Funeral Directors
Many families engage a funeral director to help them with the many funeral arrangements, including everything from collecting a loved one’s body when they pass away, to helping to plan and run a farewell service.
You can talk to funeral directors at any time – you might discuss your own future funeral wishes. Family often discuss funeral costs and options with a funeral director even before their loved one has died.
Questions to ask your funeral director
When engaging with your chosen funeral director, it is important to know that you and your loved ones can be involved in the planning and decision-making process as little or as much as you would like. Below are some questions you might ask to get a feel for whether a funeral director is right for you or your loved one.
- Will you come to our home to discuss arrangements? Is there a cost to this?
- Is the person we plan our service with the same person who will look after our loved one?
- Can we visit your premises and have a tour of all the facilities?
- Do we need to give you money up front when our loved one dies?
- Do you offer grief support for family members?
- What is your policy on embalming and why?
- Will you support us to look after our loved ones body home?
- Can we use a coffin we purchased or made ourselves?
- Can we organise our own flowers, caterers and other third services?
- Can we dress our loved one ourselves?
What does a funeral director do?
A funeral director can help you with as much of the organising of a funeral service as you wish, or you may prefer to organise some tasks yourself.
Here are some things a funeral director can assist with if you choose:
- Transporting the body
- Checking all the legal requirements and documents for burial or cremation are correct and complete
- The embalming, care and presentation of the body
- Booking a funeral celebrant or minister
- Placing and writing death and funeral notices
- Finding a florist and ordering funeral flowers
- Booking a caterer for the wake
- Recommending support services for grieving family and friends
- Registering the death.
Paying for a funeral
Funeral directors who are members of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand allow you to pre-pay for your funeral by putting money aside into The Funerals Trust. Family members can request that this money is returned at any stage if they would like to engage a different funeral director. This may not be possible for someone who has permanently migrated outside New Zealand.
It is helpful to know that most funeral directors do not require up front payment but rather invoice for services provided.
Bereavement Support
The Grief Centre has partnered with funeral directors to provide Bereavement Support services in New Zealand for almost 10 years. Their Bereavement Support team sends loss and grief resources to bereaved people and families, and follows up with phone calls to offer support in their time of loss and for up to a year after their loss. Support can also include a complimentary counselling session if needed.
Ask your funeral director if they provide the Grief Centre Bereavement Support Service.
