Reviews of Amherst Funeral and Cremation Services (Mortuary)

Elaine Delves

During one of the most difficult times of my life I was able to "hand over" to this company something that was very important to me. They handled everything with the utmost care and consideration. I would highly recommend this company to other family members and friends. Thank you so much Amherst for being there for myself and my family during this very difficult time.

Les Brown

Great service, quick and courtesy, answered all my questions and did not rush through anything. I really appreciated the help and service, made dealing with the passing of my father a bit easier.

Marca Bartlett

Very well priced, efficient, quick and kind people. Would highly recommend for cremation services.

karlrose k

Amherst is an excellent funeral home. We cannot recommend it enough. The director, Christian (who is a true gentleman), and staff went beyond the call of duty to support our family in organizing our mother's funeral. They are exceptionally professional, very respectful and understanding, and did everything in their power to accommodate our many needs, including dealing with the hospital so that we could hold the funeral with very short notice. The funeral they helped us organize was so dignified and beautiful. They were there with us from beginning right to the end--including putting up a lovely memorial page for our mother, which we can now share with family and friends. We are blessed to have found Amherst. Thank you, to Christian and Amherst, for your superior service and support.

Debbie Jamison

Very classy and expensive - its a dying business

Garry D

Scott was great, supportive and compassionate. Helped us through the entire process and provided all the information we needed and more. Was very accessible when needed to discuss details of the service. He is also very familiar with Asian culture and customs. Their costs are much more reasonable compared to others with no sacrificing of service or quality. In fact they are cheaper, more accessible when needed and more personal. When you contact their office, they are a little busier but still very responsive and good follow ups. Would recommend Amherst without hesitation.

Jan Prchal

Extremely professional. A great example of a hardworking, high-value company that undersells and over delivers. Unbeatable value for a cremation and, as a bonus, Amherst got everything done in half the time.

Rose Benak

Words alone cannot express the gratitude our family has for Amherst. The support and compassion we received through a very difficult time made the passing of our loved one less stressful. Scott went out of his way to drop off our Mom`s remains on a Saturday morning so she could attend her Celebration of Life later that day. Our family highly recommends Amherst, you and your departed love one will receive excellent care.

Sarah Frank

Thank you Amherst team. Scott you made this entire process easy and you were very helpful and kind throughout. The young man that delivered the ashes was also very professional and kind.

Ron Zapp

So glad we found your service on-line. Right from our initial conversation to the delivery of our memorial urn everything was done as presented with exceptional regard for a thoughtful and respectful relationship. Thank you to all of the staff at Amherst for attending to all the aspects of my mother remains in such a high quality and professional manner.

Kevin Tran

It was a great experience! The people I worked with were very professional yet also very kind and understanding regarding the situation. It wasn't hard keeping in contact with them, and their online form fill was very quick and easy. I ended up switching from one plan to another plan, and the process was as simple as filling out another form. They offer multiple ways of paying, and the whole process was very fast for the price (which was very affordable). I would definitely recommend Amherst.

Linda Koberstein

Professional, affordable, responsive to requests for information. Only disappointment was that they provided us with copies of the death certificate that were not signed. We had to go to a notary who made her own copies. The ones from Amherst were a waste of paper.

Seraphim Sound

I cannot say enough great and wonderful things about Amherst Funeral Services. They were kind, sympathetic, understanding and above all HONEST. Prices aside (which were more than affordable), Scott was so thorough and TRUSTWORTHY, and gave me and my family peace of mind. I will repeat: I cannot say enough great and wonderful things about Scott and Amherst Funeral Services. Please call first before all others.

Ian Mc Donald

Amherst was the most wonderful (and economical) place we could have chosen for my Dad's services & cremation. Scott, the owner was personally involved in every step of our journey and provided fantastic information and un-equalled support and service. Amherst is the most cost efficient and yet high-class establishment you could choose during a difficult time for any family. I would strongly and gladly recommend Amherst to anyone in need of funeral and/or cremation services, you just can't do any better.

Julia Gabriel

Losing a loved one is never an easy thing, but trying to coordinate everything from a different province is extra challenging. Amherst was wonderful at answering all of my questions and taking care of everything, and my brother, until I could pick up his remains. Their prices are affordable, and their staff is kind. Thank you Amherst for making a difficult process a little easier.

Teresa Chiang

Very great service, friendly and helpful employees.

Sofiya Kominko

You don't expect funeral arrangements to be a pleasant experience by virtue of what you and your family have to go through following the death of a loved one, but Scott and Chris at Amherst really made everything as simple as possible and in a way, pleasant. They are professional, punctual, courteous, and really know what they are doing. Both Scott and Chris also seem very genuine and are not trying to trick you and play on your emotions to get you to purchase additional items/services when I've heard stories of bigger funeral homes doing just that. Not only did Amherst help us organize a dignified end of life ceremony in Vancouver but they provided us with all the necessary documents and walked us through the steps of transporting the remains of my father to Ukraine where we had a proper burial. Amherst also gave us additional service cards, so we can share them with loved ones in Ukraine. I highly recommend Amherst's services -- they are run by great people who support you during a challenging time. You will not be disappointed!

Ian Corlett

Sadly we've dealt with Amherst twice in the last few years for simple cremation services for each of my parents. Amherst was extremely professional, caring and kind. There was a glitch in receiving my mother's ashes, but that was a postal delivery issue and not Amherst's fault. I highly recommend them for great value and solid service.

Joanne Lord

I choose Amherst for its easy ability, I could fill out the forms on line didn’t even need to make a visit to their location. They were also very helpful when on the phone with them.

Curt Odenbach

I have no complaints. It was handled professionally.

Susie Colby

All of the people with whom I interacted were kind and professional

Kris Bovay

Tiana was extremely helpful and communicated the steps that we needed to take, and the options, during a very stressful and emotional time. We appreciate the help - and Amherst delivered on the commitments made (for time and services). thank you.

Brigitta Vadasz

I was dealing with an incredibly stressful situation on top of losing a dad. Thank you so much for being kind, helpful, and understanding. Thank you to Christian, Scott, and Amanda.

Yvonne Cheng

NOTE: had to post this review from another email as I could only leave one review. I thought it was important to post both my experiences with Amherst as they were 6 years apart, but still the same great service! My mom passed away in July. But this time around it was less stressful because we already went through the stress 6 years ago when my dad passed away. And luckily at that time, I relentlessly searched and found Amherst, a better alternative than the funeral home we had visited! This time, we contacted Amherst the day my mom passed away and they transferred her from the hospice to the morgue for us. I was surprised that they had an automated system and other staff as 6 years ago it was mainly Christian and Scott with some help at the service from another gentleman. So nice to know they have expanded. Can only mean because they are doing well! Scott and Christian came over to meet us at my sister's house. We signed the contract. Contacted them once we booked the Church and didn't worry from there on. At the initial meeting they provided with a beautiful folder of information to help you navigate through it all. It’s a wealth of info that most of us wouldn’t know about...did you know you can apply for CPP survivor benefits? They provide you with everything you need to apply (well except the stamp to mail it off! Lol) Provided Christian with our funeral program computer file, probably only a few days before the service, yet they still managed to get them printed for us in time! I commented to Christian that i was surprised about the quick turn around and he mentioned that they have a great relationship with the mom and pop print shop that they deal with. I guess in their business everything is last minute as everything happens so quickly! Both Scott and Christian were at the service. Christian stood by the sign in table helping hand out programs, memorial cards, etc. Scott was with our family explaining things, etc. Everything went without a glitch. Day of the funeral was pouring rain, but after the funeral mass, it was a beautiful sunny day! My sister and I know that day, mom (and dad) was smiling from above as it was a beautiful celebration! Cost was approximately $4,800 for the funeral and a separate cremation in Vancouver with private viewing of the casket before cremation. Cost would have been considerably less without the viewing for those that don't need as the crematorium hall rental was $850. We were only there for about 30 minutes as we only invited immediate family since we already had a funeral/celebration of life previously. Mom was not viewable like at her funeral but we had her casket at the front of the hall so people could say their last goodbyes. This cost is not outrageous as you could hold a gathering there instead of a church. Not 100% you could do an actual viewing before the cremation as we did one previously already. You'd have to discuss with Christian/Scott if this is what you wanted. Anyhow, really you cannot go wrong, dealing with Amherst in terms of service AND cost! It's something i want to spread to as many people as I can....although it's not something you freely bring up when people are sick, old or even healthy really! Thanks Amherst for being a big part of this important day!

michael lebowitz

I cannot imagine any service better. Thank you.

Slob Baggit

Dealing with Amherst was a relief for me, both in support and in affordability. The service was sympathetic, considerate and an ease.

The Loganbergs

At the most difficult of times, calm professionalism is essential. Scott and Christian provided this plus empathy and understanding. I appreciate their personal approach and home delivery of documents and cremation urns.

Sandra Lloyd

Add my name to the list of customers very satisfied with Amherst’s service. I had planned to use them after I saw that their website had several awards noted, and that it set out their prices very clearly. My mom passed away Dec. 31, 2018. Amherst dealt with her cremation, and everything else required, in a very efficient and thoughtful manner. They did exactly what they said they would do, for the exact price they had advertised on their website, and they had everything done more quickly than I could have imagined. I chose to visit their office to pick up my mom’s ashes, instead of using their free delivery, and I found the staff I dealt with there were pleasant, kind, and professional.

Laurie J

This has been a difficult year, with the Covid-19 virus we were not able to visit with our folks in British Columbia as we had honored their wishes that they live out their last days in Canada. The rest of the family lives across the border in the states. They both passed within weeks of each other in April/May. Amherst was amazing to work with, so kind and considerate. They put a lot of attention to every detail and assisted us with every step. Thank you so much, we are grateful.

Monique Skelton

This review is in relation to the one directly below, from Ian McDonald. I asked Ian, a friend who I see as family, to write this review as I was not in the state of mind to at the time my husband passed. My parents and I were disappointed with our meeting at Amherst. We were not met with any sort of condolences and were promptly asked to sign a contract upon starting the meeting. Then when we asked to find out more about their services they began explaining how they started the company and how well they were doing instead of talking about the services they could offer us. We had to actually ask to see photos of the celebration hall, and also for a price breakdown of what will be included. I had to cut the meeting short as I was not interested in going ahead with this seemingly disorganized and revenue driven company.

WestCoast Gamer

If it is that time. And you are looking for final arrangements for a loved one . or just want to point someone in the right direction. Amhurst is by far . The most professional and Best priced Your going to find in BC. The have no hidden fees and are to the point no Selling you nonsense you didnt ask for. I was Even able to do all my paper work online. The only time I seen anyone was When I made the pickup. And they will even do that free of charge. Turnaround time is 2 weeks max.

Yvonne C

POSTING MY YELP REVIEW I LEFT FROM 2013 My father passed away unexpectedly in January 2013 went to a well known funeral home that other friends have used. They were friendly, knowledgable and offered full service complete packages. We were given a "menu" of packages and services offered. Cheaper options are on the menu, but they're not pointed out, so if you're grief stricken and just going by what the funeral director tells you, you may miss it all together! For cremation we were told it was going to cost us $10,900. People kept telling us to be sure to ask the funeral homes if they have anything cheaper...so when we asked, they calculated the ala carte package which ended up "saving us" about $700, but was still going to cost us $10,250!! I noticed at home there were other cheaper plans, but these were not shown to us and they were super basic and at least $5K. They "get you" by offering things in a package, so even if you don't want it, you don't get much of a savings by deducting that item. Left the funeral home knowing to cremate my father the way we wanted was going to cost us over $7K. In disbelief I relently searched online, but sadly there were no prices listed on any of the other sites and they seemed to be comparable anyhow! Lucky for me came across Georgia Straight's Best of Vancouver awards and for funeral homes and Amherst was rated number 1. Amherst didn't try to hide anything and posted all their prices online. No hiding the info for you to inquire to be told you'd need to come in and meet and be given various packages. At the other funeral home we felt pressured as everything is under time constraints and the funeral director seems like they're on commission as they try to upsell you on everything! I had emailed Amherst as their pricelist was basic and I wanted to find out the cost to do more than what they had offered...was upselling myself, which is a nice change! As well wanted to find out how quickly they could get the ball rolling as the other funeral home told us we needed 4 days lead time (I'm guessing this is how they get families to make a quick decision, by not giving you much time). Amherst only needed a few days. I gave Scott a ring later that day and had a brief conversion and pretty much knew we would go with them within our 15 min call (we sat at the funeral home for over an hour). Scott is super knowledgeable and answers all your questions, puts you at ease and gives you food for thought. Things to think about that you didn't think about before. Chris is a jack of all trades: office administrator, assistant (at the services), webmaster (great job with the memorial sites), graphic designer (he designs the memorial cards) and who knows what else he does! He was very easy to work with and because I'm a bit of a perfectionist and asked a lot of questions, he was willing to try new things on the websites to accomodate my needs/requests. He replies right away...even super late at night! LOL Instead of paying over $7,000 to cremate my father with the other funeral home, we paid $4,300 with Amherst. Note this price also included their services for a viewing and funeral held on separate days as well as extra cost for a private cremation viewing, so you could definitely do it for much cheaper!! But anyhow, that's about a 30% savings!! It's a NO BRAINER, really!! So even though death is not a pleasant thing to deal with, it's a part of life and one day when you have to deal with a friend/relatives death, do yourself a favour and check out Amherst first. I bet you'll want to sign up right away like we did and you'll definitely be glad you did! All i can say is Chris and Scott ROCK! Thanks for making this difficult time a lot easier, a little more stress free and definitely for making it more affordable!

AaronBushcraft

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KR

GREAT experience with Amherst. Highly recommend them. I was really impressed with their professional and efficient service. Amherst is the BEST of the bunch by far.

Iryna ArisConsult

Incredible service! Very affordable prices in addition to free products, discounts and bonuses. I had the best experience sorting out the worst and most painful loss of my life. The team was extremely helpful, caring, they let me grieve while doing all the work for me. I highly recommend the company not only because of their affordability but because of their personal qualities and professionalism.

Dot Kwan

I have researched and phoned a lot of funeral services and prices are $2400+ I definitely recommend Amherst Funeral and Cremation Services - Scott's (director) pricing is affordable, he provides excellent service and value added services. Also the most important thing is he does not pressure you to buy anything. He is takes the time to come out to your place and explains carefully and detail with the forms that were required to do. He is patient, kind and informative. As well, he personally delivers the ashes back to you.. No fuss, no muss and no hassle. We found it easy to do all the paperwork on-line and the few questions I had were answered promptly and courteously. I can see why Amherst is winning awards with Georgia Straight and the West Ender. The service and price can not be beat..... I already pre-paid and setup cremation services for my mother in law. Amherst is A+++++++++++ I will recommend them to all friends and family.

Athena

My mom passed away and we contacted Amherst. We transported her to the United States for her burial and I will tell you Amherst was amazing from start to finish. They really made such a difficult time a little easier. Thank you so much. Great service and wonderful people.

VANCITY VANLIFE

I was at my moms place and her boyfriend had just passed away she had a consultation with a local funeral home in Abbotsford that was quoting her $2500 for cremation. My mom is on a welfare disability and didn’t know what to do. So I showed my mom the power of the Internet as she has never been on it LOL and I googled: cheap cremation Vancouver .... which brought me to these guys and the entire experience was so heartwarming. The girl on the phone that dealt with my mom had a very calm voice and all in all it was a beautiful and very affordable experience. Everything was completed including being hand delivered right to her door all for $800 including photo copies of death certificates just in case you needed copies for something else. Everything was extremely thoughtful. THANK YOU ALL. You deserve more than five stars.

Renée Corneau

Great service. They have done an excellent job at making this easier at this difficult time.

Kimberly Wilde

From start to finish I was in good hands with Amherst. Robert kindly walked me through every step and made one of the most difficult times in my life easy and uncomplicated. I highly recommend.

Gisele Muster

This review is in relation to the one directly below, from Ian McDonald. I asked Ian, a friend who I see as family, to write this review as I was not in the state of mind to at the time my husband passed. My parents and I were disappointed with our meeting at Amherst. We were not met with any sort of condolences and were promptly asked to sign a contract upon starting the meeting. Then when we asked to find out more about their services they began explaining how they started the company and how well they were doing instead of talking about the services they could offer us. We had to actually ask to see photos of the celebration hall, and also for a price breakdown of what will be included. I had to cut the meeting short as I was not interested in going ahead with this seemingly disorganized and revenue driven company.

Gary Fach

Excellent service, caring employees. Highly recommend.

R Partaik

Wow what an amazing company Had originally set up my 92 year old mother service with Kerneys funeral home. They sent me a price list and set up a meeting the price sheet showed for a basic cremation 1900.00 confirmed in the morning with them in the morning before my meeting and they said actually no the price is wrong. There is a charge for cremation and box to hold body. I said how much is that 1000.00 . I said that is false advertising and told them to go ho hell. 2900.00 and they straight out lied. When a person is in grief how can they do that. I called Amherst funeral and cremation services and talked with a lovely lady who told me to go on line and fill in info and call back. So i did and call them and they took care of everything. Received my mother back 7 days later. And that was on a Sunday. I will be filing a complaint against kerneys funeral home with the competitions bureau. Wow what amazing service and for the same service. Yes 890.00 Thanks for making my day a little better

jamie crozier

I did not know what to do after my mother passed away but one call to Amherst and they took care of everything.

Sophie Chloe

Everyone there was very welcoming and sympathic to our situation. Everything went according to plan. I had a lot of requests and it all worked out at the end.

Alyssa S

I thought of calling Amherst since I had known about the company through a prior business association and had actually met Scott quite awhile back. What really stuck out to me then was the way he had described the goal of the company... so much so that I actually remembered this 5 years later; his actual real genuine interest to help grieving families afford a quality experience, and the care that he believed was necessary. When my mother-in-law passed away recently, I received lists from the hospital regarding funeral homes. I literally went through calling around 15 places before remembering Amherst (which wasn't on any lists provided). I called and Scott returned my call in a very timely manner. I was really impressed with how he listened to what type of services we wanted and got down to the bottom of how much the TOTAL costs of everything would roughly be (within 5 minutes of conversation!), how soon we could get the process started, and when we could expect the church service. If you have been calling around, you will realize how rare this is - NOBODY prior to that wanted to give me a full estimation or could say roughly when things would take place. He came to us and was very accommodating and informative with everything. He corresponded with the church and priest who was leading the funeral, which saved so much stress for my partner and father-in-law. Literally everything was taken care of and ran smoothly from the time we called to the service, etc. At the funeral he was present and extremely caring a tactful with my father-in-law who has been having an extremely difficult time. This meant so much to us. The prices were the most affordable I had found, they were the most straightforward I had found, one of the most timely I had found, and his dedication to the well-being of the families wishes and needs was amazing. I would highly highly recommend them to anyone going through this difficult time! We are so grateful!

Matt Muir

At a time when we needed help, Anna and her colleagues provided great a Customer Experience. They had all the answers and didn't pressure us.They were very helpful and caring. I knew that my loved one would be taken care of. Thank you Anna!

Harley Green

Couldn't be better was totally pleased with all aspects

Dion Allan

Christian and Scott were a great help to our family in our time of loss and want to recommend their services as they are professional and organized to me and my family this meant a lot. Thank you, Dion Allan

Walter BBarnes

My mom passed away in May 2017 one of the most painful and saddest days of our family lifes the staff were very helpful respectful and treated her with the utmost descentsy in our time of Grief .They brought her ashes back when they said had all the certificates needed and all kinds of helpful advice on how to proceed who needs to be contacted etc stuff we would have never thought of at all. its taken me awhile to giving them a review I Loved my Mother Hubbard dearly.i am not good with name's but owner and associates were professional at all times we were completely satisfied and would recommend to anyone else

Kwie Unicorn

The loss of my Dad came as such a shock .... and being pregnant made emotions run very high .... I'm very thankful for Amherst they were so kind and understanding .... My father was a simple man and really took the time to listen per my requests ... as well as asked about who he was ..... I would recommend them again to anyone Thank you Kind regards Jenna

Jeannette Jones

I cannot express how grateful I am for Amherst's seamless and supportive guidance through the process of handling the death of my husband and all that entails. He died in a hospital and a city away from home so handling the arrangements was not a case of just going to the local service. The fact that we could make the arrangements online was a real comfort. We are not city people and so we could sit, safely and comfortably in out hotel and work out the arrangements over the internet rather than trying to find the service in an unfamiliar city and coping with traffic we are not used to driving in. This at a time, as you all know, when it is difficult to cope with anything at all. Thank-you Amherst from myself and my family for making what could have been a difficult process easy and seamless, yet supportive and caring.

Cristina E

Scott and staff cared for both my Mum and Brother. I found them to be very caring and took the time to listen to exactly what our wishes were. They helped me through some very difficult times. Thank you for everything!

Graphic Society

I did a Google search and went through a few cremation and funeral houses websites and chose Amherst Cremation company based on their lowest price and good online reviews. I used their basic cremation package in Aug 2016. I talked to them several times on the phone. They were very patient and gave me good directions with courtesy and respect. I also got to talk to the owner Scott a couple of times. He made himself available and was very helpful. They picked up the body on time and provided me with the ashed and death certificate on the date they promised. They delivered the ashes in a basic urn box and a folder with some useful information. Everything was done professionally and respectfully. I certainly recommend these guys.

Dann Ilicic

Amherst makes this difficult time so much more comfortable. No pressure and they are so courteous and professional. This is my second time using their services and I would do it again - I just hope i don’t need to any time soon. They took care of all the details and I really appreciated the thorough documentation they provided. It made taking care of my executor duties so much easier. On top of all that, their prices are fair and upfront.

Darlene Browman

Amherst provided great service at a very reasonable price. They were very respectful and informative. They also provided us with a fabulous information package covering everything thing from a todo list, to copies of the Death Certificate and more. I would very highly recommend them.

SD J

I am very satisfied with the services offered by Amherst. At the most difficult time, they made things very straightforward and easy. From making arrangements, to pickup, swift cremation and then them delivering the ashes to my home, I could not have asked for better service. Not only that, but their prices are extremely competitive and transparent. No traps!! I've recommended them to my friends--not that anyone needs their services right now, but when they do, Amherst is who I recommend they call.

Gagik Agasian

Amherst handled all aspects of my dad's cremation with utmost care and professionalism. Staff members very responsive and forthcoming and accommodated all our requests very efficiently. The cost for services is very reasonable, and there was absolutely no attempts or pressure to get us to purchase additional goods or services, which is quite prevalent in the industry. Scott is very kind and caring on personal level and it helped ease the emotional strain as we navigated through the process. In difficult times like these it is important to have a dependable service and be confident that everything will be done right. Based on our experience I can recommend Amherst without any reservations.

Gerry Dionisio

I am very disappointed with the service they provided. We got them based on the information online claiming they are the cheapest, Well, I got what I paid for. If you want to use them make sure it is written in black and white. Do not trust their word.

Emily Kennelly

Very satisfactory service.

Wendy Case

Working with Amherst when our son died made the process so much easier. They went above and beyond to make a very awful situation just a little better. They had personalized service and even came and picked up our son's urn from our home. They navigated the paperwork which was so beyond us at the time and dealt directly with the authorities to get him home quickly. I cannot recommend Amherst enough.

angelita guevara

The best. The most compassionate and caring funeral service team hands down. Please keep up the good work. Thank you and God bless!

John Schutz

Compassionate, professional and timely service with excellence in attention to detail. During a very difficult time of loss, Amherst, and in particular Tianna, facilitated a very smooth and easy process of coordinating all arrangements. Will definitely recommend them wherever there is an opportunity. Thank You.

Emily Silver

The people at Amherst cremation were so lovely to work with. They were kind, sympathetic, efficient and made an effort to work with me during this tough time. No arrangements had been made and they took their time to explain how everything works and walked me through the paperwork. They took care of getting the death certificates (even when my doctor’s office called me to pick up the paperwork, they quickly took care of getting it for me). When they returned my husband’s remains, (within a week which is so nice) they came to the house and walked me through all the documents that came in their package. When everything was handed over, they were still there for me to give me documents for traveling with the remains outside of the country. They did not charge much and they gave amazing service. One less headache when dealing with the death of a loved one. Thank you!!

Kim Williams

Hello there Can I to research on Cory monteith please I need the information I'm his girlfriend and wife as well thank you

Brenda Boye

I recently lost my mother. Amherst was caring, kind, and very professional. Their prepayment option was the best thing that my sister and I had done. It made everything so much easier in the end. I would recommend their services to anyone. An amazing company, with amazing employees, and amazing prices.

Mike Leigh

A good experience dealing with Amherst. Handled pretty much everything and dealt with all the details. Low cost solution for those on a budget.

Lynne M.

I was very satisfied with the sincerity of everyone especially the gentleman who had direct contact with me. He was so kind, polite, yet made me feel like whatever I was feeling was ok and that one day I would be better. Thank-you. It was a double pain as it was the death of my twin...Larry Crosby. The very last of my Family I was born into. So it hurt twice as hard. Thank-you once again! I'm sorry but I forgot the gentleman's name....I was so distraught. But I'll never forget his support.

yukkie bonbon

My mother passed away unexpectedly 3 weeks ago. It was very difficult for our family especially during this pandemic. The Amherst team was very professional. All the staff were very helpful and practical. I arranged everything over the phone and submitted all the necessary paperwork on the website. Ivan took care of all the details of the viewing. Finally, we had a simple and cozy ceremony within a week. We were perfectly satisfied. Definitely, Amherst committed that ‘Respectful Care at Reasonable Cost’. I would like to rate them at 6-star if available because they deserve it. Highly recommended if ever you need the funeral and cremation service.

Marc Nielsen

I was exceptionally pleased with the service that Amherst provided. The initial consultation was very informative and allowed me to make all decisions I needed and clearly identified what the next steps were. On the day, I was appreciative of how helpful the Amherst staff were during the funeral - everything from helping people out of cars to receiving people at the front of the church. I was impressed by their professionalism and how considerate their staff were - helped me get thru one of my toughest days ever. To top things off, the price was very reasonable. This is a class operation at affordable prices.

Derek Watkins

Scott McFarlane and the Staff at Amherst Funeral services were very professional and accommodating. They took away a lot of the over whelming parts and allowed us to do what was most important at the time of remembrance. I would highly recommend Scott and his staff @ Amherst Thanks Derek Watkins

Cam K9 Training Centre

I would like to thank Amherst SOOO much for the lovely service and all of their help with the arrangements when we lost our lovely granddaughter very suddenly. Her service was yesterday, and it really was very beautiful. Chris was amazing with everything he did to put together a beautiful slideshow, music and the lovely photo and cards..thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Chris and Bruce McKay,

Maureen Brunotte

Wonderful and very caring.

Cree Rides a Roadking

Under difficult circumstances my youngest daughter was prepared and returned to our family in a timely and dignified manner. Staff was exceptional and helpful and made the situation much easier for my other daughter and I to deal with as we flew across Canada from Winnipeg to Vancouver to retrieve her ashes. I would certainly vouch for their professionalism and recommend them.

Michael Dobson

I highly recommend AMHERST, this is a difficult time for everyone and I must say that their staff handled everything expertly and guided me through the process with great sensitivity to all I was going through. This was the first time that I had to make funeral arrangements and AMHERST guided me through the process step by step, I’m so thankful and grateful to them for helping me through a very emotional and personal time.

Carolyn Melech

They were so efficient and patient with me as it took me a while to organize. They definitely made a horrible time in my life much easier. Would use them again

Ingrid A

Amherst handled my father's cremation and they made every step easy and as pleasant as could be. I dealt with Afrin, who was lovely and very helpful over the phone (I live in the States) and even more so in person when I picked up my father's ashes in Vancouver. I met Christian too and he was also superb. Thank you guys for making an unpleasant situation (death) easier to deal with!

Blue Morris

I appreciated the ability to do almost this entire process online and the price was very reasonable. I would definitely recommend Amherst to others.

Steven Henwood

Very nice,professionally people, I know dad was treated with respect, thank you.

Annette Allen

Very kind and helpful and went the extra mile to help us as we are from another country. Would highly recommend. Thank you!

Randy Rhino

Kisha was very helpful, courteous ,sympathetic and professional. I highly recommend Amherst. Mom was looked after 45 minutes after passing by Chris. I truly appreciate the professionalism during a difficult time.

Laurel Bryson

We used Amherst for both of my parents cremations, and we had positive and professional experiences with this company both times. I particularly liked being able to make all arrangements online, ahead of time, and having a phone number we could call anytime of the day or night. Their was no pressure to encourage us to make more expensive choices. I'd recommend this company to my friends.

William McElroy

My experience with Amherst funeral home my father past away 2010 he was creamated and the funeral home kept his ashes for along time until they could reach one of his family members to see what was to be done with his ashes they waited for16 years until 2017when I was looking at a ad of my uncle past away it said my father had past away so I phoned around and found him at rest at Amherst funeral home he had quite a big bill owning and being on disability the funeral home let me pay it off a bit at a time they also agreed to give me the time to figure how I can lay my father to rest at no additional charges I have to say I'm indebted to Amherst funeral home they helped me with my dad I totally appreciate and recommend them highly thank you for myself and my family.

Mike Wilson

When you really need things to be simple and easy at the worst time of your life Amherst steps up. Easy online access, simple forms, fair pricing and courteous staff. There is nothing missing from this service compared to a funeral home except the extra cost.

Joe Radovich

I did everything online. Very helpful. I was told my dad had been taken to Coquitlam. I talked with someone on phone when it was time to pick up my Dads ashes. When I got there, nobody was there. I found out that ashes are to be picked up in Vancouver, to do so in Coquitlam there needs to be an appointment. During a very trying time I wish this was communicated to me ahead of time and not wasting a trip to Coquitlam.

Nicky Wei

Thanks for everything you did for my late mom !

X X_Subatomic_X X

They are the best. They are very professional at what they do. Their prices are very competitive.

Tyler Hjorthoy

Very great and professional. They handled a difficult time with great care. Thank you.

eduardo jobem Silva

I am very thankful to Mr. Christian and Scott, and to Amherst Funeral and Cremation Services Inc. It was sensational the delivery and delivery of the ashes. Once I had an urgency in processing the cremation because I am a Brazilian, had a marked back passage, had a holiday and needed to return to my country with the ashes of my brother, they solved everything in just 3 days. Many thanks in the name of family once more ... God bless you.

Cherchez La Femme

If I could give ten stars I would! Amherst is the kindest, caring, knowledgeable funeral service provider. They are also very affordable! My family utilized Amherst's online service and where provided with assistance every step of the way! I even needed an extra document months later, and within minutes Amherst emailed me. Amazing service and support! Thank you for helping our family!

Meghan Hurst

I would recommend Amherst to absolutely anyone that needs these types of services. I have never felt so valued and so well taken care of. Christian is caring, compassionate, hard-working and friendly. He was so very accommodating. I will be forever grateful for their hospitality and for making us feel so cared for. Thank you!

Ashley Quewezance

Fast , effective, painless. Thank you

Cheyenne Goedecke

The staff were so incredibly kind, helpful and respectful. Ivan was the primary person I spoke to. He made me feel heard and assured. I was in such a frenzy when speaking with him and he made me feel like everything will be ok. I spoke to other staff for various reasons and they were so pleasant. Of the other 7 places I spoke to, I felt the most safe and comforted by choosing Amherst.

Luwella Fairchild

I chose Amherst because of the combination of value and the convenience of online arrangement it offers. I didn't expect much because of those. But I was delightfully surprised by how helpful, friendly and prompt their in-person services have been. Amherst staff returned my call promptly and delivered my aunt's ashes and death certificate to my home few days faster than promised. We're so glad we had chosen Amherst and will certainly recommend their services to our friends and families.

Jessnin Carino

They’re very compassionate, respectful empathetic towards my family when I needed their service for my mom’s cremation.

Barrington Davie

Scott came to meet with us at our home in Surrey. We appreciate that since my mom wasn't able to move around much due to her health. Scott made everything so easy and for a while, we forgot that we were dealing with a sad loss of our father. Thank you, Scott and Amherst. Your office staff were so polite and pleasant. James delivered my dad's ashes right to our home again. I really recommend your services to everyone I know.

Gisele Muster

I can't thank Scott and his team for the care and planning of my sister's cremation. They do this with dignity and respect and provided me with the right package. As my sister's executor it made my job more easier than anticipated. Will certainly will be more than happy to I will happily recommend them. Sincerly Gisele Muster & Family

erica gee

Amherst was amazing, they really helped take the load off eveything during such a difficult time, they were very professional and thought ful, they even came directly to my home to help with my needs they just treated everything with dignity and respect. Again big huge thank you to Amherst...I would highly recommend them to anyone

John Lew

I would give Amherst 6 stars. My mother passed away last Nov and Amherst took care of her cremation. I was extremely happy with their services every step of the way. It was simple, extremely reliable, straightforward, and cost appropriate ($875 for the basic package). Customer service was excellent. On the other hand, Richmond Funeral Home was an exorbitant rip-off... They were going to charge $4000-5000 for essentially the same thing. I feel they're praying on people in their grief. Thanks, Amherst, for being honest, down to earth, and excellent.

Allan Watson

We had to do everything remotely and Amherst was awesome. They took instructions via email and took care of everything to our total satisfaction with sympathy and class and at a very reasonable rate. This was a very trying time for us as we lost our son at the young age of 37 and when you are in a tramatic state like that you are very vulnerable. The people at Amherst were very understanding and supportive. I can't think of a single negative thing to say about this company and the service they provided for us. Top notch! First rate! Five star!

Patricia Holmes

My beloved husband Peter passed away August 3, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. We found Amherst Funeral & Cremation services on line. After meeting Robert Schaffler my son decided to have them take care of my husband/father. We were very happy with all that Robert did to take care of Peter. Robert was professional but friendly & compassionate throughout Robert helped make a very difficult time in our lives a bit more bearable. I would highly recommend Amherst Funeral services to anyone in need of a caring place during a exceptionally sad time.

Linda Yim

Easy and simple. Courteous staff made the whole procedure so easy. Financially, it is much easier on the family.

Michelle Schreinders

They made things easier. Thanks a ton.

Donald Reeves

Highly recommend for a simple and inexpensive cremation.

Manny M

I just wanted to let you know about Amherst Funeral for their excellent service looking after their clients most especially to Chris for his extra help and assistance. Very much appreciated. Thanks again, Manny Merene from Winnipeg

John Skinner

So simple to do online, no pressure and very reasonable pricing. Scott personally delivered the Urn and brought and explained all the documents that needed to be filed. Christian posted the obituary, memorial program and tribute on their website for people that were unable to attend and for us to visit for years to come. Amherst helped make this time of grieving easier and more special.

Mike Lanouette

Nice people to deal with. Took a little longer for my sons remains to be returned to us, but all in all they helped us through the process. Would recommend them for your needs

Ray Beattie

Myself and my family were very appreciative of Amherst during our difficult time. They handled everything professionally, and removed the stress from us so we can focus on our family. I would highly recommend them to anyone.

clarence flegel

excellent service, quick and very helpful Blanche

Marie Hoiland

The sincerity, patience and love our family felt was almost overwhelming. Scott, Carlos and his teams made us feel like they are a part of our family. Every situation is different and ours is very unique but that did not stop Scott and his team provide the BEST for our father. With all our hearts we cannot thank you enough.

Josie Mina

We regret that we didn't had the chance to shop around for another Funeral Service. We got Amherst through the web site and just went for it as I live far away. From the beginning, making an arrangement was a hustle. Calling to inquire and follow up was the same thing: HUSTLE. So I asked my relatives to meet Scott at his office. Scott didn't showed up. I figured, what should I expect from a company that runs like a 'bull in a China shop". We FULLY paid Scott immediately after the funeral service. Four months later, here comes his bull dog, Chris, harassing me and my family saying that we owe them $350 . Now, they will not issue me a receipt even after they were FULLY PAID (or at least issue a receipt with the $350 balance that they claimed). Bad Business. Bad people. Beware.... ----------------- Now, that I have more time to look into this. Our contract with Amherst is $3336.60. I paid $3300. I agreed to pay the $36.60 to end this. I don't know where Amherst got the $350 they claim we owe - purely a case of EXTORTION.

Leon Tan

I normally don’t post reviews, but I wanted to share my positive experience with Amherst. Scott and his team were amazing to deal with during an extremely painful and stressful time in my life with the passing of my mother. They took the time to explain the process to me and did not try to upsell their services. I would not hesitate to recommend Amherst to family and friends.

Danica Fletcher

Amherst was the most wonderful (and economical) place we could have chosen for my Dad's services & cremation. Scott, the owner was personally involved in every step of our journey and provided fantastic information and un-equalled support and service. Amherst is the most cost efficient and yet high-class establishment you could choose during a difficult time for any family. I would strongly and gladly recommend Amherst to anyone in need of funeral and/or cremation services, you just can't do any better.

Celine van Cittert

The service our family received from Amherst was stellar! There were no surprises and no unmet expectations. When our mom passed away Amherst made it so much easier to deal with. I have been recommending them to everyone.

cindy brown

The folks at Amherst made the process seamless, leaving me and my family time to take care of other pressing matters at hand. Thank you for your valued support during our time of need.

Garry Milman

Thank you for help us to say goodbye my dear mother. You did a great job. God bless you ???? ❤.

Alicia T

Hired them for my late mom’s graveside service. Great service, reasonable prices. Will definitely hire again hopefully don’t have to for long time to come.

Michael Kemble

Very accommodating, very passionate

Nathanael Kian Hock KOH

Christian Natadiredja with whom we had our first conversation with, was patient and polite as he explained to us the details of the services provided. He kept all the promises he made in spite of the tight time -frame we scheduled for the funeral. He took away whatever stress that could have happened in looking after all the details. All the staff were very compassionate and made the whole funeral process a beautiful memory. Thanks, Christian and Scott, for a service well done. I will be on your next customer list for my own funeral.

Jon Rieckhoff

Everything went reallywel. It was a difficult time with my dad passing last May but Amherst made cremation go smoothly. Claudia

Bruce Wong

My mom and dad recently passed away within three months of each other. Our experience with Amherst the first time was such that we had no hesitation in using their services again. Scott was very professional, yet showed the compassion and sensitivity that we were so grateful for at these difficult times. He explained the options available to us and allowed us time to make our own decisions. We would highly recommend Amherst to friends and family. Bruce Wong

D Carter

In the midst of a tragedy, they where a very helpful, did not push more than I wanted, explained thing in a way I could understand, stuck to their quoted price, and delivered exactly what I had wanted and asked for. They make everything convenient and assessable when I needed, not just what was convenient to them. Thank You very much for looking after me and my family.

blair grant

Amherst cremation: professional, understanding and economical. No pressure to buy services you do not need or require. Of course we hope we never need such a service but when that need arrives I would definitely recommend Amherst.

Sandra Gulley

Very professional, empathetic, concerned, and overall good experience considering the circumstances.

gunther hesse

WE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE / WE COULD NOT ENTER CANADA SO WE DID EVERYTHING BY PHONR/ THE YOUNG LADY WAS EXCEPTONNAL/THANK YOU VERY VERY MUVH FOR YOUR HELP

Douglas Alder

My friend passed away recently and we used Amherst Cremation Services. They did a good job, delivered in a timely manner and were very helpful with their follow up. Recommend.

Paula Weber

I would highly recommend Amherst as they were efficient, personable and reliable. They made the whole process simple and painless at a reasonable cost.

Delena Angrignon

Amherst was perfect to deal with when we had a sudden death in the family. We could depend on them being there and looking after the details. Their online system was easy to use and anytime I called they took the time to listen and help. The whole process from end to end was easy and very professional.

Erin Sample

Very patient and helpful with my family while dealing with a loss of a family member and went out of their way to deliver the remains when I couldn't pick up due to being stuck in home with my children during COVID-19. I am very thankful for their service.

Patricia Keizer

We were very satisfied with the service that Amherst provided. We appreciated the compassion and flexibility during a very stressful time. We would gladly recommend Amherst to others

Judy Lee

Excellent customer service, very responsive, informative and trust worthy. Offered the best prices and didn't try to sell anything we sent need or take advantage of us.

marie tumpach

Excellent service, understanding staff

Cheri H

Thank you to all the staff at Amherst Funeral home. You made a difficult time go smoothly with all of your help and assistance.

Fran Tanner

Very kind in a difficult time

Carlos GRAMUGLIA

Outstanding service and reasonably priced! Our family is truly thankful to Mr Scott McFarlane and associates for their sympathy, efficiency and professionalism upon the recent death of our father. Undoubtedly AMHERST is (after extensive research and comparisons) the BEST!!! We can do not less than recommend their services.

Carrie Ho

We used Amherst for my mother's funeral a few months ago. At first the funeral director Scott was helpful and responsive so we signed a contract to obtain their services. After we signed however it seemed impossible to get a hold of Scott and he didn't return most of our calls. We ended up dealing with multiple people in the office who were nonetheless pleasant to deal with. We were told that Scott was busy but it would have been nice if there were more funeral directors or if there's a dedicated assistant so there's one point of contact instead of dealing with multiple people and having to explain our situation over and over again. Services provided were adequate. There were some minor errors which when we pointed out to them, they said they'd looked into them but never did. The funeral home claims to provide no-hassle services but I find the whole experience was more stressful than it could've been. We had to deal with booking the church and the florist ourselves. I'm not sure if their prices are competitive as we didn't shop around. Overall they did fulfill their contractual obligations but customer service was subpar and I wouldn't recommend it to other people. * Update: Since I posted the review, one of the funeral directors Chris reached out to me to address my concerns. He explained to me why we had to book the church and the florist ourselves and was sincere in accepting my feedback about the lack of communication. I appreciated that he tried to resolve some of my concerns where possible and his receptiveness will help him better serve his customers in the future.

Tiffa Bay

They provided great service with the compassion and empathy that's required during a sad and difficult time. I would highly recommend them.

ingolffred

"Scott McFarlane (and the Amherst team) is awesome. Kind, caring, compassionate and professional. You made our family feel very comfortable at a difficult time. The information you provided us with was incredibly helpful along with the Amherst information package. I will gladly recommend you and your team. Thanks again." Ingolf W. (Burnaby, BC)

Rayne Hollyburn

When my best friend recently lost her husband, I was able to be by her, to support and assist her with the funeral arrangements. Amherst helped us make sense of the complicated process with their caring and outstanding compassion. Of many funeral homes we interviewed, Amherst's was the easiest, most understanding and most caring. Not once they tried to upsell. The memorial service was beautifully done and we are thankful for many value-added goods that were built into Amherst's affordable package. Thank you Scott and Chris. You deserve much more recognition for what you do than some of these reviews gave you. We're grateful to have found you here.

Elizabeth Dill

The people who work there are very kind. Scott McFarlane was so compassionate. I highly recommend working with Amherst Funeral.

Niki McKimm

5 Star service. Amherst made the entire process smooth and stress free at an extremely emotional time. I highly recommend them!

Yo Mama

The level of professionalism that Amherst provided during such difficult times was unbelievable. Thank you for a smooth process for accepting my Mom and Dad and explaining everything to to us step by step.

Vancity Vanlife

I first found Amhurst looking for a cremation services that were affordable for my mom‘s boyfriend as she was low income and needed someone she could afford. Then when my mom passed away a year later I only felt it was fitting that I used the same service. They made things incredibly simple in a tough situation. Thank you and hopefully we won’t see each other anytime soon.

Ian Johnson

Everything was handling with excellence. Ease of prearrangement, handling of post passing details and superior follow through on providing critical documentation. Exceeded my prior experiences with my Dad by a long shot. Mom was well cared for and I am thankful for that.

bruce jefferson

Amherst staff were helpful and kind to our family from our initial contact. They were quick to respond to our messages and questions and did so with clarity and grace. I would definately recommend their services.

Fred P

Very kind and professional service.

Barb Wong-Chan

My family was very pleased with the quick response and helpfulness of the Amherst Cremation Service when we lost our parents. I highly recommend the Amherst Service to those in need. They were compassionate, affordable and thorough.

amanda chapman

Very kind in a difficult time

Peter Li

Superb service. Could not have asked for more.

Maureen Mansfield

Overall EXCELLENT! Highly recommended!

Ken Hamilton

We are very pleased with the service provided by Amherst. There was no upselling! We received exactly what we asked for. Highly recommended!

Jim Jeckel

Amherst was very efficient and caring. The whole experience was much simpler than I expected.

R W

Reasonable cost, excellent customer service and overall a superb experience given the circumstances. Highly recommended.

Kevin Shaw

After my mom passed away Scott was very tentative respectful and very charismatic he arrived at my house on time as per our appointment and was very professional. It made the whole process more easy. I would highly recommend there services.

John Kozak

Thank you for making our experience a smooth and an affordable transition.

Ted Kagetsu

When we lost our dear sister, Amherst performed a wonderful service in getting her ready for her voyage! They provided a little room where we had our private service with sister present. We then signed forms for her cremation and thankfully the rest was handled very efficiently by Amherst! Anna’s remains were delivered to my house contained in the nice Urn that we had purchased at Amherst! Amherst, we thank you for the caring way in which everything was explained to us before accepting the contract!

Eunice Sheehan

I would highly recommend Amherst. Communication was always timely and informative. I was always treat with respect and consideration

Byron Robertson

Hello Thanks again for all your help. The staff was friendly, helpful and informative. The price for this service I think is reasonable and I would recommend Amherst to anyone. Byron Robertson.

Michael Rowat

My brother passed away on Jan 27th, 2018, and our family received a recommendation to contact Amherst Funeral and Cremation Services for all the necessary arrangements. We are so glad we did, as they made every step easier for us, and we felt very comfortable with the decisions made. Communication with the staff was very helpful and done with such compassion. I would recommend Amherst to anyone without hesitation. Thank you to you all for looking after my dear brother. Kind regards, Anita E. Burns

Donna penner

When my dad passed away we contacted AMHERST because of their reasonable price, but wow was I greatful that my mom found them. Not only did they pick up my dad after he passed, on a SATURDAY, but they were dispatched to pick him up even before we called the care home he was in. Upon meeting Scott I was blown away with how laid back and personable he is. He didn't care about getting his money and going, in fact he didn't even ask for a check and told my mom she could pay whenever. He's a kind, helpful man that truly cares about the families of the deceased, and the deceased. Thank you SO much Scott for making this terrible time a little bit easier for all of us.

rubytuesday nights

I have only great things to say about all directors, managers, receptionists, and, every single person working there was friendly, knowledgeable and a very professional attitude. Manouck Rousseau

Dallyce Varty

We have used Amherst twice. They are kind caring and accommodating. They are very helpful.

Paul Umrysh

My father passed away unexpectedly in June and I had to fly to Vancouver from Quebec to deal with all of his affairs. I found Amherst online and have been deeply impressed by their service - Scott McFarlane's customer service and interpersonal skills are beyond reproach. I contacted Amherst via email and received an immediate response. Everyone at Amherst was extremely knowledgeable, and there were no hidden fees or pressures to upgrade the cremation package I was looking for. Scott made an appointment to come and see me at my hotel the next morning, and made dealing with the loss of a parent about as bearable as it can be. He provided some invaluable tips and checklists that have greatly aided me in settling my father's estate. I would highly recommend Amherst to everyone. Scott and his crew do an outstanding job.

Marie Jacobs

The person I dealt with was kind, empathetic and efficient at a time when I really needed it. I called quite a few times and they were always patient and helpful. The price was very reasonable.

Judie Mkochi

Being the first time going through this it was very difficult but you were there through.out and helped us alot although the corvid19 has its own issues but you ccomidated us well especially for me as a mother that last fair well to.michael at the gravesite meant so much to me and that was my best moment ever to realise that you just don't do your job but you care what families go through Thank you very much for the job well done even at the office the girls were very calling calling.me back when I left a voice mail and answering to all the questions I had I hope I don't go through this again but will definately refer your services to other families of they are needing the same help I had Thank you all and keep up the good work and Scott you have a golden heart that you share with the greavng families Thank you very much Judie (mother to Michael Nyirenda)

Tina

Amherst was very efficient and caring. The whole experience was much simpler than I expected.

N D P

I was very please with the service my family recieved during the process of setting up the arrangements for my Dad. They were always available for questions and their prices are very affordable. I reccomend anyone who is looking for a very professional and cost friendly funeral home. Thank you for all your help!

monica friesen

I cannot believe what was done when the owner Scott said he was coming to my home to pick up my brothers belongings and he did not and never answered my texts when my brother passed had to phone twice before I could get a receipt

david lui

Scott showed the urgency and efficiency for my family as Grandma passed. The pricing was more than reasonable considering what I've heard from other experiences.

Christina Yan-Lee

A belated thanks to Amherst. I am compelled to write given our fantastic experience with your company. A friend of one of my sister's had suggested Amherst as a good and reasonably priced funeral home. So when our mother passed away in September, I phoned them early one Saturday morning and left a voice mail message. I was surprised to receive a return call immediately from Scott, one of the owners of Amherst, and although I had gone through the funeral experience for my Dad years ago, I couldn't remember too much, save for the negatives. Scott was very reassuring, understanding and kind over the phone, answered my questions and gave me an overview of what the pricing would look like, suggested I go online to see it visually, and offered help if I had further questions. There was no pressure to go with him. After a brief discussion with my siblings, we chose Scott and Amherst, and am so glad we did. After providing him with some basic information about our Mom, he told me not to worry, he'd send his team members to move our Mom's body after the coroner, who he knew, had signed off. We had to schedule a meeting and he offered to come meet us, which blew me away. Since we siblings had arranged to meet a few days later at my Mom's house, I asked if he could meet us there that evening, and he readily agreed. Not meeting in a dark, forlorn funeral home set the tone. Scott was prompt/early, easy to talk to and not pushy; he gave us a folder with all the information we'd need. Scott is a third generational funeral services man. Amherst liaised with Mountain View Hall, our caterer and florist, as well as the cemetery where our Mom was eventually buried. He also noted he doesn't accept payment in advance--said we had enough things to worry about. Scott is practical and although he sells a variety of caskets, he recommended an excellent and more reasonably priced one which we went with. Despite not having had a traditional Chinese service for our Mom, we did incorporate some aspects into her Celebration of Life. It was reassuring to know that Scott and his business partner, Christian, had both worked for years at a funeral home in Chinatown, so were able to advise us on those traditions we did include. Scott and Christian are both very responsive, professional and helpful. Scott suggested Celebration Hall at Mountain View Cemetery for the Celebration of Life and recommended a florist. We were so happy with both. Celebration Hall is a classy venue that has a beautiful view of the trees and greenery on the children's side of the cemetery, but you don't see grave markers (maybe if you look hard enough you would). It was peaceful, bright, with 2 "walls" of almost floor-to-ceiling windows, and yet still an intimate feeling. We loved the venue which again, gave a cosier feel for the catered reception we had in the hallway. And plenty of (free) parking all around the Hall. We spent a lot of time on the Memorial Card--print and online--initially with Scott and then, with Christian, who deals more with these details and music, etc. Two of my siblings had put together a great slide show with our chosen music. While guests were filing in and the slide show was running, Christian suggested we use Amherst music so ours would have more effect and freshness when played during the service. He was spot on and their selections were ones we all loved. When we'd organized our father's service years ago at a large funeral home, we were not happy with it. That "corporation" up-sold us on everything and together with our Dad's relatives, had basically pushed us into making it into a very melancholy, traditional service and one that, regrettably and honestly, wasn't as moving, lovely or meaningful as our Mom's. Scott, Christian and Amherst made us very happy. I was so pleased with their thoughtful service to us and I loved my Mom's Celebration of Life and know that she would've loved it as well! Thank you for having made her passing less sad and the entire experience as stress-free and memory-filled as possible! Warmly, Christina & Family

Randall Olson

This is the fourth time that we have used Amherst Services to care for the pick up and cremation of our parents. Amherst's service is fast, professional and its people are kind. Their services are also very reasonably priced relative to the conventional funeral homes, saving money for other purposes including personal, family-planned celebrations of life. Furthermore, they provide common sense clear suggestions on what steps are necessary to terminate government pensions, apply for death benefits and other matters. We highly recommend Amherst when the day comes.

Karen Wentzel

Amherst provided our family exceptional service in our time of need. We highly recommend them and appreciate all that they did for us.

yesstube

Overall EXCELLENT! Highly recommended!

Ken Umbarger

The service provided by this company was as promised. No pressure, no hidden fees, paperwork completed on time. Service was provided with the utmost of care and dignity. Thank you for helping us through this!!

Leah Baker

The entire team at Amherst made the whole unpleasant process much, much smoother. They are obvious professionals and extremely caring people who made a difficult time much easier. They took care of all the logistics and made sure I had received everything I needed, even some paperwork I didn't know I needed but came in very handy. Do yourself a favour and make this time in your life easier by going with Amherst.

Catherine

The people working at Amherst are ABSOLUTELY 100% Customer oriented. They made a very sad and difficult time so easy for us. I cannot recommend them enough. And the best part their prices are very reasonable. To the staff at Amherst Thank You!!!

Chris Lo

Compassionate staff and efficient service.

Anthony Danda

I cannot recommend Scott enough. This was the first time I had to make funeral arrangements. Scott could not have been more professional and helpful. He had an answer for all my questions and provided exceptional service by visiting us at home and assisting with the multitude of paperwork. Instead of adding to an already stressful situation he alleviated a lot of the work. Thank you Scott.

Dawn Hanson

I very much appreciated the guidance and support I received at Amherst. Christian was readily available to answer all my questions and assist me with choices. Their calm compassion helped me navigate through a very difficult time, for which I am grateful.

Seelochan Beharry

The services provided by Amherst Funeral and Cremation Services were very professional throughout all stages of the entire process, for example, picking up the body. in addition, all of the staff with whom I have had conversations with were all very respectful, polite and most helpful. When I mentioned that it was hard for me to get to their office on bus because of the Covid-19 situation with transit, I was told that they would deliver the ashes and the death certificate package to my home. The driver, who dropped the package off, was also very polite and courteous and friendly - the whole business was well-wrapped up. Thank you all at Amherst Funeral and Cremation Services Inc. Would readily recommend thsi service to others. Seelochan B.

Caviarmaker

Just had the most positive, considerate, empathetic and professional experience with Amherst and their terrific staff. From the time I pre-arranged their services to the time when I needed to "make the call" was never anything but easy. Scott (the owner) spoke with me a few times, and at the family meeting in our home for the final arrangements he made us feel that we were the only grieving family that he was concerned with. Every form, every process, every question, fear and concern was handled with sympathy, understanding and we were never made to feel that he had other places to be. Amherst's fees are by far the most reasonable of all the places I checked out. They provide every necessary form, registration, pictures and recommendations that you will need at the most difficult time in your life. Not once were we ever "upsold", and some special requests that we had were handled with ease and understanding. Thank you Scott, you have a terrific company and you are a very professional and experienced leader. We will not hesitate to recommend you to anyone. The McAteer Family

Edward Stillman

Hands down the best value and service we’ve received. Polite, compassionate staff helped us throughout the process. We appreciate that you never subjected us to hours or arrangement and sales pitches to get things done. Your clear and upfront pricing saved us a lot of headache!

Paul Nadeau

Very professional, helpful and affordable service. Second time using Amherst to deal with a relative’s passing. I have recommended them to friends and will continue to do so in the future. Well done.

Tammea Arthur

Scott McFarlane has been exceedingly helpful and professional in our time of grief. It is reassuring to know that with one phone call to Amherst, the immediate details will be taken care of and any questions we have will be answered with tact and respect.

bob ruffles

I recommend Amherst Funeral services. They were professional, courteous and very compassionate. They completely took care of all the details and very pleased with their service. All requests were dealt with promptly.

Elaine S

The staff at Amherst was very professional and caring while we were making arrangements for our soon to be deceased loved one and after her passing in mid-January. Their compassion helped ease a very emotionally difficult task. As we live in a different city all paperwork was handled by phone and via computer. What they say they do. Their fee structure is what you see you pay. No hidden fees or add-ons later. Cremation took place in the time-frame they promised. After cremation our mother’s ashes were promptly couriered to us. Thank you again Amherst for “holding our hand” throughout this very sad time.

John Flipse

The services provided were excellent, precisely as described. All details were handled in a professional and discreet manner. I highly recommend this company.

Heather O'Connor

I chose Amherst after my dad passed away because we knew he just wanted a cremation, and we didn't want to face any hard selling from a funeral director while we were grieving. Scott at Amherst did a wonderful job with that - he came out to my mother's house in Langley, was kind and patient while explaining everything, and never tried to upsell us. We chose a basic cremation but paid the additional $400 to have the cremation in Vancouver (otherwise they, like a great many funeral homes in the Lower Mainland, ship the body to Washington state to be cremated) and paid an extra $75 for the 'scattering urn' because we will eventually spread the ashes in a place of importance to my dad. This would have been a 5-star review if it weren't for how it all ended. During our initial meeting, and all subsequent discussions, Scott was going to come to my mom's to deliver the ashes, answer any questions we had, and take our payment. I made sure that my mom would have somebody with her when the ashes were to be delivered, because I knew that would be a very painful moment for her, but I had to work. Amherst contacted me in advance of that meeting, asking if we could bump the date up. I requested no changes to the plan, because my mom was under enough strain without trying to reorganize the plans she had for her friend to be there when Scott came by. They agreed on the phone and said there would be no changes. When the planned meeting time came up, it was not Scott who showed up at my mom's house, though. It was his "apprentice" who, by the accounts of my mom and her friend, was maybe 19 years old, and woefully unprepared for this delicate task. My mom opened the door and, without greeting her, he holds up the paper shopping bag containing the urn (which of course contains the remains of her husband of 40 years) and simply says "I'm here for the delivery". Like it was a pizza or a Chinese take-out order. My mom was baffled, but asked him to come inside, which made him equally confused. Apparently this "apprentice" was told he just needed to make a drop off, and was clearly not expecting to interact with a grieving widow. He was extremely nervous and awkward, and he didn't even know that we hadn't paid. Worst of all though, he couldn't answer any of my mom's questions, including how to properly use the scattering urn we'd bought - he just kept repeating "I'm sorry, I don't know" until he eventually got so nervous that he stood up and walked out of the house without saying goodbye. To say this experience upset her would be a severe understatement. While Scott did eventually get in touch and answer my mom's questions, the fact that she went through that experience really upset me too, and so I wrote to Scott the next day expressing my disappointment. I told him that I wasn't expecting a discount or anything, but wanted to express how upset I was, since I was the one that chose Amherst and now feel responsible for my mom's bad experience. He didn't even write back to me. The funeral industry gets a bad rap for upselling people when they are vulnerable, but at least they're being attentive. Amherst didn't try to upsell us, but they were negligent at the worst possible time. Pay the extra money and avoid my mistake - I don't want anyone else's mom to be as distraught as mine was that day.

Chris Patrick

Scott and his staff made a difficult time much easier. No pressure to 'upsell' or push guilt - which I've heard often happens. I would recommend Amherst to anybody with no hesitation. Our thanks to them.

Sonia Johnson

Staff are very caring and understanding. Great to have staff that can be accommating at this time of need.

Karla Fitzgerald

If you want your family carried from you with dignity and respect these people are amazing !! Very affordable was a plus !!

Play Time

Everything I needed for my mom, at affordable prices. Much more reasonable than other funeral homes. Much nicer looking urns too. Will recommend to anyone I know. Service was fast, from picking up the deceased, to cremation. Best prices, honest service. Thanks!

Janice Cochrane

The people were absolutely wonderful ans extremely helpful in my time of need. They walked me through the whole process with great respect and patience. I would highly recommend their services .

Nadyne Dashney

I found Amherst to be very thoughtful and sincere with there help especially when I was going through with them from another province once again I would like to thank you all.

Mike Schuler

Very professional, well priced and service without a hitch.

Kirsten Yu

My family and I are so grateful to have met Scott and Christian. We had the funeral for my grandfather, John Moore, today and we are so pleased with how everything turned out. Scott and Christian were so considerate and kind; we are so blessed that today went so smoothly because of them. We are so grateful, thank you.

Brian Baird

Great customer care during a tough time. No tricks, no pressure, highly recommended.

christopher hume

Amherst staff was helpful and informative. Excellent service made a difficult situation much easier to get through. Thanks, Christopher Hume

Jake P

Reliable and excellent service. Very helpful and special thanks to Tiana.

Julie H

My beloved mum passed away Oct 2013 and with myself and my brother not being local to Vancouver, I felt it would be challenging to find a reputable cremation service that I could trust. I am so glad I picked Amherst due to the great reviews from people who have used their service before me. So I feel it's important to add to the reviews for others that are looking for a trustworthy company in time of grief. I called Amherst and was surprised at how easy it was to make arrangements. No upselling or pressure to "choose now". No walking through a morose funeral home with commission fueled salespeople. Just a very compassionate staff who want to provide you with what YOU want and need. Scott was incredible when I called him just after my Mum's passing. As I cried on the phone, he simply said to me "there is NO rush, take your time and I am just a phone call away". He was very compassionate and superbly helpful. I told him of a special circumstance (we needed the ashes split in 2 and one prepared for overseas transport). No extra charges, no hassle, he simply said "I can do that for you". Scott came to our Mother's home the day after to help us fill out paperwork. That in and of itself was a wonderful gift. To be able to do all of that where I was comfortable was very easy and just what I needed. He also had papers that helped with us getting started on informing people of her passing and how to proceed with her estate. I cannot thank them enough. I could go on and on but you should know Scott was prompt at all times, thorough and supportive. Thank you Amherst for making it easy for us in a terrible time.

mahsan a

My experience in dealing with Amherst started off positively in the beginning. The office supervisor was responsive and very helpful. As far as things I wish they had done differently, there are several of them. Their very helpful information binder was missed during my first visit to their facilities and only given to me days later when I went by to pick up the first invoice. The useful information in that package could have saved me a ton of time and unnecessary headache. I did not find dealing with the company's owner and director reassuring or helpful. Their email correspondence felt scripted and filled with complicated jargon. And non of the concerns I brought up during the process was really addressed properly. As we got towards the end, I had an incredibly upsetting experience in speaking to the company director over the phone. Sure, I was upset, but I really wish he would have chosen to hear me out instead of threatening to hang up several times if I didn't stop talking, telling me what I was upset about is 'bs' and not his priority and finally hanging up the call. I was left feeling dismissed, disrespected and hurt. The final invoice has now been paid but the company is yet to reach out for any followups to the disconnected phone conversation. If I had to do it over again, I would definitely choose a different funeral home.

Karin Plamondon

Completely professional and easy to deal with with my brothers passing. Thank you so much

Angela Morelli

The staff at Amherst helped make a difficult time much less stressful by taking care of all the details.

David Wong

My mom passed away unexpectedly in the early morning at senior home and I was informed her body must be removed within 6 hours. Totally unprepared and solution must be in place within hours had me totally baffled. I searched on the web and quickly found Amherst Funeral Service, A phone call to them and things swiftly get organized. They came and picked up my mom within 2 hours after the phone call. What a relief. Subsequently Chris from the office called me to follow up. An appointment was set up the next day and my family met with Chris to go through the details of their service. Chris had been very patient explaining everything to our understanding. Subsequently, an cremation service was set three days later. Long story short, from the phone call to the first meeting to the flower arrangement to the cremation ceremony, everything was well planned and organized. And the best part was the service charge was absolutely reasonable. Thank you Chris and Scott for your professional service.

Ashleigh Tuhkala

The staff were very kind on the phone. Scott was an absolute sweetheart. Explained everything really well. (I don't remember the other gentleman I met when I went to the office the first time, but he was also really great!) They picked up my aunt from the hospice, handled the cremation and all the paperwork (that I didn't know I'd need, but they made sure I knew I had everything plus copies, and understood what we would need to use them for).

Larry Fletcher

The people at Amherst were great from my first call to them to the delivery of my father-in-law's ashes to our home. Very accommodating to our preferences and requests. I have asked that my survivors use Amherst for me when the time comes.

Jordan Fleischauer

All of the people with whom I interacted were kind and professional

Andrea Morrow

Personnel was quick and efficient. Questions answered professionally. Good choose of merchandise. Affordable. Only concern we experienced was, when transporting ashes and urn to airport, the bag broke so maybe suggest a stronger bag for transporting. Thankyou for all your help.

onetirefire

This was an absolutely incredible experience. They make you feel like they actually care. They are so helpful and informative and Scott was AMAZING on the phone. Thank you guys for everything.

Dianne Cherry

Excellent value. Made all arrangements online without a glitch. Kind, thorough and attentive. Highly recommend.

Corinne McCabe

Amherst provided excellent service to our family at a difficult time. They were helpful, respectful and flexible. We appreciated their considerate staff responses.

Donna Gamble

Professional, affordable, responsive to requests for information. Only disappointment was that they provided us with copies of the death certificate that were not signed. We had to go to a notary who made her own copies. The ones from Amherst were a waste of paper.

Eric Maura

Very easy, timely and respectful process. Highly recommended.

Peter Fowler

I have highly recommended Amherst Funeral Services to many friends and family. This company was professional, competent and sympathetic during the highly emotional times of the passing of both my father in 2016 and my mother in 2021. A simple phone call notifying Amherst of the deaths of my parents was all I had to do, other than giving a signed permission for them to be cremated. Because my parents had prepaid services, the process was flawless from beginning to end. I especiallly appreciated the full package of death certificates and ALL that I needed to proceed with finalizing my parents' estate. Thank you Amherst!

Sandi Mitchell

Horrible communication do not answer or respond to calls. Do not meet any expectations.

Marnie Cameron

After researching a few funeral and cremation companies, I decided to go with Amherst based on the many positive reviews, the Georgia Straight awards for Best of Vancouver, their very affordable prices and the fact that unlike many other companies they had their prices clearly listed on their website. I prepaid and did the paperwork in advance at their downtown office, and when my father passed away they did everything as advertised in an efficient and timely manner, including delivery of his ashes to my home which was very helpful in a time of great stress. I also really like the memorial pages that they provide for your loved one. My experience with Amherst was very good overall, and I would recommend them to anyone seeking a straightforward cremation package at a reasonable cost. And they never tried to up-sell me on anything or ask me for any additional fees, which is a refreshing way to do business in an industry where companies take advantage of those who are grieving.

Cindy Renaud

Great service

Janis Lew

Both my parents, John and Pat Wong, passed away within 3 months of each other this year. Amherst Cremation Services was very compassionate, helpful and thorough in helping us through this time of great sorrow. An associate of Amherst even went to my brother's house to discuss the plans for the cremations. I would definitely recommend Amherst Services to my relatives and friends.

Valerie Iourtchenko

Outstanding service. We are so thankful for what this company did. They managed to take care of everything and send us mom’s ashes to US during COVID. Very professional, customer service deserves more then 5 stars! Thank you again for outstanding work!

Robert Jouhal

Thank you for taking great care of our family at this tragic time, Scott. You and all your staff members have given us full support, compassion and care from the moment we reached out to you. What an amazing company you have and we're blessed to find you here! We can't thank you enough for what your company did to make our hardship much, much easier. God bless!

Myt1 Soo

Very professional and surprisingly easy process as they handled everything for me. First time dealing with something like this and they helped make the process less stressful. Highly recommend this company!

Sheldon L

Their services were fine, but they pestered me for months afterwards to leave a review.

Natalie Coates

Thanks to the people Amherst who made the process much easier. I wasn't sure what I was doing but they explained to me. And I really appreciate the service bring the paperwork and remains to me directly at my home while we are under Covid.

Chuck Pearson

Thank you for making a difficult time much easier to deal with.

Alyssa Kertesz

I would highly recommend this place! The staff is amazing, the owner Scott is so kind and so helpful. Everything was taken care of so quickly, they give you a folder with forms that you might need and tips to make things as easy as possible, and they will help you in any way they can. I am transporting ashes overseas and asked them for help and they were so accommodating, I really felt taken care of. They are a people centered business that does a wonderful job of helping people that are in a fragile state.

Nancy Pelletier

Terrible and very upsetting experience with this company. I would never recommend to anyone. Unprofessional, rude and unsympathetic. Scott does not follow through with what he says and Christian is the rudest person I have ever had to deal. Very sad when a customer is already in a state of mourning a loved one.