COMPASSION • WORKMANSHIP • GUARANTEED QUALITY ELGIN Monuments Although conversations about final wishes can be un- comfortable, Shawn believes they are invaluable. He says, “I’ve never heard someone say, ‘I wish Mom or Dad hadn’t planned ahead’. What I hear most often is, ‘I wish my parents had done this.’ Having those decisions made eases the burden and ensures that a person’s wishes are honoured.” Religious and cultural traditions also strongly influence the decision. “Ceremonies usually follow familiar customs, whether burial or cremation is preferred,” Shawn notes. “That familiarity provides a sense of comfort in a difficult time.” When asked if cost can be a contributing factor, he responded, “It’s a loaded question. It’s like asking a contractor how much it costs to build a deck. Generally, cremation is less expensive than burial. But a simple burial may cost less than a celebration of life. It all depends on what the family wants.” Both burial and cremation come with flexible service options. With burial, families may choose a visitation and service, a graveside ceremony, or something simpler. Cremation provides the same choices, with the added option of delaying the event to a more convenient time. Sometimes, families struggle to agree. Legally, the estate trustee or executor named in a will has the final say. If there is no will, Ontario’s Bereavement Authority sets out a decision-making hierarchy starting with the spouse, then adult children, then parents and other next of kin. “That’s why I always recommend preplanning and having a will,” Shawn emphasizes.
Pre-Planning: A Final Act of Care
Planning Ahead: How to Choose Between Burial and Cremation
When it comes to final arrangements, one of the most important choices families face is whether to select cremation or burial. Both offer meaningful ways to lay a loved one to rest, but the decision can involve practical, cultural, and personal considerations. Shawn Jackson owns and operates Shawn Jackson Funeral Home (SJFH) in St. Thomas, as well as Simplicity Cremation, a division of the SJFH, with Sheri Vindasius as managing director. Shawn notes that cremation and burial are the two main forms of final disposition. “You can choose a burial or interment of the body — embalmed or not — which is often referred to as a traditional burial,” he explains. “Or, you can choose cremation and then decide on burial, entombment, or scattering of the ashes. Most often, people have a clear preference. Our role is to provide information and options so families can decide how best to acknowledge an individual’s life before the final disposition takes place.” Shawn has observed a steady increase in cremation over the past decade. “The biggest factor is flexibility,” he says. “Cremation allows families more time to plan a service, more choice in how and where it’s held, and even when it will take place. It gives people more options for how they want to celebrate a life.”
Your Wishes. Your Legacy.
• Engrave on natural stones • Offer pet memorial stones • Restore older monuments • Order vases and urns 519.633.1591 www.elginmonuments.com Visit our show room at 220 Edward St., St. Thomas
St. Thomas’ Most Beautiful Cemetery Talk to us about our Lots • Columbarium • Markers and Laser Engraving
Pre-planning your final resting place is a thoughtful gift to your loved ones. It eases future stress, ensures your wishes are honoured, and provides peace of mind for generations.
Contact us today to learn more about affordable pre-planning options.
190 Wilson Ave., St. Thomas 519-631-5530 elmdalememorialpark@outlook.com
Park Elmdale Memorial Memorial
St. Thomas Cemetery 519-631-2038 stthomascemetery.com
Page 8 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • October 2025
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