FAQ

We do recommend using a trained celebrant – we have a list of trusted celebrant who are all graduates of the Celebrant School –www.celebrant.school.nz.

With a small, intimate family gathering, it may be that a family member is confident to co-ordinate the service but with a large funeral the responsibility is huge in terms of time-keeping, ensuring that people have an opportunity to speak, keeping a flow within the ceremony etc, and this is where a trained celebrant is invaluable. The celebrant will spend several hours with your family, gathering stories and getting to know you.

For cremation, the body must be in a casket, or shroud (see our Miranda Brown shroud on our casket page) that has a solid base.

While at home, the deceased may be kept in their own bed, but must be in a casket for the cremation or burial. The casket may be kept open at the service.

Generally we will be wanting to cool the body as quickly as possible so we transfer them from our stretcher to a bed in the coolroom. We check in daily, and check the body to ensure all is okay. If family are visiting we wash the body with essential oils, wash hair, and dress them in whatever clothing the family has provided, and then set them up in our viewing room where family are welcome to visit, make a cup of tea, and spend time. If family are not visiting, we would generally wash and dress the body the day before the funeral.

Family are of course welcome to participate in any of this preparation.

Our costs are listed on our Costings page, so you can pretty much add up the funeral expenses for yourself.

Our costs for a funeral range from around $2300 for a direct, no service cremation to anything around $5000 for a full service with one of our higher priced caskets, catering etc. We discuss costs fully when we meet with the family, and there are no unexpected shocks or surprises when the account arrives.