When Cooperative Funeral Home opened, it was one of the first of its kind in Canada. It is a member-driven, non-profit organization. Lifetime membership is just $25 per adult and fees support the funeral home’s operations. With this model, funeral directors are salaried so they can focus exclusively on the needs of the families they serve, and not on meeting quotas or presenting manufacturer’s products. The beautiful mansion-style facility is open and welcoming to all families in the area whether they desire a traditional ceremony, a cultural burial, a direct cremation, a religious service, or a celebration of life.
David Laplante, General Manager and Funeral Director, graduated from Collège Boréal’s Funeral Service Program in 1998 and transitioned into full-time employment with Cooperative Funeral Home. He had started training there in 1997 and nearly 25 years on, he’s pleased to lead a team that has passion and unwavering dedication to the families in the region.
“We prioritize compassion,” says Laplante. “Our services are for every family, any faith, and across all services. We are open, accessible, and inclusive.”
In 2017 Cooperative opened its own on-site crematorium, giving families yet another reason to rely on the care and compassion of the team. Families are comforted in knowing if they choose cremation, their loved one remains with Cooperative and is not transported to another site. The care and attention of each family’s love one is prioritized, as is support and grief guidance for the surviving members.
David reminds families that their location is here to serve, and they do so with humility. “Our focus,” he says, “is on family care. We are here if you want a direct cremation or simple burial without anything ornate, or if you want a ceremony that involves a limousine and large floral displays. The focus is on the family’s wishes. As a member organization we do not profit from the products and services we provide, allowing us to fully focus on your wishes.
Cooperative is invested in the funeral profession and continually seeks ways to help it meet the needs of today’s diverse families. To this end they are longstanding members of the Ontario Funeral Service Association (OFSA) and participants in the leadership and advocacy of the profession.
Death is a reality of life, and it is a reality that is fraught with grief, stress, and a lot of steps between the passing and the burial or cremation. During this time you deserve to be served with compassion, to be heard, to have your budget and wishes respected, to have cultural traditions honoured, and to not feel pressured. You deserve to know that your loved one is in the hands of caring professionals and will remain so until the deceased is laid to rest. Cooperative Funeral Home promises all families caring, compassionate service that will help you move through this time of need with grace, dignity, and respect.
Learn more at www.cooperativefuneralhome.ca.