Funeral Planning

A funeral is a ceremony for a deceased person prior to burial or cremation. A funeral gives the opportunity for family and friends of the deceased to gather and mourn the passing of their loved one, to share cherished memories and celebrate their life. A funeral is a vital first step to help the bereaved heal after the loss of someone special. There are many unique ways to celebrate life – let the funeral director know exactly what your desires are, and they will honour your wishes.

Funeral directors are in charge of all the logistics following a death. They complete all the necessary paperwork, make arrangements for the transportation of the body, and put into action the choices made by the family in regards to the funeral service and the final resting place of the body. Beyond the logistics, funeral directors are there to provide moral support and guidance for someone coping with death.

We are here to help, we can arrange to have the remains transported home from anywhere in the world. We will assume responsibility and make the proper arrangements to ensure your loved one’s remains come home as efficiently as possible. This is referred to as repatriation.

Embalming preserves the body, it slows down decomposition and enhances the appearance of the body damaged by traumatic death or illness. Embalming gives time to the family of the deceased to arrange a service, and allows the family the option of having an open-coffin viewing.

If no pre-arrangements have been made, the type of service is entirely up to you. Services are usually held at a funeral home or a place of worship. Our funeral directors are more than happy to work with you to figure out what would be the most appropriate.

Of course you can, in fact more and more people are opting for a more non-traditional personalised service.

Embalming is recommended, especially if there is an extended gap between death and burial or cremation.

The cost of the funeral varies depending on the wishes you have. The cost includes all professional services, including transportation, embalming and other preparation of the remains, the use of a funeral home for the ceremony and the purchase of a coffin/casket or urn. Funeral directors work an average of 40 hours per funeral. The cost of operating a funeral home is factored into the cost as well. Funeral homes are a 24-hour operation, with extensive facilities that need to be maintained. Click here to read more about Funeral Costs.

I would immediately address my concerns with the funeral director. If you are unhappy with the outcome, the management of Dignity Funeral Care can be contacted on 087 142 7271.