What do I do when someone passes?
Our dedicated team of funeral directors are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Call Integrity Funerals
on 1800 995 352
We know that when you are grieving, you need someone straight away.
When faced with the unfamiliar feelings and the emotions that the death of a loved one brings, it can be confusing and seem complicated. It is easy to feel overwhelmed with paperwork, arrangements, dealing with family and friends, as well as your own grief.
Most families will meet with a funeral director within a couple of days of death. Some want to get everything planned straight away, others prefer to take some time to be together as a family to grieve before considering the next steps. There is no right or wrong, only what is right for your family.
Each person is unique in personality, likes and dislikes. Consequently, no two funerals will be the same, nor should they be. Good funeral directors listen to the family’s needs, provide options and perform a service based on the uniquely personal decisions you make.
Funerals can be held as soon as you are ready, some as quickly as a couple of days, while others might require more time to plan and for people to be able to attend due to distance or other reasons. It is important to take whatever time you need to plan the service that is best for you.
Steps To Arranging A Funeral
The first step is the most important. You have to choose your funeral director. How do you do this? How do you choose someone to look after the person you love?
While there are many things that may guide your choice, ultimately it is about being comfortable with the funeral home and the funeral director you are trusting. Some questions that might help you be assured in your decision are: –
- Are they members of the Australian Funeral Directors Association?
- What funeral experience does the company have?
- What professional facilities do they provide? (chapel, private viewing facilities, vehicle fleet, etc)
- What service do they provide me before, during and after the funeral? Will they supply a detailed breakdown and written quotation?
- What are their terms of payment?
- Most importantly, who are the people who are looking after you, their training, professionalism and experience.
When you first contact a funeral home, they are likely to ask you for some information.
- The full name of the deceased
- Dates of birth and death.
- The location of the deceased
- If a medical certificate for the cause of death has been signed by the medical practitioner
- The name and phone number of the next of kin who will be in charge of the funeral arrangements
- An insight as to whether a burial or cremation is intended
Once you have decided on a funeral home, the following steps will take place:
- They will arrange for the transfer of the person who has died into their care
- An arrangement time is scheduled, at your home, or at the funeral home depending on what is best for your family
- At the arrangement we will go through all the paperwork
Your First Step
The first important step is to ensure that the person who has died is transferred into the care of the funeral director. Next, an arrangement interview time is scheduled. Most funeral directors will attend your home to make arrangements, as this is often a time where families need to be together.
The option of visiting the funeral director’s office may also be helpful as it takes the principal decision-makers away from the phone calls and visitors. This provides a calmer environment in which to make decisions and give instructions to the funeral director. This alternative is also helpful in allowing you to see the funeral director’s premises, and to select from the range of coffins and caskets they provide.
