunate to have them in our time of need.”
“The Funeral Co-Operative and Jason Swan were incredibly helpful and kind when I was dealing with my mother’s funeral. They offered great compassionate assistance and accommodation, no up-sell, no pressure. They were incredibly responsive, adaptable, available, and kind.”
4. First Memorial Funeral Services
| BEST FOR | Online arrangements and affordability |
| SERVICES | Traditional funeral service Memorial service Same day service/Celebration of life Graveside service Immediate disposition without service Transportation and relocation protection plan Helpline grief service Pre-planning |
| WEBSITE | https://firstmemorialfairview.com |
| ADDRESS | 259 St. Patrick St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5K4, Canada |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (613) 860-2424 [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | 24 hours |
First Memorial Funeral Services prides itself on providing high quality funeral services that are also cost sensitive. They firmly believe that “a celebration of a loved one’s life should not be tainted with a heavy financial burden” while still delivering top-notch services – something they’ve done for over two decades.
They made it into our list for providing great home services and a helpline grief service. They have multiple locations outside of Ottawa as well, namely Cornwall, Hawkesbury, and Carleton Place.
They are adept in online funeral arrangements and can make all the necessary arrangements with you over any device for ease of communication. This eliminates the need to visit the funeral home personally in most cases.
Pros
- Affordable packages
- Online arrangements
- 24-hour availability
- Multiple locations
Cons
- Save for the online arrangements, the website is a bit clunky and hard to navigate
Customer Reviews
This funeral home made it into our list for its online arrangements and outstanding staff. Here are some reviews from satisfied clients:
“In my families time of need First Memorial made the tough part a little easier. I cannot thank Stefanie and her team enough for their dedication and professionalism and desire to go above and beyond.”
“The care, compassion, knowledge, and professionalism that they extend to grieving families is second to none, and I would not hesitate to use their services again, or refer their services to others.”
5. Dignity Memorial Funeral Home
| BEST FOR | French speaking clients |
| SERVICES | Events with caterer Large reception room Event planning Arrangements by phone or email Tribute video Audio and video equipment Meeting space Multicultural funeral Cremation commemorative jewelry Ash delivery Aid for dispersion |
| WEBSITE | https://www.dignitymemorial.com |
| ADDRESS | 180 Montreal Rd, Ottawa, ON K1L 1B4, Canada |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (613) 241-3680 |
| OPERATING HOURS | 24 hours |
The Dignity Memorial Funeral Home works with many cemeteries as part of its network to ensure you find the best permanent resting place for your loved one. Their network includes a variety of beautiful memorial parks to choose from too.
They guarantee attention to detail during the funeral services and consistently get high ratings from clients. They also assist with preplanning and offer installment plans.
On top of their excellent care, they have a very informative and comprehensive website. All of this makes them hugely accessible and easy to work with, which tells you how they got on our list.
Pros
- A lot of experience with French and French Canadian clients
- Website is very informative and easy to navigate
- Open 24 hours
Cons
- Expensive
- Website is in French (although it can be translated)
Customer Reviews
Consistently raking in 5-star reviews, The Dignity Memorial Funeral Home has proven itself to be committed to excellent service. Check out these reviews:
“From the first day we had our appointment with Daniel & Chloe we felt their compassion and they made us feel very comfortable. All other staff we dealt with, including Father Frank, were also very helpful and compassionate. Thank you for your support at this difficult time Thank you kindly, Poirier family”
“This funeral home is part of the family, and treats you with the utmost respect throughout your Grieving process. They really care and sympathize. I recommend them to everyone,”
FAQs About Funeral Homes
With that, we conclude our list of the best funeral homes in Ottawa. We wish you the best in selecting the one that suits your needs and provides you with excellent care!
Are there any more funeral homes we missed? Send us your recommendations,as we’d love to hear them!