Financial Detail Page
Here is a lot of very specific background about contributing costs to a funeral, how to apply for Compassionate Fare reduction on Air Canada, where to find financial assistance, and information about the public trustees office. None of this is essential for you to know.
What Contributes To The Cost Of A Funeral?
1. The Cost
of Personnel.
Certainly, most funeral directors are considered well
paid. Statistically, according to U.S. occupational employment statistics,
salaried funeral directors on average earn comparable wages to accountants, surveyors and
special education teachers, about $40,000-plus annually (U.S.
dollars). In Canada, it is estimated a salaried funeral director
earns about $40,000-plus (Canadian).
Funeral directors are usually college educated and receive licensed accreditation after specialized training and examinations. After which, for most graduates, comes a period of internship from one to three years.
The funeral industry is a labor-intensive, 24 hour-a-day business. The Funeral Association of British Columbia estimates that for a single funeral, a funeral director "can be involved with completing numerous tasks which can occupy up to 80 hours of time." The funeral, of course, does not only include the ceremonial service and merchandise, but completing the appropriate and necessary forms, dealing with doctors, ministers, florists and newspapers, and coordinating dozens of other details.
2. The Cost
of Facilities.
Facilities are often extensive, including viewing rooms,
chapels, limousines and hearses, all of which are factored into the cost of
service. For this reason, 'Alternative' companies with much less
investment in facilities offer lower prices.
3. The Cost
of Shareholders.
About two-thirds of funeral homes in British Columbia are
owned and managed by multi-national corporations which must answer to
shareholders and the stock-market valuation requirements of a public
company. Unlike other multi-nationals such as Wal-Mart or McDonald's,
these companies do not emphasize value and cost reduction. For this
reason, 'Alternative' and smaller, independently owned family-run funeral home
businesses often offer lower prices.
4. Emotional
Toil.
For most funeral
directors, their business traditionally is very closely associated with
the community and, in many cases, their clients are also friends and
associates. They constantly deal with the impact of death. It is
specialized work that not many of us are emotionally or spiritually equipped to
handle. Back.
Here are some of the financial resources which may be available to you:
The Government of British Columbia
Ministry of Social Development & Economic Security
(See your local district office financial officer)
http://www.mhr.gov.bc.ca/publicat/vol1/10-19.htm
The Government of British Columbia
Criminal Injury Act of B.C.
(Death due to crime or while trying to prevent a crime. You must complete
an "Application For Benefits by Victim of Crime" form within one year
of death. Forms are available at local police and RCMP offices. Or
call:)
604-244-6400 (Lower Mainland)
1-800-661-2112 (outside the Lower Mainland)
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
(If an insured person is killed in a motor vehicle crash, burial and funeral
expenses will be reimbursed to a maximum of $2,500.)
http://www.icbc.bc.ca/index.html
Workers Compensation Board
Claims Adjudicator, Sensitive Claims Section
Compensation Services Division
(Available if death arises from employment. Other survivor benefits may
also be available.)
http://www.worksafebc.com
Veterans Affairs Canada
Last Post Fund
B.C. Branch
(For qualified war veterans, merchant mariners and other qualified
persons. The grant is means-tested. A partial grant may be awarded.)
Toll Free 1-800-268-0248
Back.
Public Trustee of British Columbia
The Public Trustee of B.C. is a division of the Ministry of Attorney General for the Province of B.C., with the legal responsibility to protect the rights of mentally incapable persons, minors, and the estates of missing and deceased persons (in the latter case, when there is no named executor or anyone willing or able to act as executor.
Estate Administration Services
Public Trustee of British Columbia
604-660-4444
www.trustee.bc.ca
Back.
If you die without a will, you legally have died "intestate." British Columbia law clearly defines who has the responsibility to control the disposition of remains and to administer the estate of a person who dies intestate. This is the order of priority:
1. The surviving spouse of the deceased. Married or not, a spouse is
legally defined as a person living with the deceased as husband or wife for a
continuous period of time of at least two years.
2. An adult child of the deceased.
3. A parent of the deceased.
4. An adult brother or sister of the deceased.
5. An adult nephew or niece of the deceased.
6. An adult next of kin of the deceased (See sections 89 and 90 of
the Estate Administration Act www.qp.gov.bc.ca/cs.)
7. The minister under the BC Benefits (Income Assistance) Act or the
official administrator under the Estate Administration Act. www.qp.gov.bc.ca/cs.
8. An adult person having some relationship with the deceased
not based on blood ties or affinity.
In each case from (2) to (5), the order of priority begins with the eldest and descends in order of age. Should the eldest not be available or be unwilling to give instruction, that right passes to the next oldest in that category. Back.
Air Canada provides specially reduced Compassionate Fares
for those who fly to attend funeral services of an immediate family member. The
airline offers discounts of 50% or more (depending on the destination) on Air
Canada and Air Canada Connector FULL FARE economy tickets.
Family members can book Compassionate Fares for travel within North America
simply by calling Air Canada's reservation office and providing the name,
telephone number and address of the funeral providers location, along with the
funeral date.
To receive Compassionate Fares on selected international flights, family members
are still required to present a copy of the Death Certificate before they fly.
The funeral provider may alternatively provide a Funeral Director's Statement Of
Death.
Family members can
also apply for a Compassionate Travel Refund after
travel is complete.
www.aircanada.ca
Back.
