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About

First Memorial Funeral Services and Boal Chapel and Memorial Gardens are located in North Vancouver at the foot of the North Shore Mountains. Working together, the sister locations allow families to take care of all their funeral and burial needs.

As members of the North Shore community, the funeral home and cemetery are honoured to provide high-quality services to North Vancouver, West Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and Burnaby. Serving communities from Hope to Squamish, the funeral and cemetery teams treat all families with the utmost respect.

 

Personalized funeral services

Chapel at First Memorial Funeral ServicesAt First Memorial Funeral Services, we believe that every life is unique. That belief is what drives us to provide personalized funerals and memorial services with a focus on honouring the lives of loved ones in unique and meaningful ways. Whether you prefer a traditional funeral service, a small gathering of friends and families or an elaborate celebration of life, we are committed to meeting your needs and wishes.

Our specially trained celebrants talk with your family and friends to learn about your loved one's life. Using that knowledge, the celebrant will create a one-of-a-kind ceremony that incorporates your loved one's passions, hobbies and interests. Did he hit the links every weekend? We can showcase his treasured clubs, put a putting green in the chapel and give guests personalized golf balls. Was she always first in line to see the latest blockbusters? We can roll out the red carpet and velvet ropes and play clips of her favourite movies on our large screens. We'll serve popcorn, candy and soft drinks, of course. There's almost no limit to what we can do. How will you celebrate your loved one's life? 

Welcoming chapel

Chapel at First Memorial Funeral ServicesOur non-denominational chapel provides funeral and memorial services for families of all cultures, religions and backgrounds. The open-concept chapel has a distinctly modern feel, with a glass ceiling that allows natural light to stream in. It seats 170 people with an overflow of up to 225 people for larger services.

The sun-filled reception room is ideal for catered receptions and celebration of life events. With our professional catering service, we can serve anything from light appetizers and refreshments to a formal dinner with white table cloths and waiter service.

For families who choose cremation, we have a strong relationship with West Coast Crematorium. We are also happy to coordinate with the crematorium of your choice.

Serving diverse backgrounds

The cultural diversity of our region is reflected in the many cultures we serve. First Memorial Funeral Services welcomes everyone, from every background.

We also understand the large financial impact that funerals, memorials and cremations can have on family finances. Our business is designed specifically to offer options that work within a variety of budgets, which gives most families the ability to have dignified funeral services and cremations.

Environmentally conscious

Cremation garden at Boal Chapel and Memorial GardensFirst Memorial Funeral Services recognizes the importance of addressing the environmental impact of cremation. We’re reducing our carbon emissions footprint, while supporting renewable energy in Canada, by choosing green natural gas for 100% of the cremation families we serve, through our partnership with Bullfrog Power. Our green energy commitment is also helping to support new, community-based renewable energy projects in our region and across Canada.

Boal Chapel and Memorial Gardens cemetery

Landscaping at Boal Chapel and Memorial GardensLocated at the foot of the North Shore Mountains, Boal Chapel and Memorial Gardens is situated on 5.5 acres with beautifully landscaped gardens, calming water features, serene lakes, charming gazebos and lush plant life. We are one the few cemeteries in the North Vancouver region that has cremation gardens, making us uniquely equipped to serve your cremation memorialization needs.

Peaceful, serene and naturally beautiful, Boal Chapel and Memorial Gardens is an ideal place for honouring the memory of a loved one.

Beautiful cremation gardens

Landscaping at Boal Chapel and Memorial GardensOur beautiful cremation gardens offer a serene and natural place for scattering or inurnment of cremated remains. The gardens were designed to blend in with the area's natural beauty and are noted for their stately trees and verdant greenery.

As you stroll through the grounds, you'll notice a wide range of cremation memorialization options, including pillar estates, boulder estates, column niches, cored companions, stone niches, header columbaria, curb niches and glass niches. The glass niches are located inside Crystal Mausoleum and can be personalized with flowers, photographs, mementos and keepsakes.

Above-ground burial options

In addition to the cremation gardens, the cemetery accommodates above-ground entombment and inurnment in our mausoleums. Crystal Mausoleum has numerous crypt options and offers glass-front niches for cremated remains.

We know choosing a final resting place is a difficult and emotional decision, our trusted cemetery team can guide you through all of these options and help you choose the one that’s best for you and your family.

Chapel and outdoor gazebos

Unique features at Boal Chapel and Memorial GardensSituated in a private and secluded area of the cemetery, Boal Chapel is an ideal place for a committal or memorial service. Our two lovely gazebos are also beautiful areas for services. With their wooden beamed ceilings, the gazebos complement the forested surroundings so as not to detract from the cemetery's natural beauty. If you wish to use the gazebos or chapel for a service, we are happy to coordinate with First Memorial Funeral Services or the funeral home of your choice so the transition from funeral home to cemetery is as seamless as possible. 

Let us know what you need

Our cemetery does not offer traditional in-ground burials, but our staff is happy to coordinate with other cemeteries for those who want such a burial. Whatever your unique needs, our staff is dedicated to providing cemetery services that are right for you and your family.

Trusted providers

First Memorial Services and Boal Chapel and Memorial Gardens are both members of the Dignity Memorial® network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers, offering personalized care and compassionate service you can trust.

Please call us for any reason at all. We're here for you day and night.

History

Signage at First Memorial Funeral ServicesFirst Memorial Funeral Services and Boal Chapel and Memorial Gardens have been staples of North Vancouver for more than 50 years.

Renovations and upgrades

There have been many renovations and upgrades to the funeral home, chapel and cemetery since opening in 1961. In 1992, West Coast Crematorium opened to accommodate the growing demand for cremations. Then, in 1999, First Memorial opened a reception centre where families can host gatherings before or after funeral services.

Crystal Mausoleum was built in 2000. More recently, the cemetery team added scenic landscaping to the memorial gardens. The creation of Crystal Creek in 2015 is perhaps the most notable change: Its calming water flows throughout the cemetery property.

Amenities

Location

Cremation

Service

Religious & Cultural

Other Languages Spoken

Other

Plan a Simple Cremation

Simple can still mean exceptional. Let us show you how.

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A beautiful bouquet of flowers

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Bouquet of flowers on a cemetery

Remember the one you love

Honor the memory of your loved one with cemetery flower placement. You choose the flowers. You choose the months. We do the rest.

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A beautiful bouquet of flowers

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

1-800-Flowers

View arrangements

Bouquet of flowers on a cemetery

Remember the one you love

Honour the memory of your loved one with cemetery flower placement. You choose the flowers. You choose the months. We do the rest.

Learn more

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

View arrangements
A beautiful bouquet of flowers

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

1-800-Flowers

View arrangements

Vintage photos scattered

Unable to find an obituary?

Not finding what you are looking for? Search for your loved one's obituary across any of our other locations.

A beautiful bouquet of flowers

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

1-800-Flowers

View arrangements

Ratings & Reviews

Verified Customer Reviews

Since 2005, many of our customers have taken the time to tell us how we did each year via our Voice of the Customer program. Our star ratings and comments from families come directly from these surveys.

"It's rare that I rate a '10' for services but, on the occasion of my Mother's Memorial, I have no choice. Losing a loved one is never easy but all the staff at First Memorial in North Vancouver were amazing. They made the whole experience effortless by helping our family through the entire process of loss, mourning and, most importantly, celebrating our Mother with the dignity that she deserved. My Mother planned and paid for her services over 25 years ago. Not only did First Memorial honour this but they also went above and beyond at no additional costs. This is remarkable in itself but, they also relieved much of the anxiety knowing that things were being taken care of in a compassionate and professional manner. Everything from my first contact with Evelyn, Director and Jaime, Advisor, to the flowers on the tables handpicked by the grounds superintendents (Wes and Lex) was absolutely perfect. My Mother would have been immensely happy that all her pre-arrangements and wishes were fulfilled. As testament, my husband and I will be making our final arrangements with First Memorial who made everything effortless for those that are left behind to deal with them. Patty"

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Customer

October 2021

"First Memorial Funeral director took care of every single detail, everyone was very respectful and understanding."

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Burial & Memorial Service Customer

October 2021

"I just truly appreciated both gentlemen's professionalism and gentle nature. A different fellow have us moms ashes and he was so explanatory and gentle with handing them over and explaining what to expect as he opened them up for us. I don't expect that sort of gentle step by step process and it was really appreciated after. Chris was also fantastic as he took us through everything and held our hand through everything we needed to do. It was overwhelming and he broke it all down to make it easier to process and complete. Thank you both so much. On another note I was very grateful you honoured medical mask exemptions. You never know how a business will respond and I was grateful this was a non issue considering the stress we were already under. Thank you again for all you have done to make this process as easy as possible. Many blessings to you all."

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Customer

September 2021

"Our experience with First Memorial was very positive. We were very satisfied with the service we received and the caring approach by the staff. We were treated very well."

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Burial & Memorial Service Customer

September 2021

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