The Funeral
The funeral is the day everything comes together.
It’s a time for family and friends to gather, acknowledge a life, support one another, and say goodbye. We take great care with the details that make each farewell personal to the person being remembered.
From the people involved to the music, flowers, and personal touches, there are many elements to consider when arranging a funeral. Your funeral director will guide you through the options, but you can explore each one below to get a clearer picture of what’s involved.
The Key Elements
of a Funeral
A funeral can feel especially meaningful when it clearly reflects the person being remembered. A playlist of songs they loved. A photo of them in their element. A reading chosen by someone who knew them well.
We’ll ask about the person â what they loved, how they lived, and what mattered to them. Then we’ll help you create a service that brings those details together.
Talk Through What You Have in Mind
Your funeral director will be with you throughout, coordinating the service, working alongside the celebrant or clergy, and taking care of the practical arrangements.Â
They’ll keep everything running smoothly, while making sure you have the time and space you need. On the day, you can focus on being with family and friends. We’ll take care of the rest.
Pallbearers
Pallbearers help carry the casket at key moments during the funeral service. Carrying the casket can be a significant and personal part of a funeral. For many families, asking someone to be a pallbearer is a way of honouring their relationship with the person who has died. It’s a role that many people feel privileged to undertake.
Who to Ask
Close friends, family members, work colleagues, teammates, or fellow members of a club or organisation are all natural choices. You might choose people from different parts of your loved one’s life, reflecting the friendships and connections they made over the years.
How the Casket is Carried
In New Zealand, the casket is most commonly carried by its handles, at arms’ length. Your funeral director will explain how to do this safely, so there’s usually no need for a separate rehearsal.Â
Carrying the casket on the shoulder is traditional in some countries and at military or state funerals. While less common in New Zealand, it is also very much an option. Your funeral director can explain the technique and advise on what’s appropriate.Â
If Family Members Are Not Able to Carry
If you don’t have six people available, or if carrying the casket would be physically or emotionally difficult, our experienced team can help or take on the role entirely. This is quite common, and there’s no expectation that family members should carry the casket themselves.
Whoever carries it, we’ll ensure your loved one is treated with care and dignity.
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Service Sheets and Memorial Books
A service sheet helps guests follow the ceremony and provides something to take home afterwards. We design and produce ours in-house, taking real pride in creating a personal keepsake for families to treasure.
Mementos, Music and Flowers
The details that make a funeral feel personal are often the ones people remember most. A favourite song, a flower from the garden, a jersey, a hat, or a fishing rod beside the casket. These personal touches can say so much about the person being remembered.
We’ll help you think through what to include and how to incorporate it into the service.
Visual Presentations
A visual presentation brings carefully chosen photographs together with music, giving family and friends a glimpse into the different chapters of someone’s life â from childhood and work to relationships and adventures via all those beautiful, ordinary moments.
These presentations can prompt laughter, recognition, and tears as families revisit shared memories. We produce them all in-house, taking real pride in the finished result.
Livestreaming
Not everyone can attend a funeral in person. Whether they’re overseas, unwell, or unable to travel â livestreaming allows family and friends to be part of the day from wherever they are.
We offer livestreaming as a straightforward, reliable option for families who need it.
Vehicles
Our vehicles are part of the care we bring to a funeral. They’re well-maintained and chosen to suit the occasion, with every journey handled respectfully. From the moment the hearse arrives to the moment it departs, we take the transportation of your loved one seriously.
Catering
The gathering after a funeral is an important part of the day. It’s where family and friends can come together, share stories, and find time for conversation in a more relaxed setting.Â
Our team takes care of the food and arrangements so families can focus on spending time together.
