Funeral Comparisons

Funeral Directors

Professional Understanding

Funeral Directors can organise most of the things on the ‘to do’ list. Alternatively, you may wish the funeral director to have a more limited role.

Very important roles that funeral directors play are

• providing a temporary holding facility in their mortuary as well as embalming if required
• the preparation of the body for viewing, burial or cremation and condolence rooms are often provided
• providing the coffin or casket (for cremated remains)
• hearse transportation of the body as well as family cars if required
• shouldering the responsibility for a smooth running funeral at a very emotional time for the family by organising press notices, registration of the death and arranging the cemetery / church / chapel / venue / flowers etc. Funeral Director staff are often on call 24 hours a day.
  

In addition, funeral directors take the ‘stress’ out of organising a funeral because they make all the phone calls to cemeteries, crematoria, churches etc for you, and organise other things such as:

• memorial attendance books for friends and family to sign
• flowers
• collection and return of floral tribute cards
• organisation of music
• mourning stationery etc.

Some funeral directors provide an on-site chapel and catering services.

Find a Funeral Director

• Personal recommendation always counts for a lot when choosing any professional.
• Membership of professional organisations such as the Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) may be important for you
• When choosing on price, make sure you compare the the total costs, not just one cost.

The Funeral Directors Association of NSW represents the majority of funeral directors in that state and members are listed on their website  http://www.fdansw.com.au

Tha AFDA website http://www.afda.org.au lists all affiliated funeral directors and has an easy search function. 

The Independent Funeral Directors Assoc of Australia represents the smaller family owned and operated funeral businesses scattered over most states of Australia

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