Planning a funeral service in the short space of time from death to service and trying to reflect the life of your loved one and personalise the service, can be stressful. We hope that some of the options here will help you to think about how you would like to honour their lives, but we are here for just that, to guide and assist you with this, discussing your own ideas and helping you to make them happen.
The Funeral Service
The funeral service is an important part in the very personal journey of grief we all travel on the death of someone we love. It honours and celebrates your loved one’s life, it gives family and friends the opportunity to share their memories, their thoughts and their grief together, and it gives them the time to acknowledge the life of, and say farewell to, someone who has touched their lives in so many ways.
Planning a funeral service in the short space of time from death to service and trying to reflect the life of your loved one and personalise the service, can be stressful. We hope that some of the options here will help you to think about how you would like to honour their lives, but we are here for just that, to guide and assist you with this, discussing your own ideas and helping you to make them happen.
Cremation
We have our own cremator at our Hastings branch which gives families greater options for having the entire service all at the one venue. There are many options for the final resting place for your ashes and we can give you advice on many of these. This is not something that you have to decide until you feel you are ready, and it is wise to take your time with your decision.
Viewing
Saying goodbye to your loved one, friend or colleague is an important part of grieving. Spending time with the deceased helps us accept the 'death' and come to terms with the reality of the loss. You may wish to have your loved one at home for some time before the service, or spend time with them at our funeral home. Our family viewing rooms are quiet, spacious and private ensuring your time with them is peaceful and belongs to you and your family.
Writing a Eulogy
Sometimes your minister or celebrant will ask to write out a “life history” of your loved one to be read at the service. This might be read by you, or another family member, a friend, or the person officiating. You are the only one that knows all the little things and the big things that have happened throughout your loved one’s life but being asked to write these down can just seem too hard! Don’t worry, it is not possible to write down a person’s whole life so just choose the parts that mean something and are special to you and your family. Just glance through the list below to help jog your memory. Often talking with the family will bring up lots of memories; have someone jot these down so that you can think about them when you are writing the eulogy.
- When and where they were born
- Parents and siblings, schooling, childhood days, teenage and young days
- Employment/career, marriage, children, home
- Trips/adventures, special events, clubs, passions and loves, hobbies, social life
- Favourite sayings, anecdotes, favourite readings, poetry, songs, music.
Celebrant/Clergy
If you do not have your own minister and would still like to have a religious service we can arrange this for you, similarly if you wish to have a non-religious service we can organise a celebrant who will help you plan the service of your choice.
Organist/Musician
We can arrange for any musician such as an organist, piper, or soloist to play at the funeral service.
Service Sheets
Service sheets or hymn sheets can be a personal tribute and a memorial of the deceased and are often an important part of the celebration of life. We can help you personalise these and we can print them in colour or black and white.
Memorial Books
These can be a tribute and a valuable record of the people that have taken the time to pay tribute to your loved one.
Death Notices
We can assist with the wording and format for your Death Notice and can place them in any of the papers in New Zealand and overseas.
Audio/Visual
Our chapels bring sight and sound to life through musical and visual tributes to your loved one. Currently we do require CD, USB or DVD MP4 format. Live Web-Streaming links are also available and this option has become increasingly popular for overseas or remote friends and family.
Hearses & Vehicles
We have modern Holden and Ford hearses available.
After hours support
Advice and assistance is available over the phone after hours on (06) 835 9925, and we are able to talk you through the next steps if a loved one has passed away, and make arrangements to bring them back into our care.
Embalming
This involves the preservation and presentation of the deceased for the duration of the funeral service. It is a medical procedure that ensures the disinfection and preservation of your loved one for the time they will spend until the cremation or burial. It is important to us that our embalming can give a more natural appearance, ensuring that viewing is a positive experience.
Ashes
Knowing what to do with your loved one’s ashes can be a dilemma for many; we can advise and assist with the many options available, from scattering at sea, in a garden, in a cemetery, burial in a public garden, or a cemetery or even interring them in a temple.
Funeral Planning
Being prepared and preplanning your funeral can lessen the worry for your family and can make the many decisions a little easier for them. It is important to hold these records in a secure, known location. We can hold your records, with a copy for your next of kin or executor, giving you peace of mind. You may wish to fill out the pre-planning forms online and either send them to us for safe keeping or keep them with your important papers.
Funeral Prepayment
We have a safe secure prepayment plan where your money is securely held in the FDANZ Trust Account. Prepayment can relieve your family of the financial burden of funeral costs and put your mind at rest knowing that these costs have been taken care of. Comprehensive brochures on prepayment are available on request. Please contact us.
Repatriation
Should your loved one die overseas or you wish to have them returned to their country of birth, there are a number of important legal considerations and documentation that must be completed. We can take all the stress and worry away with our expertise in repatriation. Please contact us.
Funeral Costs & Payment
The funeral account is comprised of the costs for our services and time, the casket, and all the disbursements which may include items like flowers, celebrant/minister, newspaper, cremation fee, Organist, service sheets, catering etc. We believe that an important part of our role is to provide a high standard of service at a reasonable cost.
Live Streaming
We offer a Live Streaming service with a secure link to your loved one’s service, for you to share with family and friends out of town or who may not be able to attend in person.