Funeral and celebration of life celebrants in Stratford

What does Avondale Cemetery offer?

Avondale Cemetery is the City of Stratford's cemetery, at 4 Avondale Avenue, with graves, cremation lots, a columbarium and a mausoleum. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 519-271-0250 ext. 244. After a death, the City asks families to call for an in-person appointment: staff explain what to expect, help choose a location and draw up the contract.

A few rules shape the day itself:

• the cemetery needs at least 24 business hours' notice for each interment;
• no committal service or interment takes place on a Sunday or a statutory holiday;
• a Saturday graveside service is possible, before noon, if staff are available and the weather allows, for an extra $422.11 in 2026, HST included;
• a committal service in the cemetery chapel costs $115.58, HST included.

The office can also arrange a memorial bench with a bronze plaque, at set locations around Stratford, or a memorial tree.

Before any burial or cremation, the death must be registered with the municipality, usually the one where it occurred. In Stratford, the Clerk's Office on the ground floor of City Hall handles death registrations.

Can you scatter ashes in Stratford?

Yes. Avondale Cemetery has a large scattering garden near Section 25, the only place in the cemetery where ashes may be scattered. Names can be added to a plaque in the garden. The City's 2026 fee is $511.10, HST included, and in winter, weather and soil conditions can delay a scattering.

Elsewhere, Ontario allows ashes to be scattered on private land with the owner's consent, and on unoccupied Crown land, including land covered by water, where no sign prohibits it. On municipal land, check local by-laws first.

Where can you hold a celebration of life in Stratford?

The City rents several halls, with tables and chairs and, in some, a kitchen:

Every rental needs a signed contract, a deposit and insurance. Book through recreation staff at 519-271-0250, ext. 286, 249 or 252 depending on the hall.

The City does not book public parkland, so an informal gathering in a park is allowed as long as others can still use the space. To reserve a spot, the formal picnic area of Upper Queen's Park takes groups of up to 200, with a special events application and proof of $5 million in liability insurance.

When is a celebrant a good fit?

When you want a ceremony that tells the story of the person. A celebrant from our local network comes to the place you choose, whether a funeral home, Avondale Cemetery, a park, a hall or your home, and writes the ceremony around the person's life, religious or not. The price is shown upfront, all-in. If the celebrant becomes unavailable, Celebrance finds a replacement.

Information checked on September 24, 2026 against official sources from the City of Stratford and the Province of Ontario. Rules and fees can change: confirm with the City before you plan.

Sources: stratford.ca: cemetery · stratford.ca: city of stratford by law 88 2012 accessible.pdf · stratford.ca: by law 125 2025 fees and charges 2026 consolidated to january 26 2026 aoda.pdf · stratford.ca: commissioner of oaths · stratford.ca: facility rentals · stratford.ca: parks forestry · ontario.ca: arrange funeral burial cremation alkaline hydrolysis or scattering · thebao.ca: welcome to the bereavement authority of ontarios faq for consumers