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Over 100 years of dependable service to Southern Alberta

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Respectable Burial Services in Lethbridge

The longstanding tradition of burial remains the standard in North America today despite the rise of cremation as an alternative. Many families continue to choose burial, valuing its permanence and establishing a family gravesite. From early Egyptians to today, burial has been a preferred practice.

 

Contrary to common belief, cemetery options are more abundant than ever, offering ample choices. A traditional funeral often includes the presence of the deceased's body or casket, providing a tangible "presence" that adds reverence, dignity, and respect to the service and affirms the reality of the loved one's passing.

 

Martin Brothers Funeral Services offers dignified burial services and assistance in Lethbridge. Our experienced funeral professionals are here to discuss the options that suit your needs and preferences. Come visit us to see our catalogue and the available burial caskets.

Burial Service Options

A complete traditional burial service typically includes:

 

  • Use of funeral home and facilities

  • Clergy, organist, and soloist honorariums

  • Professional, personal, and other services

  • Obituary notices (estimated)

  • Transportation services

  • Complete reception (estimated)

  • Burial vault or concrete grave liner

  • Powerpoint presentation and family DVD

  • Family visitation or prayers

  • All cemetery opening and closing fees

  • Customized stationery

  • Monument inscription

  • Floral casket spray and 2 matching arrangements

  • Complete aftercare program

  • Use of funeral coach, lead car, and limousines

Sheet music on a church organ
Headstones in a cemetery with Sunlit Background

Packages

These include:

 

  • Transfer into our private care and restore personal belongings to family

  • "Commitment Rose" service, gentle sanitation and care, which may include embalming

  • Elegant and private arrangements

  • Professional administration and legal compliance

  • Dedicated service professionals

  • Facilities fee for all services

  • Casket and vault as selected

  • Regulatory, association, and continuing education fees

  • Concierge and premium automotive provision, including formal sedan, funeral coach, and limousine services

  • Evening visitation and or prayer service at the venue of your choice

  • Traditional funeral or memorial service held at the venue of your choice

  • Premium customized stationery package

  • Casket spray with two matching floral arrangements

  • Obituary notices (local)

  • Cemetery fees (credit towards)

  • Monument inscription (credit towards)

  • Honorariums for clergy/soloists/accompanists/technicians/church and other

  • Personalization of service, including a slide show, A/V equipment, DVD production, enlarged photos

  • Complete reception for 100 people, including all foods, beverages, linens, services

Learn about Green Burial: Is It for You? What Is It?

Funerals are increasingly personalized to reflect the individual they commemorate, yet many avoid discussing their preferences. According to the Green Burial Society of Canada:

 

"Green Burial is a declaration of personal values for those aiming to minimize their environmental impact. It offers a spiritually fulfilling alternative to conventional burial or cremation, returning the body to the earth to decompose naturally and nourish new life." - Green Burial Society of Canada (Green Burial Canada)

 

Whether you opt for traditional burial, cremation, or green burial, understanding your options is crucial. Explore the facts below and choose what aligns with your values and wishes.

Young plant tree in nature
Close Up of Pink Roses

The Five Principles of Green Burial

As defined by the Green Burial Society of Canada, green burial involves:

 

  • No embalming: Embracing nature's recycling process without embalming, using environmentally sensitive soaps for preparation.

  • Direct earth burial: Interment of un-embalmed remains in a biodegradable shroud or container.

  • Ecological restoration and conservation: Planting native ground-cover post-burial to restore and conserve the environment.

  • Communal memorialization: Utilizing natural materials for communal memorials instead of individual markers.

  • Optimized land use: Minimizing infrastructure to maximize interment capacity and environmental preservation.

Aftercare

After your loved one's services conclude, we meet with families to offer guidance on Aftercare. This includes completing and filing Canada Pension Death Benefit and Old Age Security paperwork, notifying relevant organizations, and providing a step-by-step guide to managing your loved one's affairs. For more details, visit the Public Pensions website. 

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Have Questions?

Read our FAQs on burial services:

  • Why Have a Funeral?
    A funeral celebrates a life lived and confirms the reality of loss. It allows family and friends to acknowledge their relationship with the deceased. Planning a personalized ceremony helps start healing and allows for communal support.
  • What Does a Funeral Director Do?
    A funeral director supports families emotionally and handles all the funeral service logistics. They arrange transportation, complete necessary documentation, coordinate with service providers, prepare the deceased, and assist with legal and administrative tasks.
  • What Do I Do When a Death Occurs?
    Contact Martin Brothers Funeral Services at 403-328-2361. Prepare details such as vital statistics, obituary preferences, and arrangement disposition choices.
  • Why Have a Viewing?
    A viewing provides closure and a real acknowledgment of the death, offering comfort to mourners by allowing them to say goodbye and express emotions in the presence of the deceased.
  • What Is the Purpose of Embalming, and Does the Law Require It?
    Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, allowing time between death and disposition. It's not always legally required but may be necessary depending on circumstances and funeral home policies.
  • How Else Can We Celebrate a Loved One's Life Besides a Traditional Funeral?
    Beyond traditional services, celebrations can include receptions, tributes, favourite music, and gatherings at meaningful locations to honour the deceased in personalized ways.
  • What Happens When Someone Dies at Home? Do the Police Have to Be Involved?
    Contact Martin Brothers Funeral Services for immediate assistance if a death is expected. Call emergency services (911), which may involve the medical examiner in case of unexpected deaths. Notify Martin Brothers Funeral Services to begin assistance.
  • Can Families Act as Pallbearers?
    Yes, family and friends can serve as pallbearers if they are physically able and willing to assist in carrying the casket to its final resting place.
  • What Is the Average Cost of a Funeral?
    Costs vary but generally include service fees, merchandise, and disbursements, averaging around $10,000. Options like cremation can offer more economical choices.
  • What Happens If a Person Dies Away from Home?
    Martin Brothers Funeral Services can arrange transportation and care for your loved one by ground or air, ensuring they're brought back home respectfully.
  • What Can Be Done with Cremated Remains?
    Options include columbarium niches, scattering in approved locations, or memorializing through keepsake urns or jewelry, offering personal and meaningful ways to honour the deceased.
  • I Don't Want to Have a Funeral - How Will This Affect My Family and Friends?
    A funeral provides closure and support for grieving loved ones, allowing them to gather, express emotions, and find comfort in remembering and celebrating the life of the deceased.
  • Who Is Immediately in Charge of My Funeral?
    The personal representative designated in the will or, if none exists, family members in a specific order of responsibility, starting with the spouse or interdependent partner.
  • Should I Prepare a Will?
    Yes, a will ensures your wishes are legally followed and helps avoid uncertainty for your family regarding estate distribution and funeral preferences.
  • What Does Probate Mean?
    Probate is the legal process where an executor manages and distributes the deceased's estate according to their will, ensuring debts and taxes are settled before beneficiaries receive assets.
  • Can a Funeral Procession Go Through Red Lights?
    Other drivers should respect funeral processions to maintain continuity. If a procession proceeds through a red light, other vehicles should yield to avoid disrupting the flow.
  • I Don't Belong to a Church, so Where Do I Have My Funeral?
    Martin Brothers Funeral Services offers facilities and connections with clergy to accommodate diverse preferences, including chapels, outdoor settings, or community venues, reflecting the deceased's and their family's personality.
  • Do I Have to Have a Funeral?
    While not mandatory, a funeral is a meaningful way to honour and remember a loved one's life, offering closure and a chance for family and friends to gather and support each other in grief.
  • How to Write an Obituary?
    Writing an obituary can be challenging, yet it is a crucial way to inform the community of a loved one's passing. An obituary typically consists of five sections: the announcement, biographical details, survivors, scheduled ceremonies, and suggested contributions. Start with the announcement, briefly stating who the person was, their date and cause of death. Provide a brief biography detailing the person's birthplace, residence, notable achievements, hobbies, and education. List surviving family members, beginning with immediate family (spouse, children, parents, siblings) followed by secondary relatives (aunts, uncles, grandchildren, close cousins). Use formal names like Mary (John) or John (Anna), and include nicknames in quotes like "Bud." Mention deceased relatives with the phrase "the late" preceding their names. Include details of upcoming ceremonies such as Funeral, Memorial Service, or Graveside, specifying dates and locations. Lastly, suggest where donations can be made in memory of the deceased. Check a template: https://s3.amazonaws.com/CFSV2/fileuploads/8286/ObitTemplate.pdf
  • How to Write an Eulogy?
    A eulogy is a heartfelt speech at a memorial service to honour the deceased. You don't need to be a professional writer or speaker to deliver a meaningful eulogy. Focus on the tone—serious or lighthearted—appropriate to the occasion. Humour can be used thoughtfully to reflect the person's personality. Consider your audience—family and loved ones of the deceased. Highlight positive aspects, but be honest and respectful. Use specific stories to illustrate qualities rather than listing them. Organize your eulogy logically with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Practice by rehearsing aloud and gathering feedback. Revise as needed to refine your words. Stay calm, and remember, your audience is supportive. Speak in a conversational tone, making eye contact and connecting with listeners. Check a template: https://s3.amazonaws.com/CFSV2/fileuploads/8286/EulogyTemplate.pdf
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