One With God in Faith

ST. BONIFACE - GOODSOIL,  FUNERAL CHECKLIST FOR FAMILIES      

REVISED-March, 2022                                             

This checklist is meant to help you plan your loved one’s funeral. Remember, the parish community is here to help as much as possible during this difficult time.

1. Have you decided on a regular full body burial, or burial of cremated remains?  While cremation is allowed, Catholics prefer casket funerals as a more visible sign of our faith in the Resurrection of the dead.

2. For a Catholic Funeral, please make an appointment with Fr. Dong Doan (306-218-7227), or Deacon Al Hinger (306-819-0077). For a non-Catholic Funeral, please make your own arrangements and proceed to number (7) of this checklist.

3. When meeting with the priest or deacon, it is good to have possible dates and times in mind for the Vigil Prayer Service (Wake) and the Funeral Service, but also to be flexible. 

4. You may wish to select the Bible readings, readers, Mass servers, or decide who will read the Intention prayers or take up the gifts. Do you want the CWL to collect offerings for Masses to be offered for the deceased? Is there a short eulogy, less than 7 minutes (1000 words)?

5. The music ministry contacts are Charlene Schamber (306-238-2172) and Melanie Hankey (306-238-4583).  Perhaps you have musicians in your family and want to have them play for the service(s).  When you contact the music ministers, be prepared to suggest Church music that you want sung at the service(s).

6. There is a church use fee of $150 to offset costs of power, electricity, and cleaning.

7. After your visit with the priest or deacon and dates and times have been decided, and if you plan to have lunch after the service, you should book the hall. To book the hall for lunch, call Jeannette Martin (306-238-2112).  The family is responsible for setting up tables and chairs (and taking them down).  If you would like the CWL to prepare the lunch, call Lucille Martin (306-238-4734). The CWL does not charge for this service, but there is a charge for the food cost of $5.00 per plate.  Other donations to the CWL are greatly appreciated. Alternatively, you may make your own arrangements. 

8. A cemetery committee member must be contacted for the location of the grave.  Rudy Weber (306-238-4603) is the cemetery committee chair and contact person. There is a fee of $500 for each interment right (cremains or casket burial), unless the interment right has already been prepaid. The cost of digging the grave is between the family and the contractor.

9. Before going to the Funeral Home, decide how much you wish to spend. Have all necessary documents with you, and know the dates and times of services. You may wish to prepare a write-up of the deceased that can be put on the funeral card and obituary.  The funeral home often inserts the obituary into the local newspaper; they will need pertinent facts.  Consider whether you want an open casket before the funeral. If only cremated remains are to be buried, will you consider having the body at the funeral service and then cremated after?

10. Church Use/Cemetery Fees: Church and Cemetery fees may be mailed to St. Boniface Parish, Box 10, Goodsoil, SK  S0M 1A0.  The Cemetery Policy can be found on the St. Boniface web-site, https://www.stbonifacegoodsoil.com, or contact the cemetery secretary, Laura Kennedy (306-381-4097) or lauramaekennedy@gmail.com.