Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Services of the Archdiocese of Toronto has successfully expanded Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery and Funeral Home with a new facility that takes care of all arrangements in one place.

Located on the Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Woodbridge, Ont., the more than 62,000-square-foot complex is now home to both the funeral home and cemetery office after being relocated from the site’s former farmhouse. The fully accessible integration gives families the ability to conduct all arrangements, whether funeral, cremation, burial or reception, under one roof.

“We are here to walk with our families through one of life’s most difficult moments, and so we care for our families, offer them compassion, and that care is reflected in our Catholic values,” said Amy Profenna, director of marketing and public relations at Catholic Cemeteries.

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“By bringing the cemetery office and this funeral home together under one roof, we've created a seamless experience for our families that really allows them to focus on what matters at the time of death, and that's honouring their loved one.”

The renovation design was developed with leadership from Larry Martin, the director of facility development, with a focus on creating an environment that reflects Catholic identity while remaining functional and welcoming. Standouts of the renovation include six arrangement rooms along with six scalable visitation suites that can accommodate up to 430 people. Further, digital wayfinding screens, global livestream capabilities, memorial tribute monitors, hospitality amenities and extensive parking.

The cemetery and funeral home also hosts the Chapel of Our Lady of Consolation. With seating for 270, it holds a special designation for funeral Masses to be celebrated by a family’s parish priest or the funeral home’s chaplain, Fr. Mark Villanueva. The chapel also features accessible seating, hearing assistance, tactile indicators for the visually impaired and livestream capabilities for broadcasting.

The interior of the site features visual elements of Marian devotion with a mural of the Coronation of Mary and visitation rooms named after the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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Since its opening in late March, families have expressed positive feedback on the new Queen of Heaven site, particularly how its full-service delivery removes challenging aspects of funeral planning.

“ Because it's such a difficult time in someone's life, if we can make that somewhat easier, that’s always a good thing, and we think it goes a long way,” Profenna said.

Profenna noted the comprehensive approach Catholic Cemeteries has implemented in the past, with Queen of Heaven now having joined Thornhill's Holy Cross and Mississauga’s Assumption by establishing its funeral home on cemetery grounds.

“From Holy Cross and Assumption, we learned that families find great comfort when funeral homes and cemeteries are together in a space rooted in faith. At Queen of Heaven, we built on that experience by creating a truly Catholic environment. Every detail reflects our Catholic tradition, helping families honour their loved ones with dignity, celebrate the sacred rites of the Church and find consolation in both prayer and presence.” 

On March 28, Cardinal Francis Leo blessed the Chapel of Our Lady of Consolation and officially opened Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery Office and Funeral Home.

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“ Our tradition continues to grow in ways that serve today's families, but we always want that funeral home (experience) to deepen our ministry. We want to always be present for families, providing as holistic care as we can,” Profenna said.

“We are committed to providing kindness, care and personal attention to each family that we serve. This new facility reflects our ongoing dedication to ensuring Catholic families are supported spiritually and practically,” said John Huys, president and CEO of Catholic Cemeteries.