James MartinWhen I think back to the last time there was a death in my family, it all looks like a blur. Apart from being sad, I mainly remember how confusing it was — the paperwork, guests, and arrangements.
I genuinely think the whole thing would’ve felt almost impossible without the help of our funeral director. There were so many times when we leaned on her for support, and she generously became our rock.
It was because of her that I realized how important it is to find a reliable funeral service. And ever since then, I’ve kept a list of good ones across Halifax in case anyone else needs the same kindness we were provided.
How much do funeral services cost in Halifax?
In Halifax, funeral services typically cost around $1,000 to upwards of $10,000. Straightforward cremations are normally the cheapest option, while full traditional burials that include memorials will fetch at least $7,000.
How We Chose the Best Funeral Services in Halifax
1. Atlantic Funeral Home
Address: 771 Main St, Dartmouth
Phone: +1 902 462 1434
Business Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
Atlantic Funeral Home offers some of the most memorable and meaningful memorials out there today. All of their arrangements begin with a funeral director asking about your loved one’s interests and passions when they were alive.
Once you’ve made decisions as to whether you prefer a funeral or a cremation, they offer services that’ll honor the person’s legacy. For example, they can help you create stationery inspired by their style or intricate keepsakes with engraved fingerprints.
We think it’s also quite nice that they offer a livestreaming option for guests who can’t be there in person.
Throughout all of this planning, you can expect the staff to be warm and caring without being overbearing. They’ll be there to help you decide, but won’t pressure you into getting anything you don’t want.
However, this place might not be the best fit for you if you’re looking for something affordable. If you compare prices, they’re more expensive than other parlors.
A very positive experience during a difficult time
“My experience with Atlantic Funeral Home was a very positive experience during a very difficult time. All the staff were warm, kind and very caring. Nothing was left undone. Everything was explained to me clearly and allowed me the time to make decisions without putting any pressure. I would recommend to anyone needing their final arrangements taken care of with AFH.”
Suzanne Boudreau, Google Review
Planning was emotional, but the whole team made it feel manageable
“I honestly don’t even know where to begin with how grateful we are for Atlantic Funeral Homes in Dartmouth. From the first moment we met with Deryck, we knew we were in good hands. He was so kind, calm, and respectful and really just made us feel taken care of during one of the hardest times in our lives. Planning my dad’s celebration of life was emotional, but Deryck and the whole team made it feel manageable. They handled everything so gently and thoughtfully, and nothing ever felt rushed. You could tell they really cared.”
Sarah Hipson, Google Review
2. J. Albert Walker Funeral Home
Address: 149 Herring Cove Rd
Phone: +1 902 477 5601
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Sunday – Closed
J. Albert Walker Funeral Home is for those who want a no-frills funeral service that’s still solemn and beautiful. They’ve been around for 50 years and have assisted thousands of locals through grief.
Their experts know just how hard it is to plan right after someone passes away, so they’ve made their process as fast and as seamless as possible. You can trust that they’ll be meticulous based on the details you provide.
From what we’ve heard, it seems that clients’ experiences can vary greatly depending on who they’re interacting with. It’s a bit disappointing to know that certain staff members can be inconsiderate, according to some people.
However, others say that they could not have done it without the help of some employees. There have even been a ton of instances where the directors went above and beyond their duty to provide comfort for a family.
They went above and beyond
“I cannot say enough about how great the staff were thru our difficult time. Erin went above and beyond to make sure we felt at home and comfortable. They assisted with all aspects of the funeral before, during and after. Not only did we feel the absolute love and compassion, we were comforted listening to so many others share their stories of how this team went above and beyond for them. You obviously hope you are never in a situation to have to refer a funeral home but if any of us ever were, we would whole heartedly recommend this team that treated us like family.”
Chad Raymond, Google Review
They took care of my father like he was family
“The staff at Walker Funeral home couldn’t be more perfect. From the moment my father passed to the day we walked out the door with his ashes. They were everything I wanted and what my father would have wanted. They took care of him like he was family. He was born and raised in the area so it was only right that we hired them for this rough process. It takes a certain person to do what they do and they do it with pride.“
Matt Deyung, Google Review
3. Dartmouth Memorial Gardens
Address: Main St, Dartmouth
Phone: +1 902 462 3455
Business Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
It’s hard not to feel at peace at Dartmouth Memorial Gardens. The grounds have such beautiful features and a tranquil atmosphere that everyone who visits says they can imagine spending an eternity there.
This is a big reason why people choose this place as their final resting place — in a burial plot, a niche, or in a mausoleum. Their experts can help you further personalize these with their selection of gardens and markers to choose from.
If your family already has plans for the ashes, you could also ask them for assistance with scattering and creating a keepsake according to your preference.
And after all of that is set, we appreciate that everything else will be handled by their responsive and efficient staff members.
The only complaint we’ve seen is that they could be a bit more organized with the wake and provide better coordination for grieving families.
They were incredibly helpful and supportive
“I cannot express enough how wonderful the staff at Dartmouth Memorial Gardens is. They were incredibly helpful and supportive during a difficult time for my family. Their compassion and professionalism made a significant difference as we made arrangements for my mom’s burial in November. Thank you for your exceptional care.”
Derrick Bagogloo, Google Review
They made the process easy
“I have to say i have had to arrange many funerals but this was a experience ill never forget. Brooke was kind helpfull did everything for us all we had to do was sign papers. She looked after all the notifications to stop health card sin and more. She did in 1 hr what it took me in the past half a day. It made the process easy so we could focus on why we were there saying goodbye. Thank you for everything brooke. We wont forget what you did for us.”
Gina Clairmont, Google Review
4. JA Snow Funeral Home
Address: 339 Lacewood Dr
Phone: +1 902 455 0531
Business Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
JA Snow Funeral Homes is one of the most trusted names in the funeral business. They’ve been doing this for over 135 years and are well-versed in a wide array of services.
With their help, you can create a fully customized memorial. Whether your family prefers something cultural or something more modern, you can opt for offerings like catering, live music, and a well-edited tribute video.
And we were especially impressed that you can actually arrange most of these by phone or by email. That way, you don’t have to keep scheduling an appointment at the funeral home.
In line with this, their employees are often praised for being accommodating and proactive. However, it should still be noted that there have been a few instances where they did make clients feel a bit rushed during the actual funeral.
They were there for my family every step of the way
“My experience with the staff at JA Snow Funeral home was excellent They were patient, professional and very helpful. I don thing they could have done anymore than they did.They were there for myself and my family every step of the way and to say I appreciated it would be an understatement. At such a hard tine in my life they were there to make everything better for me. Thank you do much to Gregory, Lorraine, Robert and Helen. You made a not so easy time into an easier time.”
Velda Waye, Google Review
I felt confident that things would go well, and they did
“Our experience with JA Snow’s has been excellent. We dealt with Snows 2 years ago for our mother’s sudden passing, and again this year for our father’s. Both situations were handled beautifully, with all details taken care of in a respectful and professional manner. This year’s funeral was the first I had to organize on my own, and Snows made that extremely smooth for me. Connor was in control of everything going on that day, always there when I had questions or needed her, yet very subtle in the background. I felt confident that things would go well, and they did.”
Leigh Noftle, Google Review
5. Harbourside Crematorium
Address: 2632 King St
Phone: +1 902 233 7331
Business Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
We highly recommend Harbourside Crematorium for those who need dignified, yet budget-friendly cremation services. Their most basic package already includes the death certificate, an obituary, and a simple urn.
But if you want something a bit more symbolic of your loved one, you can pay a bit more and choose from their selection of intricately designed boxes and colorful containers.
Part of what makes this funeral home stand out is that it has helpful resources on how to deal with grief. Family members can explore online interactive videos or be connected with a support group that can provide some comfort.
Just let them know, and the staff will do their best to accommodate you. Based on other clients, their team is full of compassionate individuals who clearly care.
Sadly, you’ll have to reserve all your questions and concerns for when you see them in person. They’re not really great at answering their customers’ calls or voicemails.
I can’t say enough about the service we received here
“I can’t say enough about the service we received here and particularly from Tim. He was kind, understanding and patient every step of the way. He explained the process, let us know what to expect and was able to carry out the process within our timeline. He’s been doing this for 40 years but hasn’t lost his sense of compassion for the grief he faces daily. Thank you Tim and Harbourside.”
Sara Hosseinian, Google Review
Everything was handled with care and efficiency
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Tim for his compassion and professionalism. He truly made this part of the process as smooth as possible, with his kindness and attention to detail. The staff has also been incredibly supportive, promptly making any necessary edits to the obituary. Everything was handled with care and efficiency, and we deeply appreciate their unwavering kindness and support during such a devastating time. We highly recommend Harbourside Crematorium for their exceptional service.”
Pamela Feltmate, Google Review
