KELOWNA – It’s always wise to select funeral services before they are needed, and Everden Rust Funeral Services and Crematorium has been helping people make a difficult process a little bit easier since the company started in 1994.
Jason Everden
Planning ahead provides more flexibility to create unique life celebrations, and relieves burdens on families at an extremely emotional time of life, when a loved one passes. Everden Rust is a full-service funeral provider with offices in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Penticton, operated by Jason Everden, a second-generation funeral director and embalmer. He and his two brothers took over from their father, company founder Bill Everden, who, although retired, still helps out when needed.
Jason has managed the Kelowna location since Marvin Rust retired in 2004. He is a partner in the firm with Jon Everden and Jeff Everden, who are also Funeral Directors. Jason received his Funeral Director and Embalmer’s licenses from the British Columbia Funeral Director Apprenticeship Program in 1998. He is also serving a two-year term as president of the British Columbia Funeral Association.
Company Has Been Serving The Okanagan Since 1994
“We have always treated families as we would want to be treated – if we had to make funeral arrangements ourselves,” he states. “We decided early on that we would become the ‘cremation experts’ in the Okanagan. Even back in 1994, there were many funeral providers that were afraid of cremation, so we decided to be a cremation leader in our area. “We introduced more options that were geared towards those families opting for cremation,” he says, adding they have two on-site crematoriums. “Our locations see an average location cremation rate in excess of 90 percent. While we do serve mostly cremation families, we haven’t forgotten our roots and still serve our more traditional families who prefer traditional burial.”
The newest cremation option they offer is called ‘Parting Stones’, which involves turning cremated remains into polished stones.
“It gives families the option of receiving their loved one’s cremated remains in ‘ash’ or ‘stone’ form,” Everden notes. This option is proving to be popular, and Everden was the first funeral professional in Canada to offer this.”
Everden Rust offers burial services, including immediate burial, visitation (a viewing), funeral/memorial services, and graveside/chapel or committal services at the cemetery. Everden adds that through the use of technology, Everden Rust is able to provide webcasting to enable those unable to travel to attend, as well as life tribute videos and other thoughtful services. They provide reasonable and flexible options and are committed to respect, compassion and dignity at an emotional time in ones’ life.
“It takes a special person to handle and serve those attending to end of life decisions and the Everden team assists about 750 families annually,” he says.
Everden Rust locations are at 1910 Windsor Road in Kelowna, 190-2300 Carrington Road in West Kelowna, and 1130 Carmi Avenue in Penticton.