The Role of the Funeral Director
Few people realise the extent of the Funeral Directors role. It begins when they are first called and ends when the funeral service is complete and the wishes of the family are fully met.
The principal role of a funeral director is one of service. Through their training and experience they are able to guide you through the funeral arrangement process. They will listen to your wishes; combine them with practical needs and legal requirements, resulting in a funeral service that is appropriate for you and your family.
At the end of your funeral arrangement meeting you will be given a written estimate detailing the cost of the necessary co2ponents of the funeral to which will be added the cost of those items and services you have chosen to personalise the funeral service.
Once you have engaged your funeral director, he or she will commence the necessary tasks to conduct the funeral service. Many of these are listed below:
- Be available to give personal attention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Arrange and co-ordinate the Funeral Service including booking times with the church, cemetery or crematorium.
- Transportation of the deceased from place of death into our care at the funeral home.
- Mortuary care, preparation and dressing of the deceased, and placement in their coffin.
- Liaise with the treating doctor or hospital to obtain the cause of death certificate.
- In the case of cremation, liaise with a third party doctor to sign permission to cremate.
- Lodgement of death registration forms with the Registrar of Births, Deaths andMarriages.
- Arrange the purchase of the certified copy of the death certificate from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. (Usually needed for estate purposes)
- Placement of press notices in the newspapers.
- Liaising with clergy or funeral celebrant.
- Create Orders of Service, Photo Tributes, Memorial Bookmarks etc.
- Organising floral arrangements, catering, musicians etc.
- Notify and liaise with organisations and clubs of which the deceased was a member (e.g. RSL, service clubs etc)
- Attend and Conduct the funeral service.
- Preparation and issue of a final tax invoice detailing the cost of disbursements (these may vary from the original quote), their professional & service fees.
- Referral to grief counseling agencies and support groups if requested.