I have read the item "Covid deaths and costs” (Events and Personalities, Parsiana, August 7-20, 2020) pertaining to the controversy over charges for after-death ceremonies at the Prayer Hall in Bombay. In Montreal, the Zoroastrian Association of Quebec (ZAQ) generally holds all funeral services at Rideau Memorial Gardens as they give us dependable service and are familiar with our requirements for the funerary rituals. The ZAQ owns some burial plots, all in one area, at Rideau, where the ashes of the dear departed are interred.
The average charge for the basic service varies between CAD 5,000-7,000 (Rs 2,83,700-3,97,250), which would include transporting the body to the funeral parlour and cremation at the attached crematorium. The prices depend upon the casket the family opts for. Many people also pre-pay for the funerals during their lifetime, which locks in the price.
DOLLY DASTOOR
Montreal, Canada
dollydastoor@sympatico.ca
...