For immediate assistance, please phone 306.352.7243
What to Do When Someone Dies
A step-by-step guide for Saskatchewan families: the first few hours, the first few days, and the weeks after. Please call us any time at 306.352.7243. A funeral director is on standby 24 hours a day.
In the First Few Hours​​
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If the death was expected at home – If your loved one was receiving palliative or home care, you don’t need to call 911. Call their home care nurse or doctor, then please call us. We’ll come to your home, day or night.
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If the death was sudden or unexpected – Call 911 first. Police and the coroner may need to attend before your loved one can be moved. When the coroner is involved, your loved one may be taken for an examination first, which can add a few days. We stay in touch with the coroner’s office and keep you updated along the way.
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In a hospital or care home – Staff will ask which funeral home your family has chosen. Let them know it’s Sage Funeral Home, and please call us. We work directly with the hospital or care home, and you don’t need to make any other decisions on the spot.
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The choice is yours – The choice of funeral home always belongs to the family, even if the hospital or police suggest someone else, and even if another funeral home has already been called. If your loved one is already in another funeral home’s care, we can arrange to bring them to Sage.
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If they died away from home – We arrange transfers from anywhere in Saskatchewan. If your loved one died in another province, we work with a funeral home there to bring them home.
Who Makes the Decisions
Saskatchewan law sets out who can make funeral arrangements and sign for cremation or burial. This person is the Authorized Decision Maker (ADM), under Section 91 of The Funeral and Cremation Services Act. The legal order is below, starting with the highest. If someone in a higher category is unavailable, unwilling or does not exist, authority passes to the next person on the list, and we’ll help you confirm who it is. The ADM will need government-issued photo ID to sign. A will is preferred: the executor named in it is first on the list and the first person we work with. Without a will there's no executor, and the decision passes to the next person. If there is a will, your funeral director may ask for a copy of its first and last pages.
(a) the executor named in the will of the deceased;
(b) the spouse of the deceased or a person with whom the deceased cohabited as a spouse in a relatonship of some permanence;
(c) an adult child of the deceased;
(d) a parent or legal custodian of the deceased;
(e) an adult brother or sister of the deceased;
(f) a grandparent of the deceased;
(g) an adult grandchild of the deceased;
(h) an adult uncle or aunt of the deceased;
(i) an adult nephew or niece of the deceased;
(j) an adult next of kin of the deceased determined on the basis provided by sections 11 and 12 of The Intestate Succession Act, 2019;
(k) another adult person having some relationship with the deceased not based on a family relationship.
For more information on Saskatchewan funeral service legislation & bylaws, please visit the Funeral and Cremation Services Council of Saskatchewan at: www.funeralinfo.ca
Making the Arrangements​​​
Pre-arranged plans – If your loved one planned ahead, let us know. Their wishes guide everything that follows. If the plan is with another funeral home, it can still be changed to Sage at the time of death. That decision is made by the executor.
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Meeting with us – Meet with us in person at 329 Dewdney Avenue, or start from home with Arrange Online. For Arrange Online, please call us first. Your funeral director gives you a private code, and you answer the questions at your own pace, in about 15 minutes. Payment is made with us in person.
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What to bring – Your loved one’s Social Insurance Number and Saskatchewan Health Card, the first and last page of the will, any pre-planning documents, and a few photographs. Clothing for your loved one is optional.
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Your private family page – Every family we serve receives their own private family page. It holds our guides, forms and downloads, your planning guide, and updates from your funeral director, including help with writing the obituary, all in one place and open only to your family.
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Cremation or burial – Our Essential Cremation is $2,395 plus GST, a complete price with no hidden fees. Packages with a viewing or service, and our burial options, are on our pricing pages. A service or celebration of life can be held before or after a cremation.
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Identification – Saskatchewan requires a positive visual identification before cremation, and we’ll set a time that works for you. In special circumstances, the identification can be done remotely. From start to finish, a cremation usually takes three to five days.
The Paperwork​​​​​
Your funeral director explains every form before anything is signed. Here’s what to expect.
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Registration of the death – We use the information you give us to register the death with Saskatchewan Vital Statistics.
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Funeral Director Attestation of Death – We give you 6 copies, plus a digitally sealed electronic copy that’s easy to send to banks, insurers and pension plans. Most families need one for each.
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Provincial Death Certificate – Some offices ask for the official government certificate instead. It’s ordered by your family directly from eHealth Saskatchewan, and we'll guide you through how.
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Notice of Death – We send it to Service Canada for you, which starts the process for CPP and Old Age Security.
The Weeks After​​​
Who to notify – Here’s the usual list. We’ll help with it.
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Service Canada, for CPP and Old Age Security (we send the Notice of Death for you)
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The Canada Revenue Agency
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Banks and credit card companies
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Employers and pension plans
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Insurance companies
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SGI, for a driver’s licence and vehicle registration
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The credit bureaus
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CPP death benefit – A one-time payment of up to $2,500 to the estate of someone who paid into the Canada Pension Plan long enough. We’ll help you apply.
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Veterans – The Last Post Fund helps with funeral and burial costs for eligible Canadian veterans. If your loved one served, please let us know.
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Families with limited means – You may qualify for help with basic funeral costs through the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services.
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Financing – Available through a Canadian lender, with quick approvals.
The Estate, and Caring for Yourself​​​​​
The estate – The executor named in the will usually looks after the estate, such as closing accounts and paying final bills. A lawyer can help, and your Attestation of Death copies will be needed along the way.
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Caring for yourself – Grief doesn’t follow a schedule. Our Care & Service Professionals directory lists grief support and other people in Regina we trust. And whenever you have a question, big or small, please call us.
Common Questions​​​​​
Do I call 911 when someone dies at home?
Only if the death was sudden or unexpected. If it was expected, call their home care nurse or doctor, then please call us at 306.352.7243.
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Who can make funeral arrangements in Saskatchewan?
The Authorized Decision Maker, under Section 91 of The Funeral and Cremation Services Act. We’ll help you confirm who that is.
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How many copies of the death document will we get?
6 copies of the Funeral Director Attestation of Death, plus a digitally sealed electronic copy.
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How do I get a death certificate in Saskatchewan?
Your family orders the official Provincial Death Certificate directly from eHealth Saskatchewan, and we'll guide you through how.
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Is there help with funeral costs?
Yes. The CPP death benefit pays up to $2,500 to eligible estates, the Last Post Fund helps veterans, and families with limited means may qualify for help through Social Services.
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Can we make the arrangements online?
Much of it. Please call us first, and your funeral director will give you a private code for Arrange Online. Payment is made in person.
Have Questions? We're here to help.
Reviews
What our families are saying about us...
Discover why our community trust us with their final wishes.
Taylor Garrett
Jan and Jennifer at Sage Funeral Home were tremendous to deal with, despite this being one of the most difficult times in my life, after losing my father. They were both extremely professional, caring, and a pleasure to deal with throughout the decision process. We decided to go ahead with the Alkaline Hydrolysis cremation, and the ladies at Sage Funeral Home were able to answer any and all questions that we had throughout. I highly recommend Sage Funeral Home. Excellent service from start to finish. Thanks Jan, Jennifer and your entire team! 5* across the board
Priscilla Theriault
Jan and Jen were the most kind, caring and most compassionate women during our time of need. They were extremely supportive during this difficult time. They were helpful and dealt with me and my immediate family in a very professional manner. Thank you to both these very professional people and we truly appreciated your kindness Jan and Jen! We certainly recommend Sage Funeral Home. Again a huge thanks!
Stacey M.
Jan was so supportive and there for me whenever I needed her. She goes above and beyond to make the process easy. When I lost my mom she didn't have any insurance or any pre made arrangements, when I started making calls to places Sage’s services were very reasonably priced ( half ) Of everyone else and Jan reached out right away. My future plans are to have my family go see Jan and her crew for all my arrangements. Thank you so much Jan for making this very easy for myself and my family.
Stephanie South
Finding the right funeral home to take care of your loved one can be a daunting task. At least it was for me. After calling several funeral homes in Regina, I knew that Sage Funeral Home was the right one for me immediately when I spoke to Jan. Jan is just the person, I needed at such a difficult time. She is knowledgeable, professional, and so personable. She went above and beyond to make sure that I was comfortable and that my mom was cared for and properly and laid to rest in the way that meant the most to our family. I never felt like I was being "sold" anything. Transparency and integrity were the standard upheld throughout the entire process, with every interaction i had. The price was more than fair, including the cremation and aftercare service. I am very grateful for Jan and Sage Funeral Home in what has been the most difficult time of my life. We decided to go ahead with the Alkaline Hydrolysis cremation, and the ladies at Sage Funeral Home were able to answer any and all questions that we had throughout. I highly recommend Sage Funeral Home. Excellent service from start to finish. Thanks Jan, Jennifer and your entire team! 5* across the board
Tracy Tran
Sage Funeral Home was a pleasure to deal with after my mother passed. They were cost efficient, caring and helpful with all my questions and concerns and responded to all my calls and emails very quickly. I would highly recommend their services for anyone looking to cremate a loved one.
Wendy Wayling
My family and I want to thank Jan Porten and Sage Funeral Home for their caring and thoughtful services during this difficult time. Jan made everything very easy for us while showing great compassion. She was very organized and empathetic. We wanted to have a simple and intimate service, but also one to celebrate our mom - Jan helped us with every step. Thank you Jan for your excellence and kindness.