Planning a Funeral

The therapeutic value of a funeral service is widely recognised. Considered the first and most important step towards working through grief and re-adjusting to life, it is primarily an opportunity to celebrate a person’s life.  From a practical point of view, the funeral also assures the legal, reverent and dignified burial or cremation of the deceased.

For most people, organising a funeral service is a rather unusual situation, so we are here to make the process easier. There are many choices available to you, and the costs and fees for the different parts of a funeral will also require your consideration. This is why a knowledgeable and supportive funeral director is often greatly appreciated.

Our staff are available on call whenever a death occurs. Our primary role is to guide you through the funeral process, and relieve you from as much of the pressure as we can. We’ll serve as your organiser, adviser, supporter and administrator, ensuring your funeral choices are arranged sensitively and carefully.

Our service includes:

• Meeting with the family and ascertaining their wishes
• Transporting the deceased
• Liaising with the doctor, hospital and/or coroner as necessary
• Registering the death with the authorities
• Organising newspaper notices
• Preparing, embalming, dressing and casketing the deceased
• Ensuring cultural and/or ethnic customs are appropriately observed
• Arranging and attending the funeral service
• Providing service sheets
• Organising other service requirements such as video or audio recording
• Liaising with the florist, minister and/or celebrant
• Organising the burial or cremation with councils

Note that a funeral will typically require approximately 16 to 20 hours of a funeral director’s time. Our fee also covers overheads such as premises, vehicles, staff salaries and our 24-hour service.