How to Support Someone Who Has Lost a Loved One When someone you care about is grieving after the loss of a loved one, it can be difficult to know what to say or do. They may be struggling with a variety of painful and intense emotions including depression, anger, sadness and feelings of isolation. It’s important not to let your fears about doing or saying the wrong thing stop you from reaching out and being supportive. You don’t need [...]
Tips for Dealing With the Division of Possessions The passing of a loved one is one of the most significant challenges we face during our life. In addition to processing your grief, you need to deal with administrative tasks such as sorting through the estate and making funeral arrangements. Careful planning and having the knowledge and right professional support is important for dealing with the division of possessions. Administration of the Estate The executor of a deceased person’s will has [...]
What is the Role of a Funeral Director? When a family member or close friend passes away, making decisions and handling logistics regarding funeral arrangements can be difficult while you are grieving. An experienced funeral director is there to help organise the funeral providing support during your time of loss. They are there to guide you through all the options and necessary considerations, while taking away some of the burden of arranging a memorable and meaningful funeral ceremony for your [...]
What Do I Do When Someone Passes Away? When a loved one passes away, it can feel overwhelming and you may be unsure what to do first. The process differs depending on whether the death is expected (i.e. due to old age or a terminal health condition) or unexpected (e.g. due to a traffic accident). If the death occurs in a hospital or care facility, the staff there will help you through the process and understanding what you need to [...]
What Costs are Involved in a Funeral? Funerals can be beautiful, meaningful ways to celebrate someone’s life and create positive, lasting memories. However, they can also be a source of financial strain on the family. A study by the University of Sydney in 2017 found that the average funeral service costs $4,902, while comparison website finder.com.au found the average cost to be $7,449. It’s worth noting that the cost of a funeral can vary dramatically depending on exactly what it [...]
Multicultural Funerals in Australia No matter what your ethnicity or faith, death is one of life's unavoidable events. While we may not have much of a choice about how or when we die, we can choose how we depart the world with a funeral ceremony that reflects our faith and personal beliefs. From the reflective practices of Judaism to the Hindu belief in reincarnation, here’s how different communities around Australia farewell their loved ones. Hinduism According to the Hindu faith, [...]
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 [...]
