1. Do funeral homes accept your boxes?

Most provinces have basic requirements (ie. the box must be structurally sound and not leak). If the requirements are met the funeral home must accept a handmade box and cannot charge a handling fee.

2. Are your boxes cheap?

From a construction perspective the materials we use are superior to entry level caskets marketed by the funeral homes. We avoid costly mark-ups and multiple middlemen and pass the savings onto the consumer. This makes our boxes much more affordable.

3. I can't imagine that I have enough time to order the box and put it together?

We encourage pre-purchasing as much as possible especially if you live in central or eastern Canada. Ground transportation can take 3-6 days. (air transportation is possible but may double the cost of the box)

If you are reading this and feel overwhelmed by the long list of to do's, I would encourage you to read the section on participatory grief and delgate the assembly and finishing of the box.

4. Are your boxes lined?

We are proud of our products and choose to highlight the solid wood construction both inside and out. Many families choose a special blanket to wrap their loved one. While we can include a duvet and pillow, from a shipping perspective it may make more sense to purchase the materials locally.

5. Do I need to utilize the services of a funeral provider?

No. See heading of home funerals in the resources section for more detailed information or contact us.

6.  What about vaults and grave liners?

Many cemetaries require a box for your box, which is intended for the convenience of the grounds keeper and does nothing to protect the body of the deceased. At Simple Pine Boxes we believe that this additional container is not necessary and we would encourage you to see if you have a local  cemetary that allows green burials or see if there is a rural cemetary where the requirement of a grave liner is not necessary.

7. I don't need a box because I am choosing cremation?

All bodies require a container to transport the deceased. (many funeral homes sell a reinforced cardboard box for this purpose)