Cape Breton·NewThe founder of Graves to Grace says expenses associated with commemorating a loved one can be surprising.Graves to Grace founder says expenses associated with commemorating a loved one can be surprisingFrances Willick · CBC News · Posted: Dec 13, 2025 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 30 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.A new initiative will provide free grave markers or headstones to those who need assistance. (Paul Poirier/CBC)When Alfred Reynolds lost two family members within a short period of time a few years ago, he and his grieving loved ones grappled with all the logistical challenges that followed.But he says an unexpected difficulty was the cost of commemorating them.“We were going through a financial time where we couldn’t even afford, you know, to get a marker or anything for the grave site,” he says.“And that’s a different kind of sorrow when you’re standing over a grave of a loved one and you can’t be there for them for the final act, which is to commemorate their life and set that place for them.”Similarly, Reynolds and his wife Madaline Reynolds were shocked by the cost of a traditional obituary. Between the two obituaries and two grave markers, the couple was facing an expense of about $3,500.Alfred Reynolds runs Nova Scotia Obituaries and has started Graves to Grace to provide simple grave markers to those who can’t afford them. (Submitted by Alfred Reynolds)“We didn’t truly understand what was involved when it came to costs when a family member, a loved one, passes away,” Reynolds says.After that experience, Reynolds and his wife decided to do something to help other people commemorate their loved ones without the heavy financial burden.In 2022, they started Nova Scotia Obituaries, a site where they post submitted obituaries for a fraction of the cost of traditional obits, charging about $30 and offering unlimited text, photos and video.“We’ve heard a lot of people that are very grateful to be able to tell a loved one’s story,” Reynolds said. “A lot of people associate sadness with the obituary process. And, you know, it really isn’t. It’s celebratory. It’s telling that story. And we’re so grateful that we get to do that.”Pay-what-you-can modelRecently, Reynolds changed the website’s model with an aim of helping even more families.Last month, Nova Scotia Obituaries switched to a pay-what-you-can system to cover the expenses of hosting the website, and any additional money they receive will go toward a new initiative called Graves to Grace.Graves to Grace will offer free grave markers, plaques, simple headstones or restoration to families who need assistance. The initiative will also be funded through community donations.Within the first couple of weeks of announcing Graves to Grace, Reynolds received 50 applications for assistance.There is no income threshold or means test to determine eligibility for help, and the requests will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis.Graves to Grace will pay for restoration of existing stones as well as simple grave markers. (Paul Poirier/CBC)Graves to Grace is partnering with Keith Elliott, an independent craftsman who makes headstones and also does restoration.Elliott says within the industry, a flat grave marker can cost about $450 and an upright headstone can start at about $1,800. He will be offering simple grave markers or headstones to Graves to Grace at a discount. Elliott says a lot of people don’t have a grave marker because their family simply never got around to having one made, or couldn’t afford it. For some people, that can be a burden, or make them feel guilty.“I’ve seen clients come in and say their grandparents never had a grave marker, it’s been 40 years,” Elliott says. Since switching to a pay-what-you-can model, Reynolds says Nova Scotia Obituaries has seen people pay $50 to $100 to place an obituary on the site.MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORFrances Willick is a journalist with CBC Nova Scotia. Please contact her with feedback, story ideas or tips at frances.willick@cbc.ca
New N.S. initiative offers free grave markers, pay-what-you-can obituaries
