Organising a funeral

THE ROLE OF THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR

The Funeral Director will set up an arrangement meeting with the family to help navigate through the process and decisions that need to be made to create a personalised funeral service. The first thing the Funeral Director will do is help the family complete the Death Registration Statement. Registering a death is compulsory. The Funeral Director will hold on to this form until the burial or cremation is finalised. The Funeral Director will then lodge this information with the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages. After this form is lodged, the family can expect to wait 3-6 weeks to receive the certified Death Certificate. The family will need the death certificate to finalise any legal and financial matters.

Information the Funeral Director will require for the purpose of legally registering the death with the Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages. The deceased’s:

Full name
Last known address
Last known occupation
Date and place of birth
Date and place of death
Father’s name
Mother’s maiden name
Marital status at time of death
Details of all marriages, where, when and to whom
Names and dates of birth of children, including legally adopted or stillborn children as well as any who have died.

After the Death Registration Statement is completed, the following matters are discussed in this meeting:

Transportation of the deceased from place of death to the Funeral Director’s mortuary
Mortuary care, preparation and dressing of the deceased, and placement in a coffin.
Obtaining the Medical Cause of Death certificate and cremation certificate (if required) from the hospital or treating doctor.
Completion and lodgement of death registration forms with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Obtaining original certified death certificate from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for later use by family or solicitor.
Placement of press notices in the newspapers (if required).
Liaising with clergy or funeral celebrant.
Organising booking times with church, cemetery or crematorium.
Organising floral arrangements, church booklets, musicians etc.
Conducting the funeral service.
Preparation and issue of a final account detailing the cost of disbursements (which may have differed slightly from the original quote), their professional & service fees as well as the merchandise you have chosen.

Choices you will need to consider when arranging a funeral are:

Is burial or cremation preferred -if burial, does the family already own a grave?
Venue – church followed by crematorium/cemetery, or single service only?
Type of service – religious / celebrant.
Transportation needs – for family and/or friends.
Will there be a viewing and is embalming required (for presentation and sanitisation).
Has the deceased left written information -has a pre-paid arrangement been put in place?
Are there any specific requests left by the deceased – consider music, flowers etc.
After funeral gathering – home or other venue, catering.

serving

Sydney’s Indian, Sri Lankan & Nepalese Community

Specialise In

Hindu; Sikh, Jain, Buddhist & Christian death traditions and rituals

open

24 hours, 7 days

‘We understand how daunting and stressful it is to organise a funeral, therefore we have created a downloadable checklist so that you can keep track that all requirements are completed.’