We are here to help you - day or night, every step of the way.
If the death was unexpected, call 911 immediately.
If the deceased was not under the care of a nursing agency or physician, the police will have to be notified right away.
When the Death Occurs at Home (expected death)
In many cases, arrangements are already in place with the deceased’s primary care physician and a nursing agency to allow the person to pass away at home. If this is the case, contact the nursing agency first. They will notify the physician and are familiar with the proper procedures to follow.
When a Death occurs at a Hospital, Long-Term Care Home, or Hospice
The staff at a care facility such as a hospital, hospice, nursing home, or long-term care facility will notify the doctor and the family immediately after a death has occurred. Once the family has been notified, please have the executor or next of kin contact us at 519-494-5340.
If your loved one passes away at any hospital in Southwestern Ontario (including LHSC University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, or Parkwood Institute), or at home, in a long-term care or retirement residence, or another place of care, please reach out to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. is a Transfer Service Operator Class 1 – Licence TS1-0014680. We specialize in Direct Cremation Services, Direct Burial, and Pre-Arrangement Services.
If you require embalming or wish to have a full traditional funeral service, please reach out to a funeral home. Our license does not offer these services. For more information on funeral provider licences see link: https://thebao.ca/for-professionals/funeral-transfer-service-professionals/licensing/
Transferring the deceased
Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. will transfer your loved one into our care. Once permission has been given, we will arrange to bring your loved one into our care. The transfer is provided by trusted, experienced professionals, with dignity and respect.
Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. is the first Transfer Service Operator Class 1 in Ontario granted permission by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) to operate an arrangement office from a home-office model, in full compliance with all BAO regulatory requirements.
Our arrangement office is located at 23 Salvia Court, London, Ontario N5Z 4T3, in the Pond Mills area of London, Ontario.
When your loved one is transferred from the place of death into our care, they are brought to our secured facility (also known as our holding room), located at 317 Adelaide Street, London, Ontario N5Z 3L3, a commercial building at the corner of Commissioners Road and Adelaide Street. This facility has been approved by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) to hold your loved one until the time of the direct cremation or direct burial takes place.
Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. only makes arrangements from 23 Salvia Court and not from the Adelaide Street location. Both our arrangement office and our secured facility are close to LHSC Victoria Hospital and Parkwood Institute.
Our Arrangement Office
After years of working in funeral home settings ourselves, we wanted Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc.’s arrangement office to be everything a family would want when meeting with a funeral director.
Our office offers a professional, private, home-like setting that is modern, comfortable, easy to access, and does not require extensive walking to enter the building. Over the years, after listening to families, we recognized that many people did not want a traditional funeral home setting. Therefore, we wanted to provide the public with an additional option and choice. This is what differentiates us from other funeral providers—our arrangement office operates using a home-office model. We listened carefully to family feedback over the last 13 years, and developed a safe, private and comfortable space to make arrangements.
The next step is to schedule an appointment. We offer the following options:
Office Visit:
23 Salvia Court, London, Ontario N5Z 4T3
(Conveniently located near LHSC Victoria Hospital and Parkwood Institute)
Home Visit:
If you prefer, we can meet with you in the comfort of your home.
Phone / Email / Docusign:
Arrangements can also be completed entirely over the phone, by email, or using Docusign.
As the funeral industry continues to evolve, making arrangements remotely has become more common. For this reason, we have developed an online arrangement form available on our website. https://thamesvalleycremation.ca/arrange-online.html
Who has the legal authority to make death care decisions?
Generally, the person(s) appointed as the Estate Trustee(s) has the legal authority to make such decisions. Ontario has statutes and common law to determine who may act as the legal representative(s) when a person passes away without a valid will. The ultimate decision maker will be specific to the circumstances of each case but will generally default to a court-appointed Estate Administrator or the deceased’s next of kin. Here is a partial list of who may act as the legal representative:
• Estate trustee, also called an executor or executrix, who is named in the will (or an administrator appointed by the court);
• If no will:
• Spouse;
• Adult children, 18 or older; and,
• Parents of the deceased.
• Siblings
1) Statement of Death (Form 15)
To register a death, Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. will submit two documents to London City Hall.
The first document is a Statement of Death (Form 15): a family member and a funeral director will complete this form together. It includes personal information about the deceased (e.g., family history, date of birth, place of birth, date of death, occupation, social insurance number, etc.). The second document that is registered at City Hall is a Medical Certificate of Death (Form 16), which is provided by the doctor who pronounces the death. This information is forwarded to the Office of the Registrar General in Thunder Bay, Ontario. City Hall will provide Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. with a Burial Permit (Form 19)
A Burial Permit is required before any cremation or burial can take place.
2) Cremation Application (If applicable)
If cremation is requested the executor or next of kin must sign a cremation application. This document means the executor/next of kin provides the legal authorization for cremation. If the deceased had a prepaid contract, this confirms that the transfer, disbursements, cremation were paid in advance; however, it does not authorize the cremation.
3) Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. – At-Need Contract
This document confirms that the executor or next of kin grants Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. (the Funeral Provider) to act on their behalf in arranging the direct cremation or direct burial and completing all required documentation.
By law, the executor or next of kin must sign the required documents after the death has occurred. These documents cannot be signed in advance.
That said, Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. can gather information ahead of time to prepare the paperwork prior to the at need meeting either in person or by phone/email/Docusign.
Permits, Certificates, and Transportation.
Once all required paperwork is signed and complete, Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. will obtain the necessary Burial Permit (Form 19) and, when applicable, the Coroner’s Cremation Certificate.
We will then coordinate transportation to either the crematorium or the cemetery, depending on the family’s choice.
Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. acts as an agent for a variety of crematoriums. We proudly partner with a local crematorium in London, Ontario and prefer to support local services whenever possible.
Following the cremation, we will pick up the cremated remains and return them to the executor or next of kin. There is no additional charge for the delivery of cremated remains within the cities of London, Ontario St. Thomas, Woodstock, Dorchester, Ilderton, Komoka, Lucan, Mt. Brydges, Port Stanley, Salford, Stratford, Strathroy, Tavistock, Thamesford, and Tillsonburg. More information if your city is included for a free delivery please reach out to our office.
For more information on direct burial services. Please reference our pricelist.
Who issues the proof of death certificates?
Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. issues proof of death certificates to the executor or next of kin.
We provide 15 copies. If more copies are required, they are available at no cost and they are unlimited.
Safeguarding Proof of Death Certificates
Proof of Death Certificates are safeguarded by Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc.
We will only release proof of death certificates to:
The executor (when a will exists) or, the next of kin (when no will exists and they were responsible for the arrangements).
If the executor or next of kin later passes away, proof of death certificates will only be released to their executor or their next of kin, upon receipt of proper documentation. There is no limit on this policy. If a request is made 15 to 20 years late, the same safeguards remain in effect.
Discretionary Benefits Cases
If Discretionary Benefits are paying for the direct cremation or direct burial, we release the proof of death certificates directly to Discretionary Benefits in accordance with their requirements. For more information, please feel free to contact us.
Thames Valley Cremation Services Inc. does not charge extra for Aftercare Support. This service is included in our direct cremation and direct burial packages.
As part of aftercare, we will:
Notify Service Canada to Cancel CPP and OAS Benefit to help prevent overpayments.
Complete the CPP Death Benefits Application, including the CPP Survivor’s Pension, when applicable.
It’s included in our direct cremation and direct burial packages.
We will complete the CPP Death Benefit Application, which will include the CPP Survivor’s Pension.
Provide the executor or next of kin with Aftercare Checklist to assist with next steps.
Becoming a funeral director requires more than compassion. It requires education, supervision, and accountability. In Ontario, funeral directors must complete recognized college education, gain hands-on experience under supervision, and successfully pass licensing examinations. The process is designed to ensure that those entering the profession understand not only the practical responsibilities, but also the legal and ethical standards that protect families. Training includes learning how to explain options clearly, complete required documentation accurately, coordinate arrangements, and provide care that meets both professional and regulatory expectations. It also requires emotional maturity, discretion, and the ability to remain steady in difficult moments. For those who choose this path, funeral service is more than a career; it is a calling grounded in care, trust, and service to families. To be an Transfer Services Operator Class 1 - A Funeral Director – Class 1 must manage the day-to-day operations of this service.
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23 Salvia Court
London, ON, N5Z 4T3
519-274-0523 (cell)
519-494-5340 (office)
Available 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
Roberta MacNeil
Funeral Director License - 301985
Transfer Service Operator Class 1 – License # TS1-0014680
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