A funeral is the final worship service in a person’s life. Funerals are an important part of the pastoral care of the congregation and the wider community.
Westdale United Church is grateful to be able to provide sanctuary space and worship leadership for families wanting to plan a funeral or memorial service for a loved one.
We will do our best to accommodate the needs of the family and to provide a service that will help in celebrating and remember their loved one’s life.
Our minister is the religious representative of the congregation and should always be involved in the funeral in some manner. When the church office is contacted about a funeral request, the request will be forwarded to the minister.
One of the most difficult times for many people is when a loved one or a friend dies. It often leaves us with many conflicting emotions- grief, sadness, relief, loneliness, fear, shock; and it can be a time when people either find that their beliefs are strengthened or they are called into question. All of these emotions and contemplations are a natural part of the grieving process and something that not only affects those close to the recently deceased person, but the whole community as well.
In times of grieving, it is important for family and community members to come together to remember the person’s life while honouring the paths that they walked on while here on Earth.
A well-planned funeral or memorial service can be one of the first steps on the healing journey for all those involved. Our minister is able to provide you with a number of resources that can be used within a service and that can serve as a starting point for you to think about what a personalised tribute could look like.
Please accept our sincerest condolences from the Westdale United Church family.
Fees
There is no fee for the minister, though an honorarium is customary. However, there are costs associated with other staff. To cover administrative and custodial time before, during and after the funeral, we charge a flat fee of $150.
Having a funeral service in the sanctuary does not include musicians or the use of the instruments (organ, piano). Please let the minister know if the Music Director is required to accompany hymns or provide instrumental music. The fee for Music Director is $125 minimum.
Having a funeral service in the sanctuary does not include the audiovisual or sound equipment, use of large display screens or access to our YouTube channel to iivestream or record the service. Please let the minister know if any of this equipment is needed. Technicians will be provided for a fee of $50/hour/person.
Any music or hymns printed in a bulletin or on the screens must have appropriate copyright permissions. Please let the minister know what pieces of music are desired and our music director will confirm if the pieces are covered by our copyright license or help to obtain correct permissions.
Reception
We have reception space available as well as two kitchens. Please let the minister know if there are plans for a reception and which rooms on our lower level are needed.
Westdale United Church does not provide catering services. Please arrange for your own caterers. You are responsible for setup/cleanup of hall and kitchen.
If play space is required for children during the reception, please ensure that a caregiver is provided in the room used for children. Please ensure that all rooms are left in the state they were found in before the reception.