When it comes to planning a funeral, it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed. There are a lot of things to consider, and you may have multiple questions that need answering.
The best advice is to come prepared to your first meeting with a funeral director. With the right questions, you’ll have the answers to help make you feel as comfortable as possible.
Here are some of the top questions to ask your funeral director for peace of mind regarding your funeral arrangements.
One of the first things to ask a funeral director is what are the first consultation costs and breakdown of fees.
You need to know exactly what you are paying for, what the advice you are getting costs, and that there are no hidden fees.
Most funeral homes will make arrangements to visit you at your home and offer a free consultation or a credit towards the funeral plan.
Funerals these days come with many different services and package options to suit all types of budgets and individual needs.
A funeral director should be able to easily guide you through the services they have on their website and other customised options that may not be on the website.
You should receive the opportunity to customise your service, and your funeral director will be able to take you through the costs of additional customised options.
A reputable funeral home can provide you with a fixed price and all-inclusive quote, so you know exactly where you are standing with your finances and budgeting requirements.
This is a question often overlooked; however, knowing if your funeral home is associated with local communities and organisations is an excellent way of establishing their reputation in the local community.
If the funeral home is part of the Australian Funeral Directors Association and other community and charity associations, it shows they are very reputable in your local area which will give you peace of mind in your choice.
Most funeral homes can arrange a large range of transport possibilities, including a hearse, informal vehicles such as an estate car, motorcycle hearse, horses and carriage and, other specialist vehicles.
You may also wish to use your own vehicles, and you can talk to your funeral director about these options.
A reputable funeral home will be able to assist you with a range of payment options.
They can work with insurance companies if there are existing life insurance policies and assist with information in case financial help is needed.
There are several ways you may be eligible to be financially assisted with funerals, including options like government assistance, state assistance, superannuation assistance, and life insurance.
In the case of financial need, the funeral home will also be able to arrange accommodations for the least expensive services possible or to suit your budget.
The answer should be yes.
The funeral director or staff member of the funeral home will be on call 24/7 to outline staff procedures about who will come to remove the body, how long it will take, and what you can expect to happen once they get there.
The family will always be given the option of sitting with their loved one before the body is removed. This is the same case whether the person passes away in a hospital, nursing home, or residential setting.
The funeral home with whom you have pre-planned your final arrangements will come and remove the body and transport it to their facility at any time, day or night.
Another common query surrounding whether your loved ones will be able to see, spend time with, or view the remains before burial or cremation.
Who will be taking care of cleaning and dressing the body before services? Is this necessary with cremation? These are valid concerns that your funeral director will be able to address.
A good idea is to ask to see the area of the facility where your loved one will be kept until services or other arrangements if this is something that concerns you.
Ask the funeral director about all available options for cremation or burial.
There is a wide range of services available and unique ideas, including services such as ocean funerals on a boat and environmentally friendly options.
If you already own a family burial site or plan to store the cremated remains, this is something to discuss with the funeral director.
Yes, family members can carry the coffin in most funeral situations.
Ask the funeral director for information on how this can be carried out and how many family members will be needed to assist you with this process.
Most funeral homes will have a large assortment of coffins and caskets for you to choose from.
Today, there are many options, including traditional wooden styles and environmentally conscious ones in cane, bamboo and banana leaf, or cardboard.
There are also many options where you can choose painted coloured coffins.
Your funeral director will be able to provide a price list of options and help you decide on the perfect type of coffin which best represents your loved one.
Brisbane:
Gold Coast:
Newhaven Funerals Brisbane
Newhaven Funerals Gold Coast
| Monday | 8am – 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am – 5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am – 5pm |
| Thursday | 8am – 5pm |
| Friday | 8am – 5pm |
| Saturday | 9am – 4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Newhaven Funerals Brisbane
Newhaven Funerals Gold Coast
