TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eirene.ca, an online cremation and end-of-life technology platform, today announced it is partnering with Assurant Life of Canada (ALOC), affiliate of Assurant Inc., (NYSE: AIZ), a leading global provider of housing, lifestyle, and senior planning solutions that support and protect consumers and their purchases. Together the companies will offer Canadians the ability to prepay for cremation arrangement services online as part of their estate planning.
“Our partnership with ALOC delivers a solution designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with traditional funeral arrangements,” said Mallory Greene, CEO, Eirene.ca. “Canadians deserve to access trusted, no-pressure, affordable cremation arrangement services as part of their end of life planning. Families can now make their arrangements from the comfort of their own home with confidence and without stress.”
Fewer than 30 per cent of Canadians have an up-to-date will, and fewer have pre-arranged their funeral. This leaves many families with the stress and financial burden of arranging services at a time of grief. According to a national survey Eirene.ca commissioned with Angus-Reid, 44 per cent of Canadians cannot afford the expense of a traditional funeral, and only 38 per cent of Canadians are prepared to manage the financial burden of their loved one’s funeral.
“Financial burden should not be a barrier to respecting your loved one’s wishes,” said Bernie Perri, AVP, Canada Sales, Assurant Global Preneed. “Our innovative partnership brings a flexible, affordable and secure insurance policy with low premiums to Canadians. With Eirene.ca’s comprehensive online service, Canadians can have confidence that their wishes are in place and will be respected.”
Through the partnership, Eirene.ca customers can purchase an ALOC life insurance policy. This affordable policy requires no medical and is a cost-effective, accessible way to ensure end-of-life arrangements are covered. At the time of death, the policy ensures payment for Eirene.ca cremation arrangement services, including the transportation of the deceased to the crematorium, the cremation service, government paperwork, and the return of the ashes to the family. With the ALOC insurance policy, consumers can have confidence that they are covered regardless of any future price changes for the service.
“This partnership is part of our continued effort to help Canadians prepare for the future and put their end-of-life plans in place,” said Greene. “We offer Canadians a no-pressure, transparent and simple process that eliminates the paperwork, ongoing coordination, guesswork and other burdens that can come along with funeral planning.”
Eirene clients use the platform to arrange cremation services at the time of passing. The simple, online experience eliminates the back-and-forth paperwork and time-consuming process traditionally associated with the funeral industry. Once confirmed online, Eirene works with local crematorium and transfer partners across Ontario to ensure the deceased is safely transported from their place of passing, cremated, and the ashes returned to their families. In addition to the new prepayment insurance solution, the Eirene.ca platform also offers a complimentary estate administration tool for families to close accounts and notify the government, along with unlimited proof of death certificates.
About Assurant
Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ) is a leading global provider of lifestyle and housing solutions that support, protect and connect major consumer purchases. Anticipating the evolving needs of consumers, Assurant partners with the world’s leading brands to develop innovative products and services and to deliver an enhanced customer experience. A Fortune 500 company with a presence in 21 countries, Assurant offers mobile device solutions; extended service contracts; vehicle protection services; pre-funded funeral insurance; renters insurance; lender-placed insurance products; and other specialty products. The Assurant Foundation strengthens communities by supporting charitable partners that help protect where people live and can thrive, connect with local resources, inspire inclusion and prepare leaders of the future.
About Eirene
Founded in 2019, Eirene is Canada’s first direct cremation technology platform making cremation easier and affordable for clients. Eirene provides end-to-end services from pick-up to cremation to delivery of the ashes. Eirene is currently serving the Greater Toronto Area and is expanding across Canada. For more information, please visit eirene.ca
