What is The Funeral Advisory and Memorial Society?
The society is a compassionate consumer advocate helping members to pre-arrange simple inexpensive funerals.
It provides the information needed to plan your funeral before your family or friends are faced with making difficult decisions under emotional stress.
What are the benefits of joining?
The Society has written contracts with our participating funeral homes, many of whom give sizable discounts to members.
The peace of mind that comes with knowing your wishes have been recorded and filed.
What are the costs of joining?
$40 for a single membership,
$35 for any other family member, 18 and over who live at the same address
$15 for persons of limited means.
That's it! You pay one time only. If you relocate within Canada, you can ask to be transferred to another Memorial Society.
What materials do we send you?
1.A copy of the Member's Handbook with information about: simple funerals, burials, cremations, bequeathal to medical science, death benefits, prepayment and other helpful information.
2.Price List of Participating Funeral Homes and Transfer Services (updated annually).
3.Burial and Cremation Costs (updated annually).
4.One Funeral Pre-arrangement Form per adult member.
5.Instructions to help you complete the form(s).
6.One blue membership card per member to keep on your person (in case of accidental death). This card has space to fill in the name of your next of kin and your funeral provider.
What exactly does the society do?
The society contracts with selected funeral homes or transfer services to provide members with two types of funerals, summarized very briefly below:
Type A The funeral operator removes the body to their premises, obtains the legal papers, provides a plain container (three choices are available), and arranges for transportation to cemetery or crematorium. The family can then plan a funeral, or a memorial service without the body present.
Type B Adds to Type A the use of a reception room for visitation immediately prior to the service and provides a cloth covered casket.
These two plans are what most members want. Additions to these basic plans cost more than our listed prices and should be discussed with the funeral director.
How do you contact us?
By e-mail at info@fams.ca or call 416-241-6274. Our volunteers respond to e-mail and voice-mail messages at frequent intervals. You may leave detailed questions, giving a good time to call you back. FAMS' recorded message includes other phone numbers to call in emergencies.
What are our credentials?
We are incorporated under the Ontario Corporations Act. We are a democratic, non-sectarian organization, with a volunteer Board of Trustees, elected at an annual general meeting held each Spring. Anyone is welcome to attend.
As members of The Federation of Ontario Memorial Societies-Funeral Consumers' Alliance (FOOMS) we can influence legislation to reflect the consumers' wishes. FOOMS continues to meet with Ontario government officials and to make submissions representing consumer interests, including The Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002.
What is our refund policy?
If, after reading the package of materials, you decide to discontinue membership, we will refund your fees, provided all our materials are returned. This has rarely been requested since we were founded in 1957.
Still have unanswered questions?
E-mail us at info@fams.ca or call us at 416-241-6274.
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