Custom-Designed Civil Farewell Ceremonies

"Although you aren’t here to sing it,
The beat of your song will continue in our hearts."
~ From "Songbird" By Georgia Lound~

Funerals | Celebrations Of Life

A Funeral is a farewell service held in the presence of the deceased that helps loved ones say goodbye to those they have lost. The deceased will be in a casket, which sometimes may be open for viewing, but most of the time will be closed.

Sometimes these services are also called Celebrations of Life.

Many Funerals or Celebrations of Life take place in a chapel, crematorium, church or at the graveside, but they are by no means the only places where these services can be held. Those organising the event can arrange with the funeral directors to have the ceremony in any place of importance, such as the family home, a favourite park, down by the river, in a hall or auditorium, even a cinema if desired. The funeral directors are tasked with obtaining relevant approvals to access particular locations, if needed, and to bring and remove the deceased.

Where the deceased is to be buried, the service may be held at the graveside, or in a chapel which then moves to and concludes at the graveside. 

A graveside service held in a cemetery.

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Laying wreaths on the sea at a memorial service in the NT, 2015.

Memorials

Memorials are funerals held without the presence of the deceased. 

There are many reasons why the deceased is not present at these events - the person may be missing, presumed dead; the person may have passed away many years earlier and their passing has recently come to light; the person may have passed away in another geographic location; and so on.

The service allows attendees some closure and a chance to say goodbye.

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"Living" Funerals

"Living" Funerals are, literally, the party of your life: a chance to gather with loved ones and friends while you are still alive, and say goodbye in person while you can.

There are many ways you can have this party - informally at a backyard gathering, or you can go the whole hog with costumes, performances and whole lot of drama (good, of course!). Or something in between.

"Living" Funerals provide a chance for people who don't have long to live to say goodbye on their terms, and in a. safe, comfortable space for everyone attending. Importantly, those who do attend get to say their goodbye, and to tell the terminally ill person what they have meant to them. This may help the grieving process for some people.

"Living" Memorials provide special memories for all involved.

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One type of columbarium wall at a cemetery.

Scattering or Placement of Ashes

When a person has been cremated, their cremated remains (aka "ashes") are returned to their loved ones at some point after that process has been completed. Some people choose to keep the ashes close to home in a decorative urn. Others prefer to scatter the remains in nature or place them in special receptacles at a cemetery, usually in a columbarium wall or beneath a rock garden or other such location.

You can choose to have.a scattering or placement ceremony to accompany this process. 

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Thanksgiving
​(Anniversary of Passing)

You may have been to a thanksgiving service held by a hospital, church, or non-profit organisation to remember those who passed away that year.

​Often they are held around special times of year when families would normally gather, such as Christmas or other much-celebrated event. Thanksgiving services are important commemorations which give thanks for the life of the deceased, and recognise that those left behind are still navigating the grief process and may be struggling themselves.

A thanksgiving service helps remind everyone of the importance of the deceased in their lives, even though they are no longer with us.

Memorial gardens are beautiful places of reflection.