Cremation Questions, Answered with Clarity and Care
Clear answers about cost, timing, paperwork, and what to do when a death occurs in Ottawa and the surrounding area.
Clear Information, Without Pressure
Modest Cremation Alternative provides direct cremation and direct burial for families in Ottawa, the National Capital Region, the Ottawa Valley and Lanark County. We are licensed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (licence TS1-0014812) and are part of the Cole family of businesses, affiliated with Cole Funeral Services, Pinecrest Cemetery, Pinecrest Crematorium and Highland Park Cemetery.
Need help now? Call 343-227-2393. We handle transfers after hours.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Prices reflect our 2026 price list, effective May 1, 2026.
Cremation Costs and Pricing
How much does cremation cost in Ottawa?
Direct cremation with Modest Cremation Alternative costs $2,287.05 including HST. This is the full price of a standard direct cremation under our 2026 price list, not a starting price.
The price includes:
- Professional services and coordination of arrangements
- Completion and filing of legal documentation, including the Statement of Death, burial permit and cremation application
- Transfer of the deceased from the place of death (within 50 km)
- Preparation (bathing and dressing, without embalming) and sheltering in our care
- A cremation container
- The coroner’s certificate to cremate, which Ontario requires before any cremation
- The municipal death registration fee and the BAO consumer protection fee
- Cremation at Pinecrest Crematorium
- 10 or more Proof of Death Certificates
Urns are selected separately. When comparing providers, ask each one for the total price including HST and third-party fees, not the advertised starting price.
Is cremation less expensive than burial?
Yes. Direct cremation is generally the least expensive option because it does not involve embalming, a visitation, a burial casket, cemetery property, or grave opening and closing. For comparison, our direct burial costs $3,027.65 including HST, plus cemetery fees paid directly to the cemetery. A traditional funeral with visitation and burial typically costs considerably more than either.
Memorial services, urns, interment of the urn, and keepsakes add to the total if you choose them.
Are there hidden fees with cremation?
No. Our direct cremation price covers everything needed for a standard cremation. Additional charges apply only to optional services or to circumstances outside a standard arrangement, and we explain them before you commit:
- Urns: a temporary urn is $60; permanent and keepsake urns are priced individually
- Transfers beyond 50 km: $3.00 per km (one way)
- In-person arrangement meeting: $575 (arranging remotely is included in the price)
- Private identification, up to 10 family members for 30 minutes: $675
- Aftercare estate services (Canada Pension paperwork and notification letters): $375
- Pacemaker removal: $90
- Urn delivery within 35 km: $85
HST applies where applicable. The crematorium may charge more for individuals over 250 lb or for family witnessing. Ontario regulations allow providers to charge a $350 deposit for cremated remains that go unclaimed; we do not charge this deposit.
What is included in direct cremation?
Our direct cremation includes everything required for a standard cremation in Ontario: transfer into our care, preparation and sheltering, all documentation and permits, the coroner’s certificate, a cremation container, the cremation itself, and the return of the cremated remains to the authorized person. Urns are not included in the base price and are selected separately. The full itemized list is shown under How much does cremation cost in Ottawa? above.
Can cremation arrangements be prepaid?
Yes. You can plan your cremation arrangements in advance and prepay them. Prepaid funds are held in trust, and the price of our services is locked in. Third-party fees, such as the coroner’s certificate and crematorium fee, may change. Pre-planning documents your wishes and spares your family from making decisions under pressure.
Ontario has consumer-protection rules for prepaid bereavement arrangements. Before signing any prepaid agreement, make sure you understand how the funds are held, the cancellation and refund terms, what is guaranteed, and what happens if your circumstances change. See cremation pre-planning.
Call us at 343-227-2393, day or night. We handle transfers after hours and will guide you through every step.
When a Death Has Just Occurred
What should I do if someone passes away at home?
If the death was expected, follow the instructions of the person’s physician, nurse practitioner, hospice or home-care team. If the death was unexpected, call 911.
Expected death: If the person was receiving palliative or end-of-life care at home, the death must be pronounced before the deceased can be transferred. The care team will guide you.
Unexpected death: Emergency services, police, and possibly the coroner may need to be involved. Do not move the deceased unless emergency personnel instruct you to.
Once the death has been pronounced and the deceased has been released, call us at 343-227-2393, including after hours.
Who do I call first after a death?
It depends on where and how the death occurred:
- Hospital or care facility: speak with the staff. They will explain the process and when to contact your chosen provider.
- Expected death at home: follow the instructions of the medical or palliative-care team.
- Unexpected death: call 911.
Once the deceased can be released, call your chosen cremation or funeral provider.
What happens if someone dies in a hospital?
Hospital staff arrange the medical documentation and notify the designated family contact, who then chooses a licensed provider. Once authorization is in place, the hospital and provider coordinate the transfer into care. You do not need to make every decision at the hospital; the first step is simply choosing a provider.
Can my loved one be transferred directly into your care?
Yes. Once the deceased has been pronounced and released, we transfer them directly into our care, including after hours. Transfers within 50 km are included in our price; longer distances are charged at $3.00 per km (one way).
How quickly can arrangements begin?
Immediately. We can start helping your family as soon as you call, day or night. The timing of the transfer and cremation then depends on when the death is pronounced and released, whether the coroner is involved, when the authorized person can sign, and when permits are processed. We will give you a realistic timeline for your situation.
The Cremation Process
What is direct cremation?
Direct cremation is cremation without a funeral service or visitation beforehand. The provider transfers the deceased into care, completes the documentation and permits, carries out the cremation, and returns the cremated remains to the family.
Choosing direct cremation does not rule out a memorial, celebration of life, religious service or private gathering afterward. It simply keeps the immediate arrangements straightforward.
How does cremation work in Ontario?
In Ontario, a death must be registered and a coroner’s certificate to cremate must be issued before any cremation can take place. The person legally entitled to make the arrangements must also authorize the cremation.
The deceased is then placed in a cremation container and cremated. The remaining bone fragments are processed into cremated remains (ashes), placed in an urn, and released to the authorized person.
How long does cremation take?
In most cases, the cremation is completed within 1 to 2 days. If your family needs the cremation sooner, call 343-227-2393 to speak with a funeral director about rush service.
Timing can be longer when:
- The coroner is involved
- Medical documentation is delayed
- The authorized person is not immediately available to sign
- Weekends or statutory holidays affect registration or crematorium scheduling
Can cremation arrangements be made online?
Yes. You can make arrangements remotely by phone or online, and remote arrangement is included in our price. We will tell you which forms can be signed electronically and whether any identification or verification is required. In-person arrangement meetings are available for an additional fee.
What happens after the cremation is completed?
The cremated remains are placed in the urn you have selected and released to the person authorized to receive them. Families can then:
- Keep the urn at home
- Bury the urn in a cemetery
- Place the urn in a columbarium niche
- Scatter the remains where permitted
- Divide the remains among keepsake urns
There is no deadline to decide.
Legal and Documentation Questions
Who can authorize cremation in Ontario?
The person legally entitled to control the disposition of the deceased authorizes the cremation. This is usually the estate trustee (executor) named in the will. If there is no will or trustee, authority generally passes to the closest next of kin.
We will help you confirm who needs to sign. If there is a dispute or uncertainty about who has authority, you may need advice from an Ontario lawyer.
How many death certificates should I order?
Our arrangement includes 10 or more Proof of Death Certificates, which many banks, insurers and employers accept. Some organizations require an official Ontario death certificate instead, which is ordered separately from ServiceOntario after the death is registered.
Before ordering official certificates, ask each bank, insurer, pension administrator, investment provider and government agency what it accepts and whether originals are returned.
Is embalming required before cremation?
No. Embalming is not required for cremation in Ontario and is not part of our direct cremation. Our preparation includes bathing and dressing the deceased without embalming.
What paperwork is required for cremation?
Cremation in Ontario requires medical certification of the death, a Statement of Death, registration of the death, a burial permit, a coroner’s certificate to cremate, and a signed cremation authorization from the legally entitled person. We complete and file this paperwork for you; it is included in our price.
How is a death registered in Ontario?
A physician, nurse practitioner or coroner completes the medical certificate of death. A family member or other informant provides the personal information for the Statement of Death. The licensed provider submits the documents to the municipal clerk, who registers the death and issues the burial permit. When you work with us, you do not need to manage registration yourself.
Memorials, Urns and Cremated Remains
Can we hold a celebration of life after cremation?
Yes. With direct cremation, you can hold a celebration of life whenever and wherever suits your family: days, weeks or months later, at a place of worship, community hall, restaurant, family home, outdoors, or any meaningful location. The urn can be present, but it does not have to be.
What happens to jewelry and personal belongings?
Tell us which belongings you want removed and returned before the cremation. Anything left with the deceased may be damaged or destroyed and cannot be recovered. Some medical devices, such as pacemakers, must be removed for safety. We review personal belongings with the authorized family member before the cremation.
Can family members witness the cremation?
Witnessing is not part of a standard direct cremation, and the crematorium may charge an additional fee for it. If witnessing matters to your family for personal, cultural or religious reasons, tell us before arrangements are finalized so we can review what is possible.
What urn options are available?
Urns are not included in the base price of direct cremation. A temporary urn is available for $60, and we also offer wood, metal, biodegradable, scattering and keepsake urns. See our urn selection.
The right urn depends on whether the remains will be kept at home, buried, placed in a niche, scattered, or shared among family members.
Can ashes be scattered in Ontario?
Yes, in many places, but the rules depend on the location. Always confirm with the property owner or responsible authority before scattering. Permission or specific rules may apply on:
- Private property
- Municipal property
- Cemetery property
- Conservation lands
- Provincial and national parks
- Crown land and waterways
Service Area and Burial
What areas do you serve?
We serve Ottawa, the National Capital Region, the Ottawa Valley and Lanark County from our location at 2037 McGee Side Road in Carp. Transfers within 50 km are included in our price; longer distances are charged at $3.00 per km (one way).
Do you offer direct burial?
Yes. Our direct burial costs $3,027.65 including HST. It includes professional services, documentation, transfer, preparation, sheltering, an Eden 100 eco casket made of solid Ontario poplar, and transfer to the cemetery. Cemetery fees, such as opening and closing the grave, are paid directly to the cemetery.
Still Have Questions? Compassionate Support, Just a Call Away
Every family and situation is different. Call us at 343-227-2393, email info@modestcremationalternative.ca, or contact us online. We will explain your options clearly and without pressure.
This page is general information, not legal, medical, tax, estate or financial advice. Requirements and options vary by situation. Consult the appropriate licensed professional, government department or lawyer for advice specific to you. Modest Cremation Alternative Inc., 2037 McGee Side Road, Carp, ON K0A 1L0. Licensed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, licence TS1-0014812. Manager: Scott Miller.