An Edmonton-based crematorium is expanding its services to Red Deer.
Simply Cremations & Funeral Services is preparing to open an office at 4664 Riverside Dr. From there, it will arrange for cremations at its Edmonton premises and provide other services and products, said Leslie Duncan, who owns the business with Doug Overend.
Overend also operates Simply Cremations & Funeral Services offices in Calgary and Sidney, B.C. Duncan said a third Alberta location between Calgary and Edmonton made good sense.
“We were doing a lot of business in the Red Deer area anyway,” she said.
“We were thinking about it for a couple of years.”
In addition to cremation services, the Red Deer office will offer traditional burials and memorials, as well as related items like urns and memorial folders, said Duncan.
It will also have a private visitation room where small groups like family members can gather.
She said Simply Cremations provides a lower-cost alternative to those who aren’t interested in a comprehensive funeral.
“A lot of people aren’t really going the full-service route anymore. They have their own church, they have their own family — so a lot of times they just want us to do the cremation.”
This is particularly true in the case of younger people, she added.
Duncan and Overend, who both reside in Edmonton, will oversee the Red Deer operation with help from local staff.
“At least one of us will be there every day,” said Duncan.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com