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Grief is the physical and emotional reaction people experience to any loss in their lives. It takes many forms and can vary in length from a relatively short time to many many years.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Each person needs to be allowed to grieve in their own particular way.
Physically they may experience sleeplessness, difficulty in sitting still or concentrating and loss of appetite. Emotionally there may be feelings of relief, guilt, anguish, anger, numbness.
A lot of helpful books have been written on coping with grief with plenty of other resources available including support groups and counselling. Don’t be afraid to seek help. See links to websites and a selection of books that provide support and information.
Today, people can live in different countries whether they work there or visit them as tourists. In Australia, many foreigners live in the country, but citizens still reside abroad permanently or temporarily. If a person dies outside their country, several procedures are necessary to ensure that no one breaks the law.
Cremation is a cost-effective way of handling the remains of the deceased. In addition, you can easily transport these remains across international borders for preservation or disposal in your desired nation. This piece discusses several laws and protocols that impact repatriation, cremation and the disposal of remains across international borders.
Some countries have strict laws which forbid cremation. If you are an Australian citizen living in such countries, these laws compel you to transport your loved one’s remains home for cremation. Cremation may also be expensive in other countries whose cultures forbid the process. For instance, governments might impose procedural restrictions that make cremation tedious and costly for foreign nationals.
Consult with your funeral director to establish the local cremation laws. This way, you have an idea of the dos and don’ts as you plan a cremation for your loved one. Moreover, you avoid penalties, sanctions and delays that could prevent you from giving your loved one a befitting send-off.
If you are a foreigner working in Australia, what happens when you want to transport the ashes of a deceased person to your home country? The country has no restrictions against the transportation of ashes. Still, your container should not have contaminants such as soil. You must also get a clearance from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment if you have a wooden urn.
In addition, some international flights may have restrictions regarding the transportation of human ashes. Hence, ensure you communicate with the shipping or airline services before buying a ticket. The airline or shipping service can advise whether to keep the ashes with you or include them in the luggage when leaving the country.
You may choose to send the ashes abroad through the postal system. This option is preferable for a person whose family does not want to travel to Australia for the cremation. If you use a cremation service in Australia, the postal system can help you successfully ship the remains to your home country’s postal system. However, what do you do if your postal system does not handle ashes?
Postal systems in some countries do not carry the remains of the deceased, including ashes. If this is the case, you may pick up the ashes at the airport. This option saves you money and is convenient when the postal service in your country does not carry ashes.
Several documents are essential for the repatriation of one’s remains in Australia. First, you need a copy of the death certificate. The funeral director completes a form from the details you provide to register the death successfully. You also require a copy of the cremation certificate. The crematorium or funeral director can provide this document.
These two documents show the personal details of the deceased and the cause of death. You also need a third document declaring the contents of the container. This statutory declaration tells authorities, airlines and shipping services that the contents are the remains of the deceased. You may also confirm whether rules in your home country require documents from the health ministry.
Losing a loved one is devastating, especially if it happens away from home. At Cremations Only, we can assist you with burial procedures and advise you on the best way to handle the remains of a loved one across international borders. Our team guarantees convenience and costs-savings as you cremate your loved one in Australia.
Bringing yourself to terms with the loss of a loved one is never an easy thing. Add in the responsibility of making funeral arrangements for them, and you will inevitably start feeling overwhelmed.
Fortunately, many funeral homes exist to help alleviate the stress and burden of planning a funeral for your loved one. All you have to do is find a suitable funeral home and let its directors handle every aspect of your preferred funeral service. You can choose anything from a minimum fuss unattended cremation to a full-service funeral that spares no expense.
While there is absolutely nothing wrong with holding a traditional full-service funeral for your loved one, do not be dismayed if you can’t afford one. With an unattended cremation, you can save time and money on a funeral and still treat your loved ones with dignity and respect even after they are gone.
Explore why you should consider this funeral type for your beloved departed one.
An unattended cremation includes transferring the body of a deceased person from the place of death— be it a house, hospital, nursing home or another location—to the crematorium for cremation.
Since crematorium operators are not allowed to handle a dead body directly, they usually bring a combustible, leak-proof coffin or other rigid containers to serve as a respectful resting place for the body. These coffins or containers are not as fancy as those for traditional burials, as they are cremated together with the bodies they hold.
Caring funeral directors at Cremations Only are available 24/7 every day of the year to respond to your distress calls, no matter the hour of the day or night. However, we do have regular working hours (Monday – Friday 8am to 4pm) and have an after hours transfer fee.
Funerals serve different functions for bereaved persons. Not surprisingly, everyone grieves differently. While some mourners want to be directly involved in every step of the send-off process, others prefer to keep away from part or all of it.
If you feel that skipping the cremation of your loved one will make it easier to deal with your loss, an unattended cremation will serve the purpose.
The crematorium staff will supervise and oversee the entire cremation process and send the ashes to your preferred location to do with as you wish. Viewing the body before cremation is possible, but there is viewing/sitting package for this.
A deceased person’s friends and family may decide not to hold a memorial service, depending on the circumstances leading to their demise. They may also opt out of the service due to financial reasons.
Even though an unattended cremation excludes a memorial service, consider holding one once you receive the ashes.
Memorial services not only help families celebrate the lives of their loved ones but also gives them a sense of closure. They play a big part in the grieving process. If you intend to hold a memorial service before or after an unattended cremation, Cremations Only can tailor a funeral package to meet your individual needs.
Many reasonably priced funeral options are available today, so pricing should not stop you from giving your departed one a decent send-off.
The demand for cremation has been on a constant rise over the past few years. The demand comes as more individuals realise the limitless benefits of cremation. Cremation is cost-friendly, eco-friendly and convenient, and it allows for creative funeral service planning.
However, as the popularity of cremation rises, so do the myths about this type of funeral service. If you are unsure if cremation is right for you, this blog debunks the most common myths about cremation and the truth behind them.
Some individuals assume that cremation robs them of the chance to have a funeral service for their loved ones. But actually, cremation gives you more options regarding funeral service planning.
You may hold a traditional funeral service with the casket present before cremation takes place. Or you may decide to have a memorial service at the crematorium with your loved one’s ashes present. The creative options to commemorate your loved one’s life with a cremation funeral service are limitless. For example, you may scatter their ashes in a place that was special to them, create artwork from the ashes or even launch the ashes into space.
While the cost of a traditional burial can vary significantly based on the type of casket, funeral home, cemetery and headstone you choose, a traditional burial is generally more expensive than cremation. You also dont have the expensive cost of buying a burial plot which can be anywhere from $4000+. The best part about cremation is that the services can be customised to fit any budget.
You may also choose direct cremation to cut down on costs. Direct cremation is when the body is cremated without a funeral service.
Cremation has come a long way and is now a safe and eco-friendly option. Cremation uses less energy than traditional burials and doesn’t require harmful chemicals or embalming fluids. Cremation is also a space-saving alternative to burials, which can take up a lot of land.
Cremation is a safe and viable option for individuals who want an alternative to traditional burial. For example, The Cemeteries & Cremation NSW (CCNSW) regulates cremation to ensure crematories perform the services safely and diligently. CCNSW requires that all crematories meet strict safety standards and only trained professionals can conduct cremations.
To ensure safety and compliance, take your time to select a reliable and trustworthy crematory. Ensure the service providers are accredited, and ask about the training and experience of the crematory staff. Also, inquire about the crematory’s safety procedures and review the crematory’s insurance policies.
While worrying about what will happen to your loved one’s ashes is normal, you can rest assured that cremation is safe and reliable. Crematories take great care to ensure that each family receives the correct ashes.
Crematory staff is trained to identify the bodies correctly, and the experts track each cremation from start to finish. The experts only handle one body at a time so you have nothing to worry about. In addition, crematories keep meticulous records after handing over the ashes to eliminate any chances of confusion.
The passing of a loved one is an extremely challenging time. Yet, part of the responsibilities you have to bear while grieving is planning an appropriate send-off for the deceased. If you have never had to take on this obligation, you probably assume that the best way to go about this is by incorporating religious elements into their funeral service. But what if your loved one was non-religious?
In this scenario, plan a humanist funeral. Also referred to as a non-religious funeral, this type of service is characterised by a lack of religious elements. Instead, it is personalised to honour the memory of the deceased. This piece seeks to provide you with a helpful guide to planning your first humanist funeral.
The first thing you need to do when planning a humanist funeral service is to determine the appropriate location for the dearly departed’s friends and family to congregate. Fortunately, you can hold secular funeral services virtually anywhere. For instance, if the deceased had a favourite location they would spend most of their time in, be it by the beach or a park, you could choose to have their funeral service at their preferred location.
On the other hand, if you cannot think of an appropriate venue, you could request your chosen funeral home to host the secular service on your behalf. Cremations Only conduct funeral services in all of the crematorium chapels in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Lastly, you can gather friends and family members at the deceased’s residence for the memorial service. Overall, if your departed loved one did not specify their preferred location, you have complete flexibility over where to host their non-religious funeral service.
Unlike traditional, religious funerals that clergy members or other religious leaders conduct, humanist funerals can be overseen by anyone you deem fit. Usually, the grieving family will request the funeral home director to conduct the secular service, as these professionals tend to be acquainted with humanist funerals.
Nonetheless, this is not the only option available to you. You could also ask a willing family member to lead the non-religious funeral service. Conversely, if your departed loved one was an active member of society, you could request a community leader to conduct the humanist funeral. The main thing to bear in mind is to elect someone who will adhere to the non-religious tone of the funeral service, rather than perpetuate a theological agenda.
Another element that differentiates humanist funerals from their religious counterparts is the attire during the funeral service. Certainly, if you would like to maintain a sombre mood throughout the funeral service, you could request all the guests to don black clothing. However, if you would prefer to conduct the non-religious service as a celebration of the memory of your departed loved one, you could opt for a colour scheme that reflects the deceased’s interests.
As an example, if your departed loved one enjoyed spending time in the water, be it at the beach or in a swimming pool, you could have the guests incorporate touches of blue into their funeral outfits. An extra measure you could take is to request the funeral home director to integrate the deceased’s favourite colour into the décor for the funeral service.