What does it mean to arrange a funeral yourself?
Arranging a funeral yourself does not mean “doing everything without help,” but rather taking charge of the human and symbolic aspects: the type of tribute, the flow of the gathering, testimonials, photos, music, and how you wish to celebrate the life of the departed. For example, you can hold an intimate ceremony at home, a celebration of life in a community hall, or a small group gathering around the urn.
However, certain elements must remain in the hands of a funeral services company: the care of the deceased, transportation, cremation or burial, and the official management of ashes or the body. In Quebec, these steps are regulated by law, and it is not possible to perform them yourself at home. This is where our team at Services funéraires Azur steps in, offering you simple and transparent cremation services throughout Quebec.
Specifically, “arranging a funeral yourself” therefore means:
- allowing a funeral home to handle what is mandatory (body, cremation, formal procedures);
- retaining the freedom to organize the tribute as you wish, at the time and place that suit you;
- personalizing the ceremony so that it truly reflects the life, values, and personality of the deceased;
- adapting everything to your budget, by avoiding services or products you do not need.
If a death has just occurred, it is normal not to know where to start. The
Key Steps for Arranging a Funeral Yourself
Even if each situation is unique, the process for arranging a funeral yourself can be summarized in a few key steps. The order may vary depending on the circumstances, but this guide provides you with a roadmap.
1. First, Manage Mandatory Procedures
Before considering the ceremony itself, it is essential to ensure that official procedures are underway. The website Québec.ca – What to do when someone dies provides a clear checklist for family members and the liquidator of the estate: declaration of death, obtaining the death certificate, notifying organizations, etc.
At Services funéraires Azur, we also assist you with these procedures, particularly through our page
Procedures After a Death, where we explain step-by-step whom to contact, in what order, and with which documents.
2. Choose the Type of Disposition: Simple Cremation or Other
If you wish to arrange a simple funeral yourself, cremation is often the most flexible option. It allows for:
- more freedom regarding the time and place of the tribute;
- limiting certain costs (cemetery plot, monument, expensive casket, etc.);
- organizing a ceremony later, when everyone can gather.
Our model focused on simple cremation allows you to entrust Services funéraires Azur with:
- the care of the deceased;
- transportation and cremation;
- home delivery of ashes when possible;
- assistance with necessary documents and receipts.
Meanwhile, you retain the freedom to then organize a celebration of life at home, in a community hall, or elsewhere. To better understand our options, please consult the page
Services or alternatively
Funeral Arrangements Without Initial Outlay.
3. Clarify the Budget and Possible Financial Aid
Arranging a funeral yourself does not mean you have to pay for everything out of pocket without assistance. Depending on the situation, there may be:
- the death benefit from the Québec Pension Plan (up to $2,500, under certain conditions);
- special assistance for funeral expenses via social assistance, for low-income individuals;
- private or group life insurance;
- in some cases, a death benefit from the Canada Pension Plan.
We have detailed these programs in the article
Financial Aid: $2,500 Available Upon Death in Quebec. Before deciding on the ceremony format, it can be very useful to check these sources to know your actual resources.
4. Choose the Venue and Format of the Ceremony
When you arrange a funeral yourself, you can create a format that reflects your family:
- intimate gathering at home with the urn, photos, and music;
- celebration of life in a community hall;
- more structured ritual in a place of worship or another significant location;
- outdoor moment (where permitted) with speeches and symbolic gestures.
A “celebration of life” often focuses on memories, anecdotes, and the person’s strengths, rather than solely on sadness. Several resources, such as the Fédération des coopératives funéraires du Québec, explain how to personalize this type of event.
5. Structure the Flow: Who Does What, When, and How?
For the day to go smoothly, even amidst emotion, it is helpful to prepare a small plan:
- who greets people upon their arrival;
- in what order people will speak;
- when photos, videos, and music will be presented;
- if a moment of silence or a particular ritual is planned;
- if you wish for a convivial moment afterwards (meal, coffee, etc.).
You can ask a trusted person to host or guide the gathering, so that you do not have to manage everything yourself on the day. This role can be taken on by a loved one, or sometimes by a secular celebrant whom you hire specifically for the ceremony.
6. Consider Emotional Support During and After
Arranging a funeral yourself is emotionally demanding. In addition to the logistics, you are experiencing your own grief. It can be very helpful to:
- surround yourself with a few key people for support;
- plan for a “resource person” who can manage unforeseen events on the day;
- take care of yourself in the weeks that follow.
If you wish to learn more about normal reactions after a death, we have a comprehensive article on
the different stages of grief, which can help you better understand what you are experiencing and normalize certain emotions.
Advantages and Limitations of Arranging a Funeral Yourself
Taking charge of organizing a ceremony can be very meaningful, but also demanding. Before you begin, it is advisable to weigh the advantages and limitations of organizing a funeral yourself.
Advantages
- Maximum Personalization: You control every detail, from the choice of venue to the selection of texts, including the music and the overall atmosphere.
- Respect for Values and Wishes: You can adhere very closely to what the deceased person would have wanted (simplicity, humor, spirituality, sobriety, etc.).
- Potential Savings: By opting for a simple cremation and managing the ceremony yourself, certain costs can be reduced.
- Family Involvement: For many, preparing the ceremony can become a way to begin experiencing grief together.
Limitations
- Emotional Burden: In addition to your sorrow, you must manage logistics, unforeseen circumstances, and family expectations.
- Time and Energy: Even a simple ceremony requires phone calls, reservations, and coordination.
- Legal Constraints: Certain tasks simply cannot be performed without a funeral services company (transportation of the body, cremation, official arrangements).
- Risk of Oversight: Without assistance, it is easy to overlook an important procedure (declaration, notification, financial aid, etc.).
The intention is not to discourage you, but to remind you that you can find a balance: taking charge of what matters most to you, while allowing yourself to be assisted with what is burdensome, technical, or highly regulated.
How Services Funéraires Azur Can Help You Arrange a Funeral Yourself
At Services funéraires Azur, we specialize in:
- simple cremation throughout Quebec;
- pre-arranged funeral services without initial disbursement;
- funeral arrangements payable at the time of death;
- assistance with post-death procedures and financial aid of $2,500 when applicable.
If you wish to organize a significant portion of the funeral yourself, we can:
- take care of the deceased and cremation, in compliance with regulations and your wishes;
- clearly explain mandatory procedures (declaration, certificates, etc.);
- provide you with the necessary documents for your financial aid applications;
- answer your questions about what you can arrange yourself, and what must go through us;
- advise you on how to reconcile simplicity, budget adherence, and dignity.
In Summary: Organizing a Funeral Yourself, but not Alone
Arranging a funeral yourself is not about doing everything without help; it is primarily about choosing what you want to keep in your hands (the meaning, the rituals, how you gather), and what you prefer to entrust to trusted professionals. A good balance allows you to respect your values, your budget, and your emotional limits.
If you are considering the best way to organize a simple funeral in Quebec, or if a death has just occurred and you are unsure where to begin, we can assist you one step at a time. Whether for a simple cremation, pre-arranged funeral services, or questions about procedures, our team is here to listen and guide you.
To discuss your situation, ask your questions, or simply validate your ideas, you can contact us at any time via the page Contact us. Together, we will find the simplest, clearest, and most humane way to honor the person you love.
In Conclusion: Arranging a Funeral Yourself, without Being Alone
Arranging a funeral yourself means wanting to maintain control over how you say goodbye, choosing a simple, humane, and truly faithful tribute to the deceased. It is also a way to respect your budget and involve the family in a process that can, in itself, be a beginning of healing. But you do not have to bear everything on your shoulders: certain steps must be entrusted to professionals and, above all, you have the right to be supported in what you are experiencing.
By entrusting an team like Services funéraires Azur with the care of the deceased, simple cremation, and the more technical procedures, you retain full freedom to arrange the ceremony, celebration of life, or family gathering in your own way. You decide the tone, location, rituals, and symbols; we ensure that everything is compliant, safe, and as simple as possible from a practical and administrative standpoint.
If you are considering the best way to arrange a simple funeral in Quebec, or if a death has just occurred and you do not know where to start, we can guide you one step at a time. Whether to understand the procedures, validate your ceremony ideas, or check for possible financial aid, our team is here to listen and guide you.
To discuss this simply, you can contact us via the page Contact us. Together, we will find the balance between what you wish to organize yourself and what you prefer to entrust to us, in order to create funerals that are both simple, dignified, and deeply meaningful.
