The role of funeral directors in Melbourne can cover a wide range of responsibilities. These can include assisting families when they need to arrange a funeral for a loved one, ensuring local regulations are complied with, managing the business in an efficient manner and most of all ensuring the unique needs and requirements of the family members of the deceased are met.
With this in mind, we will now discuss some vital aspects of the funeral business, and what people should know should they have to plan for a funeral.
Transporting the Body of the Deceased
A funeral director is responsible for transporting the body of the deceased safely, securely and professionally. They should also communicate closely with the family members, asking their advice and working to understand their wishes regarding plans for the memorial service. Since such occasions are challenging for those involved, the willingness and assistance of a funeral director in caring for important documents is often very much appreciated by the family members.
The Funeral Arrangements
There are many things to be dealt with and taken into account when making funeral arrangements, and a funeral director will generally be able to care for the majority of these. One such factor is deciding and organizing the location for the funeral. In cases where the death has taken place abroad, the situation can become more complex. It will be the task of the funeral director to ensure that the repatriation of the deceased’s body is carried out legally and safely. The next step is making arrangements with the family’s preferred church, cemetery or crematorium. This part of the process also involves confirming who will hold and execute the funeral service. When assisting the family in making the funeral arrangements, the funeral director will confirm a time and date which is most suitable for the deceased’s immediate family, relatives and friends. Since the death of a family member is a time of great emotional upset, knowing that a professional is caring for the arrangements and details of the funeral can be of great reassurance to the family and alleviate unnecessary stress.
Helping the Family to Celebrate the Life of their Loved One
Many people are unaware of the work that a funeral director does behind the scenes so to speak, to ensure that the life of the deceased’s is recognized and celebrated. It is often the funeral director who places notices in local papers to inform people of the death and funeral service of the deceased. Some families wish to donate to a cause which was important to their dear loved one, hence a funeral director can be directly responsible for collecting and even forwarding such donations. This is often the case when a loved one has died at the hands of a particular illness or disease. In such cases the family often have a strong desire to help others who are suffering from the same condition. The work of the funeral director does not finish when the funeral is over. They will often place a second notice in the local newspaper following the funeral to express thanks to those who attended the funeral, including if appropriate, appreciation for any donations made.
Planning for the Funeral Service
A common task which a funeral director will shoulder is that of planning the actual funeral. It’s important for those who purchase a pre-paid memorial service to familiarize themselves with this procedure, allowing the purchaser to plan in advance either their own funeral, or that of a family member. Many find much reassurance in such a procedure since it gives certainty that all wishes will be clearly met. Aspects of this planning will involve how the deceased will be brought to the funeral service, for example the choice of hearse. Purchasing the coffin and organizing the music to be used during the service are all part of this process.
All in all such pre-paid memorial services ensure that the funeral is held to the wishes of the deceased and their family, coupled with an assured sense of dignity throughout.