Let’s be honest: the topic of death, dying and funerals makes most of us quite uncomfortable. I am sure most of you are familiar with the words of Benjamin Franklin; ‘In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.’ So, if death is such a natural and important part of our lives, then why are we still so afraid of the subject? We are currently in the year 2019, a time where there has never [...]
Many people who live in the country have family or friends living in Perth, and therefore wish for their funeral to be held there as it is more convenient. However, oftentimes people are unsure of who to turn to – a local funeral director, or a funeral director in the Perth metropolitan area. The answer is that as long as the country funeral director is licenced with the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, they are able to conduct the service. However, we [...]
Knowing which clothing to dress your loved in for the last time is more difficult than most people realise. Do you dress them in their favourite pair of boardies, or do you use the suit they wore to work for the majority of their working life? As with most decisions pertaining to funerals, it once again comes down to family preferences. Whether it is a nice pair of neat clothes, a uniform, a favourite sports shirt, or a t-shirt and [...]
Many people like to place special items of significance with their loved ones prior to the funeral. From teddys to photos to lollies to beer, we have had a huge variety of items placed in coffins. There are very few limits on what can get placed in a coffin. In fact, if you are being buried, then anything can go with the deceased. If it is a cremation, then according to the Metropolitan Cemetery Board rules, alcohol, glass and battery-powered [...]
To be a pallbearer is a huge honour awarded to some of the most important people in a person’s life. Knowing who to choose can often be very hard, especially when you have a big family or circle of friends. If you have family who are willing and able to do it, it is a wonderful way for them to be involved on the day. It is always special when children or grandchildren can escort their parents or grandparents to [...]
Some of our most frequently asked questions include ‘do you come north of the river?' or ‘do you come to Mandurah?’ and so on. Nowadays, the physical location of a funeral home matters less and less. The majority of funerals are held at one of the cemeteries or a local church, so the number of people that actually come to the funeral home is dwindling rapidly. This means that we can service a larger area, and that is exactly what [...]
Pre-planning is a term that is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. It has numerous advantages and it is a fantastic way to be prepared for the future. One thing that stops people from setting up a funeral bond is their fear of being ‘locked in’ to a certain place or funeral director. If that is you, fear no more! When you set up a funeral bond, you do so with your selected funeral home. However, even [...]
Dressing the deceased and preparing the body for burial is an age-old tradition. It can be dated all the way back to around 3500BC, where we can read about the mummification process the Egyptians followed. Since those days, pre-funeral rites have changed drastically. Modern-day embalming made its appearance following the American Civil War, and since then embalming has become a common practise. Today there are many families who decide not to have a viewing or have their loved ones embalmed. [...]
Wearing black to a funeral is an age-old tradition. It started in the Victorian era when Queen Victoria donned all black as a sign of mourning for her husband, Albert. Funeral traditions have come and gone, but where are we now with clothing? The attitude towards funerals has changed significantly in the last 50 years. Instead of mourning the dead, funerals have now become a celebration of life. With that mindset, clothing trends have also been impacted. The days of [...]
The Metropolitan Cemetery Board is the governing body over the Karrakatta, Midland, Pinnaroo, Fremantle, and Rockingham cemeteries. In addition to its role as the manager of cemeteries and memorial parks within the metropolitan area, the MCB makes sure that cemetery legislation is followed. It is also responsible for the licencing of Funeral Directors and Monumental Masons operating within the metropolitan area. As the peak cemetery management authority within the State, the MCB provides assistance and advice to smaller cemetery management authorities [...]
