| When loved ones pass away, you'll want to make | | | | of the funeral director's staff. Bearers may be |
| sure that they have the funeral they deserve. | | | | friends, family members or colleagues of the |
| Here are the main aspects you need to consider | | | | person who has died. |
| when planning a funeral. | | | | 5. Music |
| 1. Viewing | | | | Many people now ask for specific pieces of music |
| When someone dies, family members and friend | | | | to be played at the service. Your Funeral Director |
| may wish to view the body of their loved one. | | | | will be able to advise you on this and make the |
| Viewing can assist with the resolution of grief. It | | | | appropriate arrangements for you. |
| can help people accept that death has occurred. | | | | 6. Eulogies |
| Each family member's viewpoint on visitation or | | | | A eulogy is when someone pays tribute to a |
| viewing may be different, and this is a very | | | | person's life by saying a few words that will help |
| personal decision. The best option in most cases is | | | | remember that person at the service. You can |
| to leave the option of visitation open to an | | | | prepare a speech yourself for this, or you may |
| individual's own emotional needs. Before or shortly | | | | prefer to read a favourite poem or passage. |
| after death some people may be adamant that | | | | 7. Catering |
| they do not wish to view the deceased, then | | | | You may wish to offer guests refreshments |
| change their mind a short time later. By | | | | after the funeral. You will need to decide who will |
| presenting the option of visitation, all family | | | | provide the catering and where it will be provided. |
| members' individual emotional needs can be met. | | | | You may prefer to offer refreshments at your |
| 2. Flowers, notices and memorials | | | | home or at a location close to where the service |
| In many communities it is traditional that friends | | | | has been held. |
| and family pay their respects by sending flowers | | | | 8. Burial or cremation? |
| or making a donation to charity. Your local funeral | | | | If there is no grave in existence and a new grave |
| director can organise flowers for you. They can | | | | is required, this can be arranged directly with the |
| also collect, record and distribute donations to | | | | cemetery or through the funeral director. New |
| charity on your behalf. | | | | graves are expensive and the costs can increase |
| The obituary notice in a local, national or other | | | | significantly in some areas if the deceased lived |
| publication announces the death and funeral details | | | | outside the cemetery authority's boundary. The |
| and can also become a tribute to the person who | | | | family organising the purchase of a new grave |
| has died, by perhaps containing a verse. Some | | | | should know what costs are before finalising the |
| people like to place acknowledgement notices in | | | | funeral arrangements. Burials in churchyards are |
| the newspaper after the funeral, thanking people | | | | subject to rules and regulations of the church |
| who have supported them. Some people also like | | | | authority concerned. These rules are often very |
| to compile a book of compliments, reflections and | | | | strict in relation to the type of headstone or |
| memories about the person who has died, written | | | | memorial that can be placed on the grave |
| by family and friends attending the service or | | | | following the funeral. The restrictions can also |
| afterwards. | | | | extend to what is written on the headstone. |
| You don't have to decide whether to put a | | | | Those responsible for the funeral arrangements |
| memorial on the grave or on the site of the burial | | | | should be aware of what memorial restrictions |
| of ashes until after the funeral. The regulations | | | | are enforced before the interment takes place to |
| about what kind of memorial can be put up, and | | | | avoid any unnecessary distress later on. |
| when, vary considerably from place to place. Your | | | | If you opt for cremation, this will take place |
| funeral director can advise you on this and make | | | | shortly after the funeral committal service is over |
| any arrangements on your behalf. | | | | in the crematorium chapel. Each coffin is cremated |
| 3. Transport | | | | individually and after each cremation the ashes are |
| You'll need to decide on the size and makeup of | | | | removed and kept separately so that each family |
| the cortege (the hearse and the cars following it). | | | | receives the remains of their relative. If required |
| Other questions to consider include: | | | | these are usually available for collection the next |
| - Will it be a standard, motorbike or horse-drawn | | | | working day and can be placed in the Garden of |
| hearse? | | | | Remembrance at the crematorium. The ashes |
| - How many cars will be needed? | | | | can also be kept by the relatives, interred in a |
| - Where will the cortege leave from? | | | | new or existing family grave, or scattered in a |
| - Will it take a special route? | | | | place deemed as appropriate by the family or as |
| - Will you require wheelchairs for elderly or | | | | requested by the deceased prior to death. |
| disabled mourners? | | | | This is an option that will have been specified in |
| - Where will you return to afterwards? | | | | someone's Will or prepaid funeral plan. |
| 4. Bearing the coffin | | | | So these are the usual options to consider. Other |
| Some families decide that they would like to bear | | | | possibilities can be discussed with your funeral |
| the coffin themselves at the ceremony, instead | | | | director or funeral plan provider. |