Cremation or Burial
One of the first decisions to make is whether your loved one will be cremated or buried. This choice is personal, and it also has practical implications for the arrangements and paperwork that follow.
Our funeral directors will talk you through the options early on so we can arrange the necessary documentation on your behalf.
Cremation
Cremation is chosen by the majority of New Zealand families today. Lamb & Hayward manages cremations at our own facility at Christchurch Crematorium, Wigram, giving us direct oversight of every step.
Ashes are usually ready within 48 hours. Your funeral director will talk through your options, which include:
- Scattering at a place of significance
- Interment in a cemetery or memorial garden, including our own Garden of Memories
- Keeping the ashes in a chosen urn at home
- Dividing ashes to be held in individual keepsakes
- Sending ashes to family in other parts of New Zealand or overseas
Burial
Lamb & Hayward can help arrange your loved one’s final resting place and advise you on the different headstone and plaque options available at local cemeteries.
Burials can usually be arranged in an existing grave or a new plot. When a new plot is purchased, we provide a temporary wooden grave marker.
Many cemeteries allow two burials in the same plot, so you may wish to consider whether a single or double-depth grave is appropriate when making the arrangements.
Itâs Your Choice
Our flexible funeral options allow you to create a farewell that reflects your loved one’s unique character â in whatever way feels right for your family.
