Special Gatherings

Family Reunions: Gathering family and friends can be a powerful way to remember and honour your loved one. Organise a reunion where everyone can share stories, look through photo albums, and reminisce about cherished memories. This collective remembrance can provide emotional support and strengthen familial bonds.

Memorial Services: Holding a memorial service on the anniversary can offer a formal opportunity to reflect and pay tribute. Include readings, music, and speeches that celebrate the life and legacy of your loved one. This service can be held at a significant location such as a family home, a favourite park, or a place of worship.

Picnics or Dinners: A more informal way to commemorate the anniversary is to organise a picnic or dinner. Choose a location that was meaningful to your loved one and serve their favourite foods. This can turn the day into a celebration of their life and the joy they brought to others.

Memorial Events

Charity Events: Hosting a charity event in your loved one’s name can be a fulfilling way to honour their legacy. Organise a fundraising walk, run, or another event to support a cause they cared about. This not only honours their memory but also makes a positive impact on the community.

Tree Planting: Planting a tree in memory of your loved one creates a living tribute that grows and flourishes over time. Choose a location that was significant to them, such as their garden, a local park, or another cherished spot. Watching the tree grow can bring comfort and a sense of ongoing connection.

Memorial Run or Walk: Organise a memorial run or walk to honour your loved one. This can be an annual event that raises awareness or funds for a cause that was important to them, while also bringing people together in remembrance.

Creating a Memorial Garden

Planning the Garden: Creating a memorial garden can be a beautiful and lasting way to remember a loved one. Start by selecting a tranquil spot in your yard or a community space where you can plant flowers, shrubs, and trees that remind you of them.

Plant Selection: Choose plants that were significant to your loved one or that have special meanings. For example, roses for love, forget-me-nots for remembrance, or their favourite flowers. Incorporate a variety of plants to ensure year-round beauty and interest.

Personal Touches: Add personal touches to the garden to make it uniquely theirs. This can include garden stones with engraved messages, wind chimes, or a bench where you can sit and reflect. Consider placing a small plaque or memorial stone with their name and a meaningful quote.

Maintenance and Care: Caring for the memorial garden can be a therapeutic activity. Spend time tending to the plants, weeding, and making seasonal updates. This ongoing care can provide a sense of purpose and a way to stay connected to your loved one.

Commemorating the anniversary of a loved one’s passing can be a deeply meaningful experience. Whether through special gatherings, memorial events, or creating a memorial garden, these acts of remembrance can bring comfort and help you feel connected to your loved one. At Rowley Funerals, we are here to support you in creating a tribute that reflects the unique and cherished memories of your loved one.

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The Significance of Memorial Gardens

A memorial garden offers a serene spot for families and friends to remember and celebrate the life of someone they have lost. The act of planting, nurturing, and watching something grow is therapeutic, symbolising life’s continuous cycle and the enduring nature of memory. Choosing plants that bloom in June, the month you wish to remember your loved one, ensures that the garden will serve as a special place of remembrance year after year.

Plants in Season in June in Auckland

1. Camellias

Camellias are amongst the most popular and resilient flowering shrubs for cooler climates, and Auckland is no exception. With their glossy green leaves and exquisite blooms that range from white to pink and red, they symbolise love, affection, and admiration. Camellias are particularly fitting for a memorial garden, offering a lasting tribute with their long blooming season.

2. Hellebores (Winter Roses)

Hellebores, often known as Winter Roses, are another excellent choice for a June memorial garden. These hardy perennials bloom in the cooler months, bringing life and colour to the garden when most other plants are dormant. Their downward-facing flowers, in shades of white, pink, purple, and green, symbolise tranquillity and peace, echoing the reflective nature of a memorial garden.

3. Daphne

Daphne is a winter-flowering shrub known for its intensely fragrant blooms that fill the air with a sweet perfume. The plant’s small, pink, and white flowers are a reminder of life’s fleeting beauty, making it a meaningful addition to any memorial garden. Daphne thrives in the Auckland climate, preferring a cool, sheltered spot.

4. Pansies and Violas

For ground cover or borders, pansies and violas are ideal. These annuals can easily be planted in June and will provide a splash of colour with their cheerful faces throughout the winter months. Both flowers are associated with loving thoughts and remembrance, fitting sentiments for a garden dedicated to memory.

5. Kowhai

The native Kowhai tree, with its magnificent yellow blooms, is a symbol of Auckland and a beautiful choice for a memorial garden. While it flowers in the spring, planting a Kowhai in June gives it time to establish itself. The tree is a symbol of growth, renewal, and the beauty of life, reflecting the cycle of life and death in nature.

Creating the Memorial Garden

When creating a memorial garden, consider the overall design and how each plant contributes to the space’s feeling and purpose. You might choose plants for their symbolic meanings, colours, or simply because they were favourites of your loved one. Incorporate elements such as benches, stones, or personalised plaques to further personalise the space, making it a comforting place to visit and remember.

Conclusion

A memorial garden is a living tribute that grows and changes with time, much like our memories of those we’ve lost. By choosing plants that are in season in June in Auckland, you create a space that not only honours your loved one but also provides a sanctuary for those left behind to reflect, mourn, and celebrate life. Rowley Funerals believes in the healing power of nature and the comforting presence of a beautifully tended garden dedicated to memory. Through these blooms of remembrance, we find a lasting connection to our loved ones, ensuring their legacy continues to inspire and touch lives.

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1. “The Heart and the Bottle” by Oliver Jeffers Oliver Jeffers tenderly explores the themes of love, loss, and the protective barriers we build around our hearts to avoid pain. Through its poignant narrative and illustrations, this book offers a gateway for children to understand the process of grief and the importance of keeping memories alive.

2. “Goodbye Mog” by Judith Kerr Judith Kerr’s beloved character Mog the cat takes her final journey, providing a gentle introduction to the concept of death for young readers. Kerr handles the subject with sensitivity and grace, making it an excellent tool for parents to discuss loss with their children, reassuring them of the continuing presence of loved ones in our memories.

3. “Michael Rosen’s Sad Book” by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Quentin Blake This powerful book delves into the depth of Michael Rosen’s sadness following the death of his son Eddie. Rosen’s honest and straightforward narrative, combined with Blake’s expressive illustrations, captures the essence of grief in a way that resonates with both children and adults, encouraging the expression of feelings often hard to articulate.

4. “Badger’s Parting Gifts” by Susan Varley Susan Varley’s classic tale addresses the impact of a loved one’s life through the gifts they leave behind. Badger’s friends remember him through the precious memories and lessons he imparted, teaching young readers about the positive legacy of those who have passed and the healing power of remembrance.

5. “Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children” by Doris Stickney Using the metaphor of water bugs’ transformation into dragonflies, this book offers a simple yet profound way to explain the concept of death to children. It’s a comforting narrative that helps demystify death, presenting it as a natural part of life and a transition to a beautiful state of being.

6. “Grandad’s Island” by Benji Davies With warmth and imagination, Benji Davies tells the story of a young boy and his grandad, exploring themes of loss and the eternal bond of love. The vibrant illustrations and adventurous tale provide a heartwarming approach to discussing the departure of a loved one with children.

The Role of Books in Grieving and Healing

Books like these serve multiple roles in a child’s grieving process. They act as mirrors reflecting the child’s own experiences, validating their feelings of sadness, confusion, or even anger. They also serve as windows into the experiences of others, showing that they are not alone in their feelings. Perhaps most importantly, they open doors to conversations about death and loss, topics often difficult to broach.

In choosing books to share with a grieving child, it’s essential to consider their age, maturity level, and the nature of their relationship with the deceased. Encourage children to express their thoughts and feelings after reading, whether through discussion, drawing, or other creative outlets, facilitating a healthy grieving process.

Conclusion

At Rowley Funerals, we recognise the crucial role that understanding and compassion play in supporting children through the loss of a loved one. By offering a handpicked selection of books, we aim to provide resources that comfort, enlighten, and encourage healing dialogue. Each story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, offering hope and understanding to young readers navigating through their grief. In sharing these narratives, we hope to not only ease the burden of loss but also to celebrate the enduring power of love and memory.

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The Importance of Tribute

For many, the act of creating a tribute can be a deeply cathartic process, providing a tangible connection to the loved one lost. It’s a way to express love, respect, and admiration, crystallising their memories into something that can be shared and appreciated by others. Tributes serve as a testament to the deceased’s influence, embodying their virtues, passions, and the indelible mark they’ve left on the world.

Personalised Memorials

The beauty of memorials lies in their versatility and personal nature. They can take various forms, each reflecting the unique personality, interests, and life story of the deceased. Here are a few ideas to inspire:

1. Memorial Gardens

A memorial garden, whether in a public space or a corner of your backyard, is a living tribute that grows and changes with time, much like our memories. Planting their favourite flowers, installing a bench with a commemorative plaque, or creating a stone pathway lined with meaningful quotes can transform a space into a serene spot for reflection and remembrance.

2. Commemorative Art

Art has a profound capacity to evoke emotion and commemorate life. Commissioning a piece of art—be it a sculpture, painting, or mural—that captures the essence of your loved one can be a beautiful way to keep their memory alive. This artwork can reside in a place of significance, offering a visual reminder of their spirit and presence.

3. Digital Tributes

In our digital age, creating a virtual space for memories offers a way to share the story of your loved one with a broader community. Online memorials, social media pages, or dedicated websites can host photos, stories, and messages, allowing friends and family from around the world to contribute and remember together.

4. Charitable Foundations

For those whose loved ones were passionate about a cause or charity, establishing a foundation or scholarship in their name can be a lasting legacy that impacts others positively. This type of tribute ensures their values and passions continue to make a difference in the world.

5. Personalised Keepsakes

Small, personalised items such as engraved jewellery, customised photo books, or even quilts made from their clothing can be comforting keepsakes for family and friends. These items serve as daily reminders of the love and connection shared.

The Healing Power of Remembrance

Engaging in the creation of these tributes can be a healing process in itself, providing an outlet for grief and a focus for the love that remains. At Rowley Funerals, we’ve seen firsthand how memorialising a loved one can bring comfort, offering a sense of continuity and connection that transcends death.

Conclusion

The process of crafting lasting tributes for loved ones is a deeply personal and meaningful journey. It allows us to encapsulate the essence of those we’ve lost in ways that resonate with their life story and our memories of them. At Rowley Funerals, we encourage individuals and families to explore these expressions of love and remembrance, finding solace in the knowledge that while our loved ones may be gone, their legacy lives on. In these acts of tribute, we find not only a path to healing but a celebration of life that endures beyond death.

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• Interment Options: Choosing to bury the ashes in a cemetery or a special location provides a tangible place for remembrance and reflection. In Auckland, serene gardens and dedicated areas in cemeteries offer a respectful and peaceful setting for this purpose.

• Scattering Ashes: Scattering ashes in a meaningful place, whether it’s a beloved garden, a favourite park, or near the ocean, symbolises a return to nature and the liberation of the spirit. This act can be deeply symbolic and comforting for the bereaved.

• Keeping Ashes at Home: For some families, keeping the ashes in a beautiful urn at home allows for a continual sense of presence and closeness. Rowley Funerals offers a range of tasteful urns to accommodate various preferences and styles.

• Ashes into Jewellery or Art: Transforming ashes into jewellery or art pieces is a unique way to keep the memory of a loved one close. These bespoke items serve as a subtle yet poignant reminder of their presence in your life.

• Planting Trees or Flowers: Using ashes to nurture the growth of a tree or flowers creates a living memorial. This eco-friendly option is a beautiful way to symbolise the continuation of life and a lasting legacy.

• Memorial Glass: The conversion of ashes into exquisite glass art is an innovative and artistic approach to memorialisation. These stunning pieces of art serve as beautiful, tangible memories of the departed.

• Memorial Benches or Plaques: Installing a bench or plaque in a meaningful location can offer a place for contemplation and remembrance. These memorials provide a physical space to visit and remember the life and contributions of the loved one.

• Community Projects: Involvement in community projects or donations in the name of the deceased can be a way to memorialise them while contributing positively to society. This can be particularly meaningful if the project aligns with the interests or values of the departed.

The process of memorialising ashes offers a range of personal and creative options. At Rowley Funerals, your trusted funeral directors in Auckland, we are here to support you in exploring these options and honouring your loved one in a way that truly reflects their essence and your bond with them.

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• What is an Eco Funeral?: An eco funeral focuses on minimising environmental impact. This involves considering every aspect of the funeral process, from the preparation of the deceased to the final disposition.
• Sustainable Caskets: We offer a range of caskets made from sustainable materials, produced through environmentally friendly processes. These caskets are not only elegant but also leave a lighter footprint on the Earth.
• Preparation and Embalming: Eco funerals often involve alternative methods for caring for the deceased. This ranges from full embalming using eco-friendly chemicals to opting for no embalming at all, depending on the family’s preference.
• Reduced Travel and Venue Choices: Hosting the entire funeral at one location, such as our Anne Street Chapel, significantly reduces travel and carbon emissions. We support families in making these environmentally conscious decisions.
• Burial or Cremation: Families can choose between traditional burial and cremation. We also offer information on natural burials, a practice that promotes the return of the body to the earth in a natural manner.
• Personalisation and Respect for Nature: Eco funerals are not only about respecting the environment but also about personalising the farewell in a way that aligns with the deceased’s values and lifestyle.
• Rowley Funerals’ Commitment: At Rowley Funerals, we are dedicated to providing families with sustainable funeral options. We guide and support families through each step, ensuring choices that reflect both respect for the deceased and the environment.

Choosing an eco funeral with Rowley Funerals, your trusted funeral directors in Devonport, means choosing a farewell that honours your loved one while also honouring the planet. We are here to help you make informed and meaningful choices during this significant time. For more information about eco funeral options visit www.ecofunerals.co.nz

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Moving Away From Tradition 

Funeral services in Hauraki have been moving away from more formal and sad ceremonies towards more light-hearted celebrations of life, for many years now. This enables families to celebrate the life of their loved one, more joyfully and less formally. Hosting a celebration of remembrance as opposed to a traditional memorial service can better reflect the deceased’s personality, interests and passions. 

Despite this, whilst funeral services have developed in a distinctive Kiwi manner, the legal rules around burial and cremation were written around fifty years ago in 1968, and these have pretty much remained unchanged. 

Growing Trends in Funeral Services

Direct cremations paired with celebratory memorial services are becoming more popular as more people move away from traditional burial services. There has been a big boost in direct cremations in the most recent five years in particular. 

Whilst less traditional funerals have decreased in popularity, funeral homes are still encouraging families to host some type of service because these services can help with the grieving process. 

In our current day and age, there are a multitude of funeral options available. Unfortunately, despite there being a range of options available it is the lack of planning in advance which means that loved ones cannot afford the funeral they would have hoped for their deceased loved one. 

In New Zealand, only 5% of people pre-plan their funerals, compared to 15% in Australia. If Kiwis planned for their funeral the same way they planned to save for cars, weddings and retirement then this could solve many problems. 

As the Kiwi culture continues to diversify to reflect the change in society, so do our types of funeral services Here at Rowley Funerals, we offer a full range of funeral services in Hauraki for your consideration. We promise to work with you to create an experience tailored to your specific requirements. Get in touch with us today.

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We at Rowley Funerals hope to make this choice a little easier through this blog post. We offer professional, compassionate cremation services in North Shore alongside more traditional burials, which enables us to provide an informed perspective on cremation versus burial, below.

The Benefits of Cremation

In simple terms, cremation is the process in which a deceased person is transformed into ashes, through the application of powerful heat in a cremation chamber. There are several reasons why someone may opt for cremation:

1. It’s affordable – Cremation costs much less than traditional burial, as there is no burial plot, casket or headstone required. The choice of urn can increase or decrease the price.
2. Keep your loved ones’ remains close – Cremation is a flexible funeral process, where you can keep your loved ones’ remains close – either in an urn or in jewellery form – after the funeral.
3. It can take place in any location – After the cremation process, you can host a funeral anywhere with your loved ones’ remains. They can be scattered in a sentimental place, or stored safely in the home.
4. It’s environmentally conscious – Cremation doesn’t involve the use of land or embalming chemicals, so whilst carbon emissions are released during the process, the overall environmental impact is lower.

The Benefits of Burial

1. A lasting memorial to your loved one – Burial plots can be visited time and time again, a physical and tangible reminder of your loved one. You can leave flowers, tokens or photographs. This is meaningful, and a major reason why people opt for burials over cremations.
2. New, eco-friendly burial options – New ‘green burials’ make this usually environmentally taxing process much more eco-friendly. Natural burials, without embalming chemicals or extensive land use, are increasingly popular.
3. Easily personalised to your loved one – For burials, everything from the casket and headstone to the burial plot can be personalised to exact requirements, and therefore adhere to the wishes of your loved one.
4. It’s more familiar – All in all, burial is a more ‘familiar’ form of funeral than cremation; people are more comfortable with it, and a familiar process can be soothing when mourning a lost loved one.

Which one is best?

There is no right answer to this question. Often, cultural and religious considerations are the key to deciding between a burial and cremation. It’s important to make sure that a funeral aligns with the desires and faith of the deceased. Other factors, such as cost and environmental impact, are more prevalent today than ever before. Professional advice, like from the funeral directors at Rowley Funerals, may be decisive in taking the final step towards the funeral process. We can shed light on local regulations, and available options depending on your circumstances.

For yourself or a loved one, say goodbye in the way you want to, whether that is through cremation services in North Shore or burial. We urge you do so with Rowley Funerals, where we prioritise your choices throughout the funeral process. Reach out to a compassionate member of our team, today.

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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.

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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.

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