Guides funerals

Planning a funeral

What’s a celebration of life?

A celebration of life is an end-of-life event held to honour someone’s life, rather than remember their death. You could hold one instead of, or combined with, a more traditional funeral.

How to buy a burial plot

If you’re thinking about buying a burial plot – we’ll go through all the details from what a burial plot is, to how much it costs, so you feel prepared.

Can you have a funeral on a weekend

Most funeral directors and religious venues will offer a funeral on a Saturday or Sunday, but there are some special considerations to keep in mind.

How to write a Funeral Order of Service

An Order of Service is a booklet outlining the structure and content of an end-of-life event. They originated at Christian funerals, and included what hymns and readings would be performed at the service.

Keeping ashes in the house

Some people find it comforting to keep ashes close by. You might keep them in an urn or box, have them made into jewellery, or bury them along with trees or flowers in the garden.

How does a crematorium work?

Crematoriums are non-religious buildings with a service hall, cremation facilities, and grounds or gardens. Both the funeral service and the cremation itself will happen within the same building.

What happens at a Catholic funeral

A traditional Catholic funeral has a distinct three-part structure to the ceremony, including the vigil, funeral liturgy and the committal. There’s a focus on praying for the person who’s died and supporting their family.

Who has the right to arrange your funeral?

Who has the right to arrange your funeral depends on whether you’ve left a will. In practice, it’s likely to be your closest family members who make the decisions.

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