Funerals

What's involved in a funeral

A. Preplanning

When someone dies,  the funeral arrangements can be overwhelming for some people. If you have time, it's worth doing your homework and make sure you tell your family or loved ones what you have planned!

   1. Decide on burial or Cremation
   2. Decide on the location and type of service
   3. Consider the funeral director required
   4. Consider the religious person or celebrant to lead the service
   5. Investigate coffin options
   6. Consider implications of embalming or partial embalming
   7. Investigate grave memorial options (if required)
   8. Consider whether you want flowers from mourners or charitable donation or similar
   9. Prepurchase a funeral plan if desired

B. At the time of the funeral

Remember, a funeral director will do most of this for you if you like:

  1. Obtain a death certificate from a doctor.   This is a legal requirement before the body can be moved. If the doctor is unable to determine the cause of death or if the death is sudden or unexpected the police will involve  the coroner.
  2. Register the death with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
  3. Transport the body to a temporary home, if required.   Funeral directors have facilities for holding and viewing bodies.
  4. Organise a time and venue for the service
  5. Purchase the right of burial plot (if required)
  6. Choose a coffin or casket
  7. Choose flowers - Optional or advise mourners of charitable donations
  8. Place notice in paper - Optional
  9. Organise the service (see The Service)
  10. Organise the wake

C. Helpful publications

The situation in each State of Australia varies. There are literally hundreds of websites by funeral directors and cemeteries etc  that have information on planning a funeral.

The NSW Office of Fair Trading publication Organising a Funeral gives information on * Who makes the arrangements?  * Paying for the funeral  * Finding a funeral director  * Quotes and costs  * What is a basic funeral?  * Direct committal  * Explanation of funeral terms  * If things go wrong.


Disclaimer: All information is supplied in good faith but no guarantee can be given as to its accuracy. All details are subject to change without notice. Inclusion of a cemetery, crematorium, other facility or service does not imply endorsement or recommendation.