Front exterior at First Memorial Funeral Services photos icon

Highlights

  • flexible-event-space

    Flexible event space

  • celebration-of-life-center

    Celebration of life centre

  • flexible-chapel-space

    Flexible chapel space

  • outdoor-pavilion

    Outdoor pavilion

  • waterside-views

    Waterside views

About

First Memorial Funeral Services® and Garden of Memories have worked as sister locations to provide funeral, cremation and burial services in the Victoria community for more than 56 years.

A pillar in the Victoria community, the funeral home is situated on 2.5 beautiful acres replete with established trees and an abundance of flowers, providing families a quiet place to honour their loved ones. A newly remodelled chapel reflects the beauty of the surrounding cemetery grounds. It is a versatile space designed to meet the needs of modern families, so that regardless of the type of service you choose—from traditional to contemporary—your friends and family will feel welcome and comfortable.

Personalized funerals

Chapel at First Memorial Funeral ServicesOur mission  at First Memorial Funeral Services is to help families create personalized funerals and memorials. This approach keeps us open to traditional religious rites as well as contemporary gatherings that deeply reflect a person's life. That means that whether you want a basic cremation with cremated remains scattered in a personally meaningful place, a funeral at the funeral home with cemetery burial nearby, or a modern celebration of life with live music and a send-off that expresses the passions of yourself or your loved one, we are happy to deliver. If you can imagine it, we can make it happen.

Whether traditional or increasingly creative, our funerals and memorials leave lasting and healing impressions on families and their guests. First Memorial Funeral Services is the leader in funeral services in the Victoria community, and the care that our staff provides is unmatched. In addition to conducting funerals and arranging cremations, we will forward or receive remains. We are a non-denominational funeral home and work with all churches and cemeteries.

On-site cremation services

Not everyone knows that there are many cremation options. If you are interested in cremation, the funeral home team can explain the process and different options. From a direct cremation without a memorial service or a witness cremation to a full funeral service before or after the cremation and more, we help you understand this increasingly common choice—and handle all of the cremation arrangements. Our on-site crematorium means that your loved one never leaves our care.

People you can count on

Our caring team members are all professionally trained, provincially licensed and accredited. They are dedicated, innovative and committed to excellence. Whether you need a simple cremation with no service or a highly personalized celebration of life, we at First Memorial Funeral Services are honoured to serve you. Feel free to call us 24 hours a day.

Garden of Memories

Columbariums at First Memorial Garden of MemoriesUnique to Vancouver Island, the Garden of Memories is a place to memorialize loved ones who have chosen cremation. Nestled in a hollow adjacent to Victoria's Royal Oak Burial Park, it offers a tranquil setting for families and friends to gather and reflect. Thoughtfully situated between elegant gazebos and winding paths are a range of inurnment choices: granite columbaria, memorial books, ossuaries, urn gardens, gazebo niches, scroll walls, terraced brick wall niches and family estate memorials beautifully finished in natural stone. A waterfall provides a gentle soundtrack; delicate patterns of rain and sunlight dance across the pond.

Community service

Throughout the year, First Memorial Funeral Services holds a number of events. Reflections is one of those special occasions. Held each December, the service allows families the opportunity to come together and remember their loved ones during the Christmas season. We also open our doors to Victoria community organizations for meetings, luncheons and other events.

History

Cemetery grounds at First Memorial Funeral Services"A company that is dedicated to compassionately supporting families at difficult times, celebrating the significance of lives that have been lived, and preserving memories that transcend generations, with dignity and honour." That is our philosophy at First Memorial Funeral Services.

It's a philosophy that emerged during the Vietnam War, when many people were facing the emotional and financial burdens of burying their loved ones. Our founders believed that everyone was entitled to a dignified funeral service. Today, we hold true to the same simple belief and continue the tradition of affordable, compassionate service. To that end, our facilities' prices for burial and cremation have remained affordable—without sacrificing professionalism, quality or care.

An enduring legacy

First Memorial Funeral Services has served Canadian families since 1961. Through the years, we grew from a single funeral home location to a network of funeral homes throughout British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. We provide a range of services to meet the ever-changing needs of the people for whom we care.

Today, First Memorial Funeral Services and Garden of Memories are members of the Dignity Memorial® network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers, offering compassionate care and personalized service you can trust.

View other First Memorial , Victoria-BC locations

Amenities

Location

Cremation

Service

Religious & Cultural

Other

100% SERVICE GUARANTEE

At Dignity Memorial, we take our promises seriously. That’s why we offer a 100% service guarantee. We strive to get every detail right the first time, every time. If for some reason we don’t and you’re dissatisfied with any aspect of your service, we will remedy it quickly and fully.

Learn about our Dignity Difference benefits.

Find nearby cemetery & cremation property

Browse cemetery and cremation property near you so you can compare your options and determine the best fit for your family.

FIND A CEMETERY

Recent Obituaries

See All Obituaries

When new obituaries are added, receive a notification by email or phone.

Receive notifications
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

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

Learn More
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.

"Upon arrival I was very moved that a parking spot had been reserved with the family name. I new from that moment I was in good hands."

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

April 2021

"Excellent service. Very respectful, patient, thoughtful, and thorough. Prearrangements made the process go very smoothly and are strongly recommended."

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

March 2021

"I did preplanning and arrangement for both my husband's and mine with Tony Mah a couple of years ago. Both Tony and April were superb in their professional and supportive to me throughout my recent experience of sending off my beloved. I am assured that I would receive the same service from their team when I am joining my beloved. Many thanks!"

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

February 2021

"As stated earlier, I found all the interactions I had with the staff at First Memorial to be very compassionate, comforting, reassuring, and understanding. It takes a very special skill set to deal with a grieving family. The staff at First Memorial helped me navigate through this very painful process with such grace and compassion. I couldn't be more grateful and I thank you for that."

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

February 2021

View More Reviews

Other Resources

Scenic walkway with flowers, green grass and trees.

CHECKLIST

What to do when someone dies

LEARN MORE
Chapel at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors

COSTS

How much does an average funeral cost?

LEARN MORE
Tiered hedge estates with beautiful landscaping at Rose Hills.

CEMETERY

Understanding cemeteries

 

LEARN MORE
Grandmother and granddaughter sitting on a bench at Pacific View

JEWISH

Advance funeral planning as a Mitzvah

 

LEARN MORE
Guests at a tailgate memorial are talking, grilling and eating.

PLANNING, IDEAS

Plan an unforgettable tribute

LEARN MORE
Pathway through a cremation garden in a cemetery with niches, boulders and benches.

CEMETERY, CREMATION

Cemetery options for cremation

 

LEARN MORE
A silver Star of David sits over Hebrew writing.

JEWISH

Yahrzeit observance

Learn more