Category: Funeral

There are many things that go on behind the scenes in the life of a Funeral Director to make sure everything is ready to go and runs smoothly on the day of the funeral.

A funeral director will assit friends and families in planning the funeral; this includes deciding on the time, date and location.

Once the funeral director has met with the loved ones of the deceased to find out what type of funeral they wish to have, the funeral director can begin co-ordinating the funeral arrangements. Usually, the funeral director will ask personal questions about the deceased to get to know their character so that they can be remembered in a meaningful manner on the day of the funeral.

Next, it is the responsibility of the funeral director to prepare the paperwork, and venue for the funeral, hire a celebrant or minister and order the coffin. A big part of a funeral director’s role includes dealing with coroners, filing death certificates, submitting death notices to newspapers, editing obituaries, putting together orders of service, organising services like flowers or transport and liaising with churches or crematoriums.

Most importantly, arrangements will be made for the collection and care of the deceased’s body until the day of the funeral.

The main duty of the funeral director is to care for the friends, family and colleagues of the deceased by offering support and a listening ear during this grieving time in the lead-up to the funeral.

Despite the funeral itself being the main focus of a funeral director’s job, a lot goes on beforehand to bring the ceremony together.

Looking for funeral directors in North Shore? Here at Rowley Funerals, we provide a wide range of funeral services in Auckland to help you create the perfect funeral ceremony for the deceased. Our team of highly experienced funeral directors are readily available to support and guide you through the funeral process, gladly at your side throughout it all. So, you can rest assured that we are always on hand to help you through this difficult time. Get in touch with us today.

Funerals are an opportunity to celebrate the life of your loved one. There are no set rules on what should and shouldn’t be done at a funeral, this is entirely up to you as the family or loved one of the deceased. Music plays a powerful role in a funeral service, with each song being able to reflect the life of the person who has passed away. This blog delves into the role of music in funerals and how it can be used.

Uplifting music can help set a positive tone

Using uplifting music will depend on the tone you wish to set for the service. In many cases, the use of uplifting music can help to encourage the service to be more of a celebration as opposed to a sorrowful day. By implementing uplifting music into the service, friends and family can feel comforted.

Choose the best songs to represent your loved one

It’s essential that you choose songs that would be meaningful to the person who has passed away. This could involve playing their favourite artist, or a song which holds significance to them. Some families opt to play a mix of genres and styles that reflect the diverse interests and personalities of their loved one who has passed away.

When should music be played at the funeral?

As mentioned earlier, there are no set rules for funerals, so music can be played at any time you feel suits. Most religious services will play music during incoming and outgoing processions. For non-religious services, people tend to opt to play music during the procession times.

Many people opt to play funeral songs in the background during the period of reflection or prayer, if you opt to do this you will need to carefully decide the right song for this moment. If you’re planning a slideshow to broadcast then you may want to select a few songs which would suit the theme of the images.

At Rowley Funerals we’ve got years of experience in providing a wide range of funerals in Auckland. No matter the type of funeral service that you would like for your loved one, you can rely on Rowley Funerals to be with you every step of the way. Get in touch with us today.

Losing a loved one is a difficult experience and the process of arranging a funeral can feel overwhelming. This guide is here to help you navigate through this time with as much care as possible. Here are the steps on how we would suggest you begin arranging the funeral.

1) Notify authorities and family

The first step is often the most difficult: notifying the relevant authorities. If the person passed away at home or in a healthcare setting, contact the appropriate authorities such as the police, to officially document the death. You will then need to inform close family members and friends about the passing. This is usually done online to make the process as smooth as possible.

2) Choose a funeral home

Our advice is to do your research and choose a reputable funeral home that will help you with the arrangements.  Find someone who will guide you through the process, provide you with options, and handle the more difficult aspects of the funeral such as organising the service.

3) Take note of any funeral preferences

If you happen to know the person’s wishes or preferences, now is the time to discuss these, along with any special rituals they may have requested, or you believe they would like. Ultimately, it will be up to you to decide on cremation or burial, and whether the service is religious, memorial etc.

4) Notify others 

Now that things are in motion regarding the funeral, it might be a good time to begin notifying extended family members, colleagues, or anyone else about the passing and share details about the funeral service. Again, social media is often used for this purpose, but you could use an obituary or personal letters if you prefer.

5) Prepare donations, eulogies etc. 

This would be the stage where you would prepare an obituary or eulogy about the person’s life and accomplishments. You can decide whether you’d like flowers at the service or if you’d prefer to suggest charitable donations instead – perhaps to a cause the person cared about.

The final stage is preparing logistics and whether you’re having a reception after the funeral. Remember that arranging a funeral is a personal process and there is no right or wrong. Our directors for funerals in Auckland have many years of experience and will help you to find the balance whilst creating a meaningful send-off for your loved one.

Funerals can cause a lot of mixed feelings. On the one hand, it’s sad to say goodbye to a friend or loved one, while at the same time you may find comfort in being with other people who knew them and having a chance to share your happy memories.

One aspect of funerals that isn’t discussed much is the stress that can be caused by not knowing how to behave during the ceremony. This particularly affects those who haven’t been to many funerals and may therefore be unsure of what’s expected of them.

If you’re planning to attend a funeral and you’re not certain of the etiquette, Rowley Funerals and our funeral home in Auckland can help. We’ve put together this list of dos and don’ts to follow when attending a funeral, so you can say goodbye without having to worry about inadvertently doing something inappropriate.

1) Don’t forget to let people know you’re attending

If you’ve been invited to a funeral and you’ve decided you want to be there, it’s really important to respond to that invitation. For health and safety reasons, some venues may have capacity limits, so showing up unannounced could cause problems. Also, it’s polite to let the family (or whoever is organising) know that you’ll be in attendance.

2) Don’t be late

It’s really important that you don’t arrive late, as not only will this be embarrassing for you, but many people will consider this disrespectful towards the deceased. Aim to arrive a short time before the service is due to begin, and leave yourself plenty of time to get there.

3) Do switch your phone off

Many of us carry our phones in our pockets all day, making it easy to forget it’s there. But the last thing you – and the other funeral attendees – want is for it to ring in the middle of the service. Switch it off or put it on silent mode before the funeral begins.

4) Do wear black

Unless you are told otherwise, black or other dark clothes are typically considered the most appropriate thing to wear to a funeral.

If you’ve found yourself with a funeral to plan and you’re searching for funeral homes in Auckland, Rowley Funerals are here for you. We know that organising a funeral can be a distressing time, so we’ll work with you to arrange the perfect send off for your loved one.

Planning a funeral can be an emotional and overwhelming process. However, with careful preparation and support, you can create a meaningful and personalized farewell for your loved one. In this step-by-step guide, we will outline the key stages involved in planning a funeral, helping you navigate this difficult time with compassion and respect.

1) Notify and gather support 

When a loved one passes away, begin by notifying immediate family members and close friends. Reach out to trusted individuals who can provide emotional support and assist you throughout the funeral planning process. Share the news with relevant parties, such as employers or organizations, to make necessary arrangements. Having a support system in place will help alleviate some of the burden and allow you to focus on the necessary tasks.

2) Choose a funeral home and director 

Select a reputable funeral home that aligns with your needs and values. Meet with the funeral director to discuss your preferences and gather information about available funeral services Auckland. They will guide you through the legal requirements, assist with paperwork, and offer advice on various funeral options, including burial or cremation, caskets, urns, and memorial services.

3) Determine the funeral type and logistics 

Decide on the type of funeral or memorial service you envision. Consider factors such as cultural or religious customs, personal preferences, and budget. Discuss the desired location, date, and time with the funeral home. Coordinate details such as transportation for the deceased, seating arrangements, audio-visual presentations, music, readings, and speakers.

4) Personalize the ceremony

Create a personalized ceremony that honours the life and memory of your loved one. Consider their hobbies, passions, and achievements when selecting readings, music, or rituals. Include eulogies or speeches from family members or close friends who can share heartfelt stories or memories. Display photographs, memorabilia, or a tribute table that represents their life journey. Personal touches can provide solace and help attendees celebrate and remember the unique individual your loved one was.

5) Communicate and invite attendees

Inform family, friends, colleagues, and community members about the funeral arrangements. Utilize various communication channels such as phone calls, emails, social media, or newspaper announcements. Include relevant details such as the date, time, location, and any specific requests or instructions. Consider creating an online obituary or memorial page where people can leave messages and share their condolences.

Losing a family member can be difficult, so when it comes to having to announce their death even whilst you’re still in mourning, this can also be a complex situation that you might not even have the energy to deal with.

However, the deceased’s friends will be grateful that you took the time to let them know of their passing. This is especially important if you weren’t particularly close with any of their friends before they passed away.

So, if you’re planning on doing this on Facebook, here’s how you can tell the deceased’s friends that they’ve sadly passed away.

Make A Simple Announcement

A simple announcement is all you need to let others know that your family member has recently died. Keep the name, the date of their passing, and details of the memorial service that you wish to make public. You can also include a picture of the deceased, as well as a sentimental memory that you want to share. Not everyone appreciates this type of post, however, so it might be worth putting a warning at the very top of your post to caution others that it’s a sad post.

Adjust Privacy Settings

You might not be Facebook friends with all of the deceased’s friends, so it’s a good idea to change the privacy settings of the post to ensure that the deceased’s friends can also view it. You might not want the post to be seen by everyone either, so it’d be wise to change it to Friends (+ Friends of those tagged). This setting allows friends of anyone tagged in the post to view the post as well.

Memorialise Their Facebook Account

Facebook introduced a feature that enabled Facebook accounts to be memorialised if the account owner has passed away. This allows friends and family to gather and share fond memories of the deceased, preventing others from logging into the account. If you’d like to memorialise the deceased’s Facebook account, you’ll need to make a request with Facebook.

If you’ve recently lost a close family member, our condolences are with you and your family. If you’re looking for funeral homes in Auckland, Rowley Funerals is a funeral service provider that prioritises the needs of you and your family during this difficult time. Get in touch with us today.