The Kearney name has been synonymous with a deep-seated legacy of care, rooted in the tradition of providing professional services to help lighten the burden of saying goodbye to your loved one. Family is at the heart of everything they do: four generations of family meeting the needs of your family with compassion, dignity and respect—built on the pillar of trust for 114 years—instilled by founder and patriarch, Thomas J. Kearney.
"The level of professionalism and personal care we provide is very hard to replicate," believes Ryan Crean, great grandson and CEO of Kearney Funeral Services. "We're highly experienced and well trained, and take the time to understand the actual needs of the family, which is incredibly important to us. From the first call, to the arrangements and the follow-up after the service, our ability to guide people is paramount."
Kearney's empathetic and knowledgeable staff provide customized services and personalized assistance to create a meaningful experience that honours the life and memory of your loved one, with services from simple to elaborate.
Whether you choose a traditional funeral, conventional or green burial, cremation, memorial service, celebration of life, or you require funeral rites and religious rituals for your culture, you will be supported through every step. Additionally, you may choose from a range of items that allow for personal memorialization in preserving the memory of your loved one.
Depending on the circumstances, be it proximity, short notice, or other obstacle, it's not always feasible to gather together in person; however, the act of coming together and sharing in the same experience, at the same time, can be very comforting, which is possible through Kearney's streaming service.
"It's heartwarming to be able to include people who would otherwise not be able to attend the service," says Crean. "The technology is constantly progressing, in fact, one of the services we utilize allows families to post in real time to the board while the service is ongoing."
Crean advises those planning a cremation and memorial service not to wait. "Often when people put it off, it makes grieving more difficult and becomes easier to delay. It's such an integral part to begin the healthy healing process, not just for the families, but for the communities, too, who are also suffering the loss."
"You can't put grief off," he insists. "Grief is the emotional response to loss, and mourning is how you externalize it; it's something you experience regardless if you're delaying it or not."
Kearney's funeral directors have the expertise to assist you in making difficult decisions, whether based on personal preference, environmental considerations or religious reasons, and will guide you through the struggles of grieving and facilitate the healing process that follows.
Pre-planning your funeral service and burial ensures your family and friends know precisely your wishes, helping to mitigate a lot of emotional choices for your family.
"There are many benefits to pre-planning, such as the financial component; you'll pay a lot less today than in the future, so it's advantageous to lock in the price now," advises Crean.
"Pre-planning can also alleviate a lot of family conflict when you've made your views known following your death. We'll help you consider the details to plan a meaningful memorial true to you and the life you've created. However, you do need to allow your family some input; funerals are also for the living once you have died."
A Kearney funeral director, at any one of their four locations throughout Metro Vancouver, is prepared to support you during your greatest time of need—when you've experienced the loss of a loved one.
Kearney Funeral Services is featured in the 2023 Profiles of Excellence Magazine
