FAQ's
We appreciate planning a Funeral can be an emotional and confusing time.
To help make your experience easier, we have compiled some common questions.
If you would like personalised advice and support, please contact us anytime.
Before burial or cremation, by law the deceased needs to be identified in the coffin or casket. You may choose to couple this with a private or advertised viewing, as it can help the family to deal with the loss of their loved one. In the days leading up to the service, we can provide private chapels or family rooms for viewing.
At the Family’s wish, we can broadcast the service live on our website or privately. It will generally be available to view for up to a month after the funeral.
Children are an integral part of the family. Unless there is a specific reason to exclude them from the funeral, they should be included in the family’s sorrows, as they are in the family's joys. A parent or relative should explain what will happen at the service, and then perhaps ask if the child wishes to be included.
Sometimes in lieu of flowers, a donation is made to a particular charity or organisation. However, if you would like to express your love or sympathy, sending flowers is an appropriate and thoughtful gesture.
We maintain a high level of hygiene and cleanliness within our preparation rooms. The deceased is treated with the same dignity and reverence they would expect in their lifetime.
Modern embalming is entirely different to the traditional method practised by ancient civilisations. Embalming is not necessary in all cases, but it is essential when the deceased is being transferred interstate or overseas. It fulfills the functions of hygienic preservation, eliminates the risk of infection, and preserves the natural appearance of the deceased. Our trained practitioners adhere to the highest standards as stipulated by the Australian and British Institutes of Embalmers, and they can advise you and our consultants on the exact circumstances.
It is best for the family to make this decision. From our experience, many families have appreciated their loved one being dressed in their own clothing, whether formal or casual wear.
Whether for personal or cultural reasons, you are welcome to assist in preparing your loved one for the service.
Our Adelaide funeral services are always provided on the basis of an honest and realistic price. We will provide to you with an estimate of the funeral expenses at the time of arrangement, and submit an account after the funeral that covers: General service charges including paperwork and liaison with external parties to coordinate the funeral service; selected coffin or casket; cemetery/crematorium fee; clergy/celebrant offering; transporting the family to and from the service; newspaper notices; flowers for the funeral; medical certificates, certified death certificate and cremation permit as required; Memorial printing - memorial cards, bookmarks, order of service booklets etc.; and any extra services you choose.
The basic difference is the design. Coffins are tapered at the head and foot and are broader at the shoulders, whereas caskets are a rectangular shape. Both coffins and caskets come in a range of timbers, and caskets can also be made from metal. Our consultants can guide you through the full range of both styles.
No matter which option you choose, the same range of timber coffins and caskets is available for your selection. The cost for cremation services is considerably less than any cemetery fee for re-opening an existing grave or purchasing a new burial site.
We only require a deposit when you arrange the funeral. A detailed Tax Invoice is usually sent out within 10 days of the Funeral, with up to 30 days to settle the balance of the account. The payment of the Funeral account is not contingent on Probate being granted or Estates being settled. The person who signs the authorisation for the funeral to be conducted is legally responsible for the payment of the funeral account.
We can refer you to the appropriate people to help select a memorial for burial or cremation. Arrangements are usually made within a few weeks of the funeral. You may wish to purchase a perpetual sandstone plaque memorial and place ashes in our Memorial Wall at our Norwood Funeral Home and Memorial Garden. Most cemeteries offer a wide selection of other memorials.
After the funeral our consultants can place a death notice in the newspaper on your family’s behalf according to your specific wishes.
Mourning symbols have almost completely disappeared from Western society. Wearing the colour black at funerals is becoming less customary, although it is still worn by certain community groups, and is a personal choice.
Even if they unexpectedly pass away from home, in another state or country, we can arrange to have your loved one returned without additional worry. We can also make all the necessary arrangements for an overseas burial or cremation.
A properly thought out Will, made with the assistance of a Solicitor or Trustee Company, is the only way to ensure that a person’s property is distributed amongst beneficiaries in accordance with their wishes. A will can also communicate your specific wish for burial or cremation.
An autopsy is a post-mortem examination of a body performed by a medically qualified pathologist using scientific means. It may be required by the State Coroner to determine the cause of death. If this is the case, consent of the family does not need to be obtained as the matter is out of their hands. There is no charge to the Estate or family. During an autopsy the body is first examined externally, and is then opened to examine the internal organs. If required, organs may be removed for further tests. Finally, any incisions are stitched just as they would be in a surgical operation, and there is no other visible evidence that an autopsy has been performed. Families need to be aware that an autopsy can delay the funeral.