Cremation services
Many families choose cremation for personal, spiritual, or practical reasons. We provide cremation care with the same respect, guidance, and opportunity for ceremony as any traditional funeral.
Our Story
Cremation with room for ceremony and remembrance
Choosing cremation does not limit your options for a meaningful service. You can still have a visitation, funeral, or celebration of life—before or after cremation—along with a reception or gathering. We’ll help you understand each step of the process, discuss timing and options, and create a plan that works for your family, traditions, and budget.
Options for services before or after cremation
Flexible timing for gatherings and receptions
Choice of urns, keepsakes, and memorialization
Clear explanation of costs and process
Ways families combine cremation and services
Service before cremation
A traditional funeral or celebration of life with your loved one present, followed by cremation.
Service after cremation
A memorial service or celebration of life with the urn present, at our chapel or another venue.
Simple cremation with family gathering
A private, simple cremation with a smaller family gathering at home or another meaningful place.
What's Included
Initial conversation
We take the time to understand your loved one’s wishes and your family’s needs, providing a compassionate, low-pressure approach to help you make informed decisions.
Cremation arrangements and permits
We coordinate the cremation process and necessary arrangements, ensuring your loved one is cared for with dignity and respect.
Guidance on urns and memorial products
We help you explore urn and memorial product options, offering guidance to find a meaningful choice that reflects your loved one and your family’s wishes.
Assistance with paperwork and notifications
Our team assists families with many areas of estate paperwork, helping make the administrative responsibilities following a death more manageable.
Three locations to serve you
McKinlay Funeral Home is pleased to offer services from locations in Chatham, Blenheim, and Ridgetown. Each location provides comfortable spaces, modern facilities, and the same level of thoughtful, personal care.
Chatham Funeral Home
Centrally located, with spacious visitation rooms and chapel space for services of every size.
Reception Centre On Site
Fully Accessible Facility
Blenheim Funeral Home
A welcoming setting in the heart of the community, designed for gatherings and services of all sizes.
Reception Centre On Site
Modern & Spacious Facilities
Ridgetown Funeral Home
A warm, traditional environment serving Ridgetown and the surrounding rural communities.
Conveniently located in the heart of Ridgetown
Picturesque Victorian Charm
Common questions about funerals & celebrations
Can we still have a visitation or service if we choose cremation?
Yes. Cremation is simply a form of disposition, similar to traditional burial. You can still have a visitation and/or a service with cremation to follow. You can also have the services after the cremation. The choice is yours to make.
Do we need to choose an urn right away?
No. An urn is an option, not a requirement. The crematorium does provide a temporary container for the cremated remains to be returned in and sometimes that is sufficient for what your family needs. Before selecting an urn, it is important to know what is going to happen with your cremated remains. If you plan to go into a niche, for instance, than the size of the urn will be very important. Talk to your Funeral Director before making any quick decisions about an urn.
What can we do with cremated remains after cremation?
Cremated remains can be buried in a cemetery, placed in a niche, kept at home, scattered on land or in water, or any combination of those options. Talk to your Funeral Director about how you can plan these options for your family.
Is cremation more affordable than burial?
Typically burial is more expensive than cremation. The price of graves, caskets and vaults are rarely less than the price of urns. However, burials do not have to break the bank either. Talk to your Funeral Director to get a personalized quote.
You may also want to consider...
Mobile Services
Create a meaningful service—traditional or contemporary—that brings family and friends together to remember, reflect, and share stories.
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Funeral Services
Thoughtful cremation options with the same level of care, guidance, and opportunity for ceremony as any traditional funeral.
Receptions & Gatherings
Warm, welcoming spaces for receptions, visitations, and informal gatherings where memories and stories can be shared.
Need help deciding?
Not sure which service is right for you? We’re here to help you sort through the options.
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