Cremation without a crematorium

It is unfortunate that many of the local funeral providers mislead the public by advertising that they own and operate their own crematorium. They will use such deceitful terms in their advertising as “Funeral Home and Crematorium”. Many of these dubious operators subcontract out the cremation process to a third party to perform the cremation.

What does this mean? Essentially, this means there is no continuity of care, meaning your loved one is not in the care of the funeral home you originally trusted. In many cases, these types of funeral homes, do not have contact with your loved one ever! They will go as far as calling a removal service to do the removal of your loved one from the place of death. This removal company will then transfer your loved one to the subcontractor. The subcontractor is someone that you have never met. This is not the person you have signed the contract with, and most importantly, you will not be able to ensure that they have the proper systems and procedures in place to ensure an error free method. These types of funeral homes have no control over the timing of the cremation. This is especially important for those trying to plan any type of ceremony with the cremated remains.

Many times, these types of funeral providers will bait and hook by advertising an extremely low price for a cremation, then suddenly they will insert the crematorium fee from the subcontractor as a straight-out disbursement. Then add the purchase of a plywood container or a cremation casket, all this, over and above their advertised price. Suddenly, what you thought was a fair price, is not so fair after all. When choosing cremation be aware of other equally disturbing charges and practices such as: administration fees, adult cremation fee, basic care fees, basic facility fee, automotive fee, staff attendant fee, extra weight fee, environmental fee, etc. All of this is, in addition to the cremation cost and purchase of a cremation casket.

If you find yourself in a position where the funeral home is bullying and pressuring you into something that you do not feel comfortable with, remember you have the right to walk away.

Voyage owns and operates a state-of-the-art cremation facility. We have systems and procedures in place ensuring that you receive your loved ones cremated remains back, guaranteed. Voyage offers a simple cremation at $1600.00, with no hidden costs or surprises.

If you are wanting to be present at the crematorium to say your final goodbye, we permit families to be present at the crematorium for the cremation of their loved one, unlike some others who have no facilities or a crematorium.

In the province of Manitoba, there are only 18 licensed crematoriums. Of those 18 crematoriums, only a handful are owned by funeral homes located in Winnipeg. For a comprehensive list of all licensed Manitoba crematoriums, please visit the Funeral Board of Manitoba at www.gov.mb.ca/funeraldirectorsboard.

Preplanning is a great idea and a gift of love to your family. However, do not make the mistake of preplanning any type of cremation service with a funeral home that does not own a crematorium. There is no guarantee that these providers will be able to provide this service in the future.

Our vision incorporates tradition, compassion, cultural sensitivity and cost options to meet the needs of every family. We truly do believe in treating your loved one as we would our own.

Voyage, established in 1998, is a family-owned and operated funeral home. We lead the funeral profession by setting examples in using the best practices possible. We will continue to make a difference and set higher standards with dedication and eternal commitment to the families we serve. We take pride in families knowing a loved one is in our care 100% of the time. They are treated with respect, dignity and compassion.

As a funeral director, I cannot take death away nor can I take away the pain. I do however have empathy and will do my utmost best to carry your family through the most difficult experiences caused by death. I promise to be honest, loving, caring, understanding and most of all have the greatest compassion, respect and dignity for your family, regardless of your situation.