Question 1

Why have a funeral?

Accepted Answer

Having a funeral service can be very important to the grieving process. A funeral can be exactly what you want it to be, from a few words shared among your closest family and friends, to public gatherings in churches, chapels or other suitable venues.  A funeral allows us time to stop and think about the person who has passed, as they have gone from being a physical presence to a memory. It brings mourners together, to support and encourage one another through the initial grief and helps us move forward.

Question 2

Is a burial more expensive than cremation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the cost of purchasing a burial plot, the interment fee, gravedigging and a memorial plaque or headstone is more expensive than a cremation. Costs vary for each cemetery or crematorium.

Question 3

Should you have a viewing?

Accepted Answer

Viewing a loved one after death may be beneficial for the family. As well as allowing a personal last goodbye. The viewing helps some accept the reality of their loss. A viewing is encouraged for children because they grieve the same as adults do. Many grief specialists believe that attending a viewing dramatically aids in the long-term grief process, particularly when the death is unexpected.

Question 4

Should our children attend the funeral?

Accepted Answer

This is a decision that rests with the parents. Children do experience grief and should be encouraged to express their emotions. When children are given the opportunity to attend the funeral of someone they loved and cared about, it may assist them with the finality of death in their own minds. If a child expresses a wish to attend a funeral, that wish should be encouraged.

Question 5

What happens to the coffin after the service when being cremated?

Accepted Answer

The coffin is taken to the committal room where the nameplate of the coffin is removed and checked with the cremation order to ensure correct identity before the coffin is placed in the cremator. The nameplate remains outside the cremator until the cremation is complete to assist with identification of the cremated remains.

Question 6

What happens to the cremated remains?

Accepted Answer

Some people request that their cremated remains be placed or scattered at a location that holds special significance to them—perhaps a rose garden, niche or in the ocean. If no specific instruction has been left, your Funeral Arranger can make suggestions. Sometimes it is best to wait until the right place is found. How and where the remains are distributed is the personal choice of the family.

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