staffWriterA few years ago, I went through a near-death experience that made me contemplate my own mortality. I know this sounds dramatic, but really, all it did was convince me to start making pre-funeral arrangements.
The way I saw it, you never really know when it’s your time to go. And back then, I assumed that making plans wouldn’t be too complicated.
It turns out there’s actually a lot of stuff involved, and the first place I went to had such a stressful process that I almost gave up. But then I thought of all the people who had to go through this while grieving and realized the importance of finding a good service.
So I combed Toronto to find the funeral services you can depend on.
How much do funeral services cost in Toronto?
In Toronto, funeral services usually cost around $1,000 to upwards of $10,000. Cremations are usually cheaper, while traditional services that include burials tend to fetch at least $5,000.
1. Giffen-Mack and Trull Funeral Home
Address: 2570 Danforth Ave
Phone: +1 416 698 3121
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
Even though Giffen-Mack and Trull Funeral Home has been around since the 1920s, they’re still one of the most progressive parlors in Toronto today.
They allow clients to personalize funerals, regardless of what religion they’re part of. So whether you want an intimate scattering or a joyous celebration of the deceased’s life, they’ll make it happen for you.
Their facilities are flexible and spacious, which is great for those who wish to accommodate large groups of people. And we think it’s nice that they’re pet-friendly, too.
What really sets them apart, though, is their staff. There have been so many stories about how attentive and hands-on they are during the whole process.
It’s only with paperwork that they can be a bit unorganized. Considering that the circumstances are already stressful, confusion caused by the team is the last thing a grieving family needs.
Everything was handled with care
“We had a Visitation/Funeral for my papa yesterday everything was handled with care the settling was beautiful Lama our funeral director did a fabulous job arranging everything I appreciate everything she did to help my mom and I through all the paperwork and was very patient especially with my mom as she can be a handful at times thank you for helping us in our time of grief and helping us with everything that was needed for my papa to be laid to rest peacefully. Regards Zissis Family.”
– Toula Zissis, Google Review
They were professional and provided a service based on dignity and respect
“From my first call made to Giffen-Mack and Trull to my last contact with staff, the customer service was top notch! They were very professional, efficient, respectful, responsive and provided a service based in dignity, care and respect. Paul and Sarah Ashley assisted the family during a difficult time to navigate the entire process with comfort and ease. Sarah Ashley was very helpful and highly responsive to all my queries. I had the most contact with Paul and he was exceptional! The team were great with putting the family at ease and did it with such empathy, respect and compassion.”
– Carol Gregg, Google Review
2. Ridley Funeral Home
Address: 3080 Lake Shore Blvd W
Phone: +1 416 259 3705
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
Ridley Funeral Home offers almost every funeral service under the sun. Besides traditional memorials and rites, you can also go to them for green burials, celebration of life ceremonies, and even pet cremations.
They go above and beyond by offering overseas burials as well. Their staff will work with agencies to ensure that your loved one can be laid to rest where they feel at home.
However, their amenities in Toronto might make you consider having the rites here instead. With a cozy farmhouse design and a sun-filled chapel, it’s easy to feel at peace during your stay.
We think their funeral care experts also play a huge part in creating this atmosphere. Everyone agrees that it’s nice of them to be there whenever clients need support, whether that’s with logistics or just someone to talk to.
Just remember to double-check the obituaries they post online — they’ve gotten names and visitation times wrong in the past.
The staff was efficient and helpful without being overbearing
“I can not say enough about the wonderful care we received from the team at Ridley Funeral Home. Tyrell and the team were so kind, compassionate, and helpful as my family navigated the incredibly difficult loss of my mother. From the first time we met with Tyrell, he provided invaluable guidance and support, while remaining both incredibly professional and empathetic. During the visitation, the staff was efficient and helpful without being overbearing. The Ridley team truly made the experience as straightforward as possible, and provided such comfort to us in a remarkably difficult time.”
– Daniela Elizabeth, Google Review
My family and I are forever grateful for their services
“My family and I are forever grateful for the services provided by Ridley Funeral Home for our beloved Mykhailo.The staff at Ridley Funeral Home are exceptionally gifted in empathically reaching out to families who have suffered a profound loss of a loved one. The on-site advice and support of funeral director and staff were exceptionally supportive. They responses to our requests which in an amazingly professionally manner that was relentlessly respectful, compassionate and caring. At our most painfully challenging time , the staff comforted us at all times. Thank you to all members of the Ridley Funeral Home team.”
– Svitlana Yanchynska, Google Review
3. Delmoro Funeral Home
Address: 61 Beverly Hills Dr
Phone: +1 416 249 4499
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
We believe Delmoro Funeral Home is the perfect choice for those who want something nontraditional. Although they offer basic funerals, they also hold some of the most creative celebration of life services in the city.
With them, you can host a casual wine and cheese gathering or a fun hockey-themed memorial for the most passionate fan. They’ll even help you make customized pucks as souvenirs for your guests.
But all of this doesn’t mean that they don’t take their work seriously. It’s just that their team is great at understanding what their clients need and adapting accordingly.
Their aftercare appointment is particularly helpful as well. This is when they’ll help you finalize paperwork, collect keepsakes, and provide suggestions on the next steps for your family.
A word of advice, though: avoid their flower supplier at all costs. Several clients have complained about how they only looked good for a day and then wilted shortly after.
The staff demonstrated professionalism, expertise, sensitivity, and empathy
“Thank you Delmoro for your compassion and guidance during a very difficult time. Mom’s passing was unexpected and your staff, particularly Louisa, Ava and Maureen demonstrated professionalism, expertise, sensitivity, and empathy to the family. Delmoro and staff fulfilled many particular details requested and made all of our wishes for mom and her send off happen. We are grateful and appreciate all of your efforts. Grazie mille!”
– Crocetta Lombardi, Google Review
Their thoughtful touches made a lasting impression
“Nothing could have prepared me for my mother’s passing on to glory; however, the staff at Delmoro proved to be empathetic and compassionate, guiding my sisters and me in hosting a beautiful, serene, spiritual funeral service. Their thoughtful touches, like the white rose petals leading from the funeral home to the hearse and the white gloves for the men of our family as they carried the casket, made a lasting impression. We are forever grateful for their exceptional hospitality and support during such a profoundly sad moment.”
– Norma Trivino, Google Review
4. Lotus Funeral and Cremation Centre Inc.
Address: 121 City View Dr
Phone: +1 647 547 8188
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
Lotus Funeral and Cremation Centre is one of the best when it comes to conducting cultural rites. Over the years, they’ve held plenty of diverse ceremonies in their facilities.
We believe this is mainly because of their funeral directors, who always go the extra mile. They show so much respect and attention to detail, while still being an empathetic presence for the families.
Naturally, they prioritize clients who are actively grieving more than those who visit the parlor for inquiries. But ultimately, this still looks a bit unprofessional, especially when they show up late for funeral arrangement appointments.
They do, however, make up for it by being extra organized and informative. These experts are always ready to discuss details and answer any of your questions.
And if they feel that you need it, they’ll provide helpful resources for grief counseling or legal advice that you can count on.
They showed empathy and compassion to my family and me
“Lotus funeral home took care of my father’s service once he passed. Highly recommend they show empathy and compassion to me and my family. We worked with Richard Nguyen, who was familiar with the cultural nuances associated with the Vietnamese culture and ensured everything about my dad’s service was done correctly and with care following his faith and his cultural values. Would recommend Richard as he took care me everything from A-Z.”
– Tony Vu, Google Review
The process was handled with the utmost care and dignity
“We had the privilege of working with Richard Nguyen during an incredibly difficult time for my family, and I can’t express enough gratitude for the compassion and professional service we received. From the very beginning, Richard was understanding, patient and attentive to our needs. He guided us through every step of the process with sensitivity, offering helpful advice while respecting our wishes. The process was handled with the utmost care and dignity. His support gave us peace of mind during such a challenging time, and we are deeply grateful for his outstanding service. We would highly recommend Richard and Lotus Funeral Home to anyone who is looking for compassionate services.”
– Ai-lien Mai, Google Review
5. Jerrett Funeral Homes – St. Clair Chapel
Address: 1141 St Clair Ave W
Phone: +1 416 654 7744
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
Over the span of more than 80 years, Jerrett Funeral Homes has evolved to accommodate Toronto’s diverse community as best as it can. Today, their multilingual team can provide services in English, Italian, Vietnamese, and Portuguese.
This makes it easier for them to create meaningful memorials. After getting to know your family, they typically provide suggestions that make these funerals all the more special, according to your beliefs.
We’d also like to mention that their catering services are top-notch. Just let them know what you’d like, be it some cultural snacks or a full-blown lunch buffet, and they’ll take it from there.
The only time you might encounter some stress is if you decide to use their hearse service. In the past, clients who didn’t prepare parking spots in advance had funeral rites interrupted when people complained about where the drivers left the vehicles.
They handled the situation with such respect and dignity
“It was very nice while dealing with such tragedy in my life, Jarrett Funeral Home and Tracy the director in particular handled the situation with such respect and dignity. They were caring and kept me posted throughout. I also had a couple requests of the norm and they were fulfilled for me. I definitely would recommend Tracy and the Jerrett funeral home in St Clair in Toronto to anyone needing a proper goodbye for a loved one”
– Tracy Mckay, Google Reviewc
Their support made a very hard time just a little bit easier
“We are so grateful to Jerrett Funeral Home for their compassionate and professional service during such a difficult time for our family. From the moment we reached out, the staff was supportive, respectful, and incredibly attentive to every detail. They helped guide us through the entire process with care and kindness, making sure our loved one was honored in the most meaningful way. Their support made a very hard time just a little bit easier, and we truly appreciate everything they did for us.”
– Rita Battista, Google Review
