SPECIAL SERVICES
Special Services:
Why Ceremony is Important
All over the world, people celebrate through ceremony – births, graduations, weddings, accomplishments, new beginnings or somber farewells. Ceremonies include elements of beauty, music, poetry, choreography and symbolism, purposefully and skillfully integrated into the gathering. These moments are emotional and often imprinted into the memory and psyche of those individuals present. The positive effects of ceremony are universal across civilizations and are neither specific to race, age or gender. We believe in honouring and remembering every life. By creating healing and meaningful ceremonies that tell the unique story of each person we serve, helping you, your family and the community move through this difficult transition in the best way possible.
The Right Location
We have a beautiful chapel and additional flexible rooms for viewings, funeral services, memorial services and receptions. Sometimes the preferred facility may be the home Church of the deceased, a favourite park, watering hole, hotel or family back yard. Each location comes with advantages and sometimes functional disadvantages. In each case, we will assist in ensuring that all details for the service are cared for, including music, seating, audiovisual equipment, and any other necessary equipment. We will help work out the logistical challenges of any site. We understand event planning for funerals, memorial services, and receptions and know what to consider. Our licensed funeral directors will offer you important guidance respecting your priorities and preferences.
Making It Personal
Personalization isn’t just about honouring your loved one’s individuality. It also allows family and friends to feel connected to the services and the life being honoured. A memorable and meaningful service can be an important part of the healing process for those who are coping with a loss. We work closely with you and actively look for ways to personalize and tailor your ceremony to your family and community’s needs. We want to pay tribute to their unique journey.
Favourite Items
It might be the “Best Dad” Trophy or an Olympic Medal, but we all have those personal items that represent our life’s journey. We encourage our families to bring special items to display. We have had Harley Davidsons in our chapel as well as mom’s hand sewn quilt’s, military uniforms, sports jerseys, family albums, tea cups, cookie recipes and other precious memorabilia. We are prepared to assist with displaying your priceless keepsakes to enhance the experience of everyone who attends.
Music Accompaniments
We believe that music is a very important part of honoring your loved one’s life. While recorded music has become increasingly popular, we know that live music is still a preference for many. We have a network of professional musicians we can access. Whether it’s an organist for a service, a soloist for a special song or a piper for a graveside service, we are able to arrange for any request.
Life Tribute Videos
We will create a one-of-a-kind video tribute to your loved one by combining family photographs, significant memories and symbolic elements with music of your choice. This will help visually share your loved one’s special journey during the service and provide your family with a meaningful keepsake after the ceremony is over.
Personalized Printing
From the register book and memorial folders to prayer cards and thank-you notes, our state of the art stationery is available in endless themes to honour your loved one’s hobbies, style, and unique life path. Families often share an order of service, a family tree, photographs, poem or scripture verse. Let us help you explore the options and choose the perfect design to create treasured keepsakes for you and your guests.
Tribute Wall
Memorial sites not only allow you to share stories, photos, and videos of your loved one; they also allow you to connect with family and friends. When visiting the Tribute Wall, guests can leave text comments to share condolences, offer words of support or leave a meaningful symbol when words just aren’t enough. Guests can also view the obituary and service information, and order gifts and flowers directly through the site. This page serves as a permanent virtual tribute to your loved one, and a place you can return whenever you’d like to revisit memories and reconnect with messages of support and love.
Flower and Gift Shop
Flowers are an important element in ceremonies. For those who want to include flowers in their service, they will find no better flowers in Calgary than at Pierson’s Flower Gallery. Having has access to the best quality, most fresh, greatest variety of flowers available. Our talented designers will create tributes that are gorgeous and affordable. Pierson’s Flower Gallery: (403) 248-2400.
Receptions
Michael Pierson regularly states: “The most important part of any funeral is the reception”. The reception usually indicates that the hardest part of the grief work is complete. It is also the first social event following a funeral where the deceased is not present and represents a new, often difficult reality. Often people have traveled from out of town or family and friends have gathered after years of separation. This gathering allows for an opportunity to visit while enjoying something to eat. While many Churches might have reception facilities and groups to take care of this important part of the service, not everyone has this good fortune. We have partnered with a local family-owned and operated deli (Illichmann’s Sausage Shop) and have become experts in hosting receptions. We provide the serving tables, linens, beverages, plates, napkins, and a host or hostess to facilitate the reception. We also allow families to use their own organization or caterer.
Pet Services
Pet Heaven Crematorium and Funeral Services became an important new partnership at Pierson’s in 2015. Our pet services provide touching and affordable ways to help you pay tribute to the joy your pet brought into your life. We offer individual or communal cremation services, witness cremation, assistance with the veterinarian at home including transfers, memorial options, grief counseling and more.
If you have experienced the loss of a pet, call Pet Heaven Crematorium – 24 hours:
Pre-Planned Funerals
A funeral should be a reflection of a person’s life, a final tribute that will leave surviving friends and loved ones with memories they can treasure for years to come. What better way to make certain that your own funeral is just that than to plan it in advance for your family?
Our funeral home’s professional staff counsels people just like you every day, explaining all of the options and choices that have to be made. They can help you make those tough decisions wisely and help spare your family unnecessary anxiety, inconvenience and expense.
There are monthly, semi-annual or yearly payment plans available to suit any budget. You will be pleased to note that a pre-paid funeral will lock in the cost against future inflation.
Call: 403-235-3602
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