A new first-of-its-kind funeral home co-op that is setting up shop in Carbonear area says the new structure will help put control of the funeral homes into the hands of the community.
Noel’s Funeral Home in Carbonear and Green’s funeral Home in Winterton were sold two years ago and are now forming the Sunrise Funeral Co-operative.
While it’s a first in Newfoundland and Labrador, co-operative funeral services have been available in other provinces for years.
General Manager Corey Jordan the co-op model allows people in the community to have a voice at the funeral home. They pay a one-time $20 membership fee and can then receive discounted service from the funeral home.
An information session was held in Carbonear this week, and Jordan says the concept has been well received.
He says being a co-op gives them buying power to purchase items, such as caskets and urns, at a lesser cost, and thus keepings rates down for people in the community.