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2 Scan this graphic using a QR Code Reader* on your phone or tablet to visit our website. *Free QR code readers can be downloaded via your device s app store.

3 Contents Introduction...2 Funeral Director, Anthony James...3 Role of a Funeral Director...4 Services Provided by Funeral Directors... 4 Care and Preparation of the Person who has Died... 5 Embalming...6 Your First Steps When Someone Dies...6 When Someone Dies in an Aged Care Facility... 6 When Someone Dies in a Hospital... 7 When Someone Dies at Home... 7 Accidental, Sudden or Unexplained Death... 8 Who Reports the Death to the Coroner?... 9 When Someone Dies Interstate or Overseas... 9 What Costs are Involved in a Funeral? Explanation of our Professional Service Fee...10 Disbursements...11 Our Costs Unattended Cremation (Without a Funeral Service)...13 Crematorium Chapel or Church Service and Cremation...13 Cemetery or Graveside Funeral Service...14 Additional Options...15 Memorial Products Coffins & Caskets...16 Floral Tributes...16 Writing a Eulogy Planning Ahead by Prearranging or Prepaying a Funeral What is Prearranging?...18 Why Prearrange?...18 Why Prepay?...19 Checklist Funeral Prearrangement Form

4 Introduction When a death occurs, very few of us are well prepared. Elysian Fields Funerals provide personal care at an affordable price, without compromising exceptional standards. As an independently Australian owned and operated funeral establishment; we are dedicated to assisting and supporting you during a difficult time. Elysian Fields Funerals provides affordable burial and cremation funeral options primarily in all areas of South-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, but service other areas in addition to specialised repatriation services. We are knowledgeable about the resources available in your community and respectful of all religious beliefs and customs. We want you to be able to reflect back on the experience confidently, knowing that you honoured the life of the person you love. We will be here for you to guide and support you through this difficult time. This booklet provides you with information not only about Elysian Fields Funerals and the services we provide, but also general information and the options available to you to celebrate and honour your loved one. Elysian Fields Funerals is Queensland owned and operated, and is 100% Australian. After 20 years as a funeral director, Anthony James believes that families deserve a more cost-effective alternative than what is provided by other companies, without compromising quality care and personalised service. Proudly a 100% Australian owned family company 2

5 Funeral Director, Anthony James Anthony has been serving families in their time of need for 20 years. He has been employed in and managed a number of funeral homes in Queensland and New South Wales. Up until 2008, he was a partner and Director of a funeral home on the Gold Coast. After realising the need for providing funeral services that are more affordable for families without compromising quality, he decided to establish his own funeral company with his premises in Brisbane, servicing South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Anthony has developed an understanding of and sensitivity to the need of diverse cultural and religious groups as well as the protocols that apply to all types of funerals. His upbringing in the Catholic Church gives him a very practical sensitivity to the need of Catholic families as well as the requirements of the church. From his personal background of the trauma of sudden loss through death, Anthony brings a unique quality of compassion and understanding to the people whose grief and loss require careful and professional attention. 3

6 Role of a Funeral Director We know that you need support and compassion during what can be a very distressing time for you and your family. If no prior arrangements have been made or the wishes of the deceased are unknown, then we are here to provide you with the options and support you through those decisions. Services Provided by Funeral Directors Few people realise the extent of a funeral director s role. It begins when we are first called, and ends only when we are satisfied the ceremony is as perfect and complete as we can make it, and the wishes of the family are fully met. The following is a general list of services we are able to provide. Elysian Fields Funerals perform the various tasks and services typically involved in arranging, planning, and conducting a funeral based on your choices. Some of the services we provide within our professional service fee are: Guidance, care and attention from your own personal funeral professional, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Funeral arrangement with you in our office or the comfort of your home. Arrange the removal of the deceased from the place of death or coroner s facility. Provision of mortuary care by experienced and qualified mortuary staff at our fully licensed, accredited mortuary facility. Coordinate, liaise, and supervise all necessary staff and service providers to conduct the funeral ceremony Placement of death and funeral notices Preparation of documentation and applications to make arrangements for interment, cremation, or repatriation The provision of well-maintained funeral vehicles If requested, we will notify any clubs or associations of funeral particulars and issue member invitations. Liaising with medical professionals to arrange and collect all necessary documentation. 4

7 Arrange floral tributes and collect and distribute attendance and tribute cards. Organise the after-service reception, including the catering. Arrange the opening of monumental burial sites or the construction of monuments. Provision of advice and support before, during and following the funeral, including introduction to qualified grief counsellors, support associations, and grief and loss literature. Organising donation envelopes for the charity or association of your choice, if requested Registration of death with the State Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. We know everyone is unique and no two funeral services will ever be the same. We are experienced and take satisfaction in making sure the needs of each service match your cultural, religious, and financial circumstances. Care and Preparation of the Person who has Died Within the boundaries of the funeral directors professional fee, funeral directors who are professional and competently trained will carefully prepare the deceased by placing them in the coffin/casket and giving them the appearance of resting. Our company makes the commitment that regardless of whether the families have requested to see the person or not, we will perform our duties in a gentle, professional, and ethical way by preparing and dressing the person in the clothing that has been provided by the family. On some occasions where the death of the person has been unnatural or traumatic, we will attempt to restore and repair any damage made to their usual appearance. This process can take a significant amount of time. Careful consideration and discussion between you, as a family, and the funeral director must also take place to ensure that your expectation and understanding of the outcome is what can actually be done to restore and repair any injuries that may have been sustained. 5

8 Embalming We utilise the services of a qualified and accredited embalmer, when required. An embalmer is able to preserve the body and the appearance of the deceased. Embalmers preserve bodies from the time of death until they can be buried or cremated. The following circumstances govern the necessity for the embalming and preservation of the deceased: Air travel within Australia and overseas (this is legally required) Where a significant amount of time will elapse before the funeral can take place Where the entombment above ground in a mausoleum or vault is intended Where a family requests, because of cultural or religious beliefs, to have their loved one at home for a period of more than one day. Your First Steps When Someone Dies Understandably, not many people know what to do when someone dies. What you do depends on how and where a person dies. Whatever the circumstances at the time of death, it is important that you contact us as soon as possible. We will be able to provide you with information and assist with the secure, professional transportation of your loved one into our care. You are not required to make any funeral arrangements immediately, which allows time for your family to arrive and support each other. It also provides an opportunity to discuss your ideas or loved one s wishes prior to meeting with the funeral director. When Someone Dies in an Aged Care Facility Generally an aged care facility will require the details of your chosen funeral director upon entry into the facility. Following a death when the medical staff at the facility have satisfied the legal requirements regarding the cause of death and identity of 6

9 the deceased, a medical cause of death certificate or life extinct certificate is issued. Call Elysian Fields Funerals to arrange transport of the deceased from the nursing facility to our accredited mortuary facility. We will also arrange a convenient time to meet with your family to discuss funeral arrangements and complete the required documents to perform the service you have requested. When Someone Dies in a Hospital After the medical staff at the hospital have satisfied the legal requirements regarding the cause of death and identity of the deceased a medical cause of death certificate will be issued. Call Elysian Fields Funerals to arrange transport of the deceased from the hospital to our accredited mortuary facility. This can usually only happen during the hospital mortuary s business hours. We will also arrange a convenient time to meet with your family to discuss funeral arrangements and complete the required documents to perform the service you have requested. When Someone Dies at Home Call the deceased s doctor, once the doctor has identified the deceased and is satisfied as to the cause of death, a medical cause of death certificate will be prepared. If the doctor has not attended the deceased in the past three months or the doctor is uncertain as to the exact cause of death, the must advise the Coroner and the process for accidental or sudden unexplained death occurs. After calling the doctor, call your family or close friends for support and help in this difficult period when pressure may be placed on you to make a number of decisions. While waiting for the doctor, call us and we ll guide you through the process and provide information to assist you with the decisions involved. 7

10 When the medical cause of death certificate or life extinct certificate is issued we can then transport the deceased from the home to our accredited mortuary facility. We will also arrange a convenient time to meet with your family to discuss funeral arrangements and complete the required documents to perform the service you have requested. Accidental, Sudden or Unexplained Death Call the Police. It is important that the deceased not be moved or disturbed until police have finished their initial investigations. Usually they will arrange a government-contracted Funeral Director (known as the Government Undertaker) to take the deceased to a hospital mortuary facility where an official examination will take place. You are not obliged to use the government undertaker for any further service. The Police will refer the matter to the Coroner, who will prepare a release document that will include a Burial Order or a Cremation Permit. The coronial release may take a few days even when the matter is relatively straight forward. Call us and we will be able to liaise with the Coroner s Clerk and be able to inform you about what is happening. We will organise the required coronial release document, guide you through the necessary steps and provide information to assist you with the decisions involved. A death must be reported to a Coroner when: it is not known who the person is the death was a violent or otherwise unnatural death the death happened in suspicious circumstances the death was a health care related death a cause of death certificate has not been issued, and is not likely to be issued, for the person the death was a death in care the death was a death in custody the death happened in the course of, or as a result of, police operations. 8

11 Who Reports the Death to the Coroner? The Coroners Act 2003 imposes a duty on people to report reportable deaths if they are aware of a reportable death and do not think that it has already been reported. If the person who died had a disability and lived in a level three accredited residential service or a government funded or provided residential service, then the service provider must report the death even if the person died elsewhere (for example, in hospital) and the death may have been reported by another person. A higher obligation is placed on these service providers because the services are provided to particularly vulnerable members of society. Usually a police officer or medical practitioner will report a death to the coroner. When Someone Dies Interstate or Overseas If a death occurs while away from home, or you choose to bring a deceased person home for the funeral, you should contact us as soon as possible so that we can make the necessary arrangements to have your loved one returned home. Depending on where the death occurred, this may be undertaken via air transfer or by road by a specialist mortuary transfer company. If the deceased person requires transfer overseas, you may contact us and we will undertake the necessary processes with the relevant local and overseas government agencies. We will prepare and process the necessary paperwork on your behalf in accordance with your requests. 9

12 What Costs are Involved in a Funeral? Most family members only ever see the end price of a funeral. There is a perception that the entire cost of the funeral originates with the funeral director. This is not the case. Many of the costs that arise come from your personal choices and from services provided by other suppliers. We trust that you find the following breakdown of costs helpful. The best way to understand funeral costs is to consider them in two distinct categories: 1. The funeral director s costs, or the items and services provided directly by the funeral company 2. Disbursements, or the items and services administered by the funeral director but provided and charged for by others. Explanation of our Professional Service Fee Guidance, care and attention from your own personal funeral professional, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Funeral arrangement with you in our office or your home. Arrange the removal of the deceased from the place of death or coroners facility. Provision of mortuary care by experienced and qualified mortuary staff at our fully licensed, accredited mortuary facility. Coordinate, liaise, and supervise all necessary staff and service providers to conduct the funeral ceremony Placement of death and funeral notices Preparation of documentation and applications to make arrangements for interment, cremation, or repatriation The provision of well-maintained funeral vehicles If requested, we will notify any clubs or associations of funeral particulars and issue member invitations. Liaising with medical professionals to arrange and collect all necessary documentation. Arrange floral tributes and collect and distribute attendance and tribute cards. 10

13 Organise the after-service reception, including the catering. Arrange the opening of monumental burial sites or the construction of monuments. Provision of advice and support before, during and following the funeral, including introduction to qualified grief counsellors, support associations, and grief and loss literature. Organising donation envelopes for the charity or association of your choice, if requested Registration of death with the State Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Disbursements As previously mentioned, disbursements are costs that are paid on your behalf by the funeral director. Most funeral directors accept these charges as part of the total account simply to assist you as a family to concentrate on each other and the day rather than administering many small details. Disbursements may include the following: The cost of cremation Purchasing and preparing a grave site Certificates (registration and/or cremation) Clergy offering or celebrant fee Church costs Musicians costs Newspaper notices Floral tributes Funeral stationery Video or photography of the funeral Mourning cars Embalming Air freight Road transport and Goods and Services Tax (GST) 11

14 Our Costs Elysian Fields Funerals provide affordable burial and cremation funeral options primarily in all areas of South-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, but service other areas in addition to specialised repatriation services. We are knowledgeable about the resources available in your community and respectful of all religious beliefs and customs. The cost of a funeral varies, depending on the location of the services required and the options you and your family choose. At Elysian Fields Funerals we provide a range of options that allow you and your family to tailor the funeral to suit your personal, cultural and religious requirements. We are here to support you every step of the way. If you would like a detailed explanation of costs, or have any special requirements for a funeral service, please do not hesitate to contact us. In the following pages we have detailed a number of complete cremation and burial funeral options to help make the funeral arrangement process a little easier during such a difficult time. For assistance or information about your specific requests and associated costs, please contact us at any time. 12

15 Unattended Cremation (Without a Funeral Service) This service is where a cremation takes place with no attendance by family or friends. Some people choose to organise their own memorial service or gathering once they have received the ashes. Our fee for Direct Cremation incorporates the various tasks and services typically involved in arranging, planning and conducting a funeral including: Our professional service fee (inclusions as listed previously) Mortuary care in our fully licenced premises Transfer of deceased in to our care during business hours from surrounding area Coffin - Eco Cremation fee (Monday to Friday only at a venue of our choice) Cremation permit Certified Copy of the Death Certificate issued by Births, Deaths, and Marriages Crematorium Chapel or Church Service and Cremation The cost for a funeral service in the crematorium chapel or church during our business hours incorporates the various tasks and services typically involved in arranging, planning and conducting a funeral, including: Our professional service fee (inclusions as listed previously) Mortuary care in our fully licenced premises Transfer of deceased in to our care during business hours from surrounding area Coffin - Eco Celebrant or Clergy gratuity Crematorium fee Cremation permit Certified Copy of the Death Certificate issued by Births, Deaths, and Marriages Floral tribute to the value of $100 13

16 Cemetery or Graveside Funeral Service Cemeteries are either Council or privately owned and there are many to choose from. The costs will vary based on which cemetery and your specific requirements. Some families require interment in an existing burial plot and others purchase a new one. Most have the option of single, double, or triple depth as well. We are able to provide the options and costs for your area so please contact us for applicable cemetery fees. Our fee incorporates the various tasks and services typically involved in arranging, planning and conducting a funeral including: Our professional service fee (inclusions as listed previously) Mortuary care in our fully licenced premises Transfer of deceased in to our care during business hours from surrounding area Coffin - Eco Celebrant or clergy gratuity Certified Copy of the Death Certificate issued by Births, Deaths, and Marriages Floral tribute to the value of $100 14

17 Additional Options Some services or options not included above are: Newspaper notices Viewings prior to the day of the funeral service Funeral services after our business hours, on weekends, or public holidays Tribute releases (balloons, doves, butterflies etc) Musicians Orders of service booklets Memorial books Other coffin or casket selection Additional floral tributes Catering services and facilities Cremation urns Safe and secure transfer into our care outside of our business hours (8am to 4pm Monday to Friday) 15

18 Memorial Products Coffins & Caskets The choice of the type of coffin or casket is a very personal matter. In fact, the law does not talk about a casket or coffin. It states that a suitable container that is both airtight and watertight must be used. The difference between coffins and caskets is simply the design coffins are tapered at the head and foot, and are wider at the shoulders. Caskets are rectangular in shape. Coffins and caskets are made from a variety of materials: particle board, craftwood, solid timber or metal. Your funeral director will explain the difference between these materials and their costs. Floral Tributes There are many options available for floral tributes. Some ideas are included here but you can request a specific colour, type of flower, arrangement type, and size. Availability of flowers varies depending on time of year and additional costs may be incurred based on your selection. Some more examples of floral tributes are included on our website. 16

19 Writing a Eulogy As part of most funeral ceremonies, someone (a family member, the celebrant or clergy) delivers a spoken or written tribute given in honour of the person who has died. This is called a eulogy, derived from the Greek words eu which means good and logo which means word. Often it is difficult to know what to include and what to leave out. Generally speaking, the main eulogy should include: Brief History Name (including nickname) Date and place of birth Parents names (including mother s maiden name) Place in family (eldest, youngest etc) Siblings Family situation in childhood Education history, school/ further education Work history Marriage at age, to whom, and where Children born Recent history Circumstances of death Characteristics Personality Character Beliefs/philosophies Hobbies, interests Personal memories Famous sayings or habits Closing or Summary Sentence A simple closing statement about the deceased. Special Music to be Played or Sung Some families use a photo slide show or DVD presentation. A second eulogy is sometimes brought from a grandchild, lifetime friend, or working associate. Some people choose to present this as a letter read to their deceased loved one. 17

20 Planning Ahead by Prearranging or Prepaying a Funeral Elysian Fields Funerals have trained and qualified staff to assist you with information and options for preplanning a funeral service. There are two main options for planning ahead for a funeral service: Prearranging a funeral, and prepayment of the funeral service. What is Prearranging? A prearranged funeral is one that is planned in advance, with the personal details and wishes for the funeral recorded with a chosen funeral director. When the death occurs, the family or person responsible for making the funeral arrangements needs only to sign the prepared documents and, in consultation with the funeral director, set the day and time for the funeral. Though the option of prepaying the funeral is usually offered at the time of prearrangement, this is not a requirement. Why Prearrange? It is prudent. As an accepted practice, we insure our homes and possessions in case an untoward event happens. We insure our motor vehicles in case they are damaged or stolen. It is wise to make plans, with or without funding, for our inevitable passing. It is kind to our loved ones. To spare those we leave behind the burden of decision making in the context of their grief and loss is a great kindness. There is a considerable number of small, but 18

21 significant, decisions that contribute to planning and conducting a funeral. These can assume mountainous proportions when we are grieving. Made dispassionately at some distance from the event, they post far less of a challenge. It is not morbid. When we are completing a house and contents insurance application, we are not imagining the sound of the roof lifting off in a storm, or the thief rummaging through our possessions. When we are insuring the car, we do not hear the crunch of metal or the sound of shattering glass. When we prearrange our funeral, we are neither imagining nor wishing our death upon us or our family. We are simply making some intelligent provision for the future. Why Prepay? This is an extension of the prudent act of prearranging. Funeral directors usually act as agents for one or more government approved funds designed to hold and safely invest monies set aside to pay for a funeral. These funds grown through interest or dividends paid over time and usually provide for most of the costs of a funeral, even though these costs will be affected by inflation. An added advantage if you are in receipt of a means tested pension is that current legislation allows an amount per person held is such a fund to be exempt from consideration as an asset. Having prearranged and priced a funeral at today s prices, you then by means of a lump sum or agreed time payment scheme, invest the value of the funeral in one of these funds. This planning leaves your family with little, if anything, to pay when a funeral is needed. Most funds will allow you to nominate a funeral director as the prime beneficiary of the plan you have bought, further saving your family from administrative concerns and probable capital gains tax. Please contact us to make an appointment to prearrange or prepay your funeral service. Alternatively, you may choose to complete the form at the back of this booklet and return it to us for safe keeping or provide a copy to your family so they are aware of your requests. 19

22 Checklist When someone dies a number of people and organisations need to be told. This helps to finalise the person s affairs and makes sure you can get the help you need. Before you start contacting the relevant people or organisations, it might help to have a look around and see if the person who died had a filing cabinet, folder or document case. They may have records that show dealings with any of the contacts on the checklist. You can use these records to find out important reference numbers such as a customer reference number, Medicare number or health fund membership number, etc. Some important documents to look for are: A Will Birth and marriage certificates Property deeds and mortgage papers Home loan details (latest statement of loan account containing details about finance for the deceased person s property) Lease (setting out legal entitlements for rented property) Taxation records (with details of income and assets) Insurance policies (e.g. home, contents and car) Life insurance and superannuation policies Savings account details (showing where savings are kept) Any documents about prepaid funeral arrangements or burial plots. While many organisations may require a copy of the Death Certificate before they take action on your advice, it is wise to provide advice of the death as soon as possible. 20

23 This checklist shows you most of the people and organisations you may need to contact. Doctor Preferred funeral director Family and friends Executor of Will Minister of religion Funeral bond Prepaid funeral Funeral insurance Centrelink Department of Veterans Affairs Foreign pension authority Employers Superannuation fund Clubs (for example, the RSL) Banks, credit unions, and so on Public Trustee Credit card/hire purchase Insurance companies Hospital Social worker Hearing centre Health professionals (dentist, optometrist, physio, etc) Health benefits fund Medicare Landlord Local electricity authority Gas supply company Local council (rates/ Meals on Wheels) Telephone company Vehicle registration and licensing authorities Electoral Office Accountant Australian Taxation Office Professional bodies (for example, solicitor, accountant) Public services (library) Post Office 21

24 Funeral Prearrangement Form To talk to our caring, professional staff or to arrange a meeting in our office or the comfort of your own home, please us or call us on Returning this Form Post: PO Box 545, Acacia Ridge, QLD 4110 Fax: (07) info@elysianfieldsfunerals.com.au The personal information contained in this form is what is required by a funeral director to complete the various legal forms for registration of a death and organising a funeral. A meeting with a funeral director will still be required at the time of need to sign the forms required by law. You have no obligation to pay for your funeral at this time, but we can assist you with a prepaid funeral fund if you choose. Changes can be made to your funeral arrangements when necessary. These funeral arrangements are kept in our secure premises until they are amended or required.

25 Prearrangement Details Service to be Prearranged An at need funeral (today s prices) Prepaid funeral with payment over 3 years Prepaid funeral with one lump sum Prearranged funeral only (no funds prepaid) Prearranged funeral and paying in instalments from $50 per month Your Details Personal Information (for the person whom funeral is being arranged) First name: Middle name(s): Last name: Preferred name: Residential address: Suburb: State: Pcode: address: Phone: Mobile: Next of Kin Full name: Residential address: Suburb: State: Pcode: address: Phone: Mobile:

26 Executor Full name: Residential address: Suburb: State: Pcode: address: Phone: Mobile: Other Details Name: Solicitor: Address: Phone: Name: Doctor: Address: Phone: Name: Will lodged with: Address: Phone: Name: Funeral plan with: Address: Phone: Life insurance with: Name: Address: Phone:

27 Personal Information Required by Law Information for Births, Deaths & Marriages Gender: Male Female Date of birth: / / Usual occupation: Town, state and country of birth: Time of residency: All my life From year: Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent? Yes No Your Parents Father s name and occupation: Mother s name and occupation: Mother s maiden name: Your Children (add D after names if deceased) Name: Date of birth: / / Name: Date of birth: / / Name: Date of birth: / / Name: Date of birth: / / Marital Details Status: Never married Married Widowed Divorced Separated Current marriage (if applicable) Previous marriage (if applicable) Place of marriage: Age when married: Spouse s name: Place of marriage: Age when married: Spouse s name:

28 Funeral Service Details Service Details Service: Public Private Church Our Chapel Location: Crematorium Chapel Graveside Other: Viewing: Yes No Family to decide at time of need Officiator: Clergy, denomination: Celebrant (Gender: Male Female) Cremation/Burial Details Type: Cremation Burial Location: Coffin/casket: Coffin Casket Product from our range: Urn (If cremation) Ashes placement: Interment in existing grave Scatter at: Sea/Land/Air/Other: Send to: Other: Lawn grave (If burial) Grave type: Lawn monument grave Monument area Other:

29 RSLs/Lodges/Clubs/Associations/Newspapers to be Notified Contact name: Contact name: Phone: Phone: RSL service: Yes No Australian flag: Yes No Newspapers: (one or more) The Courier Mail Gold Coast Bulletin Other: Other Details Musician (organist, soloist) CD/tape: Music: Song choice: Song choice: Song choice: Casket spray Flowers: Posy/bouquet Single rose Other: Donations and flowers Donations in lieu of flowers Donations: If applicable, donations to be made to: Vehicles Mourning car(s) Limousines

30 Other Details Pall bearers: Family or friends Funeral staff Audio tape the service Audio visual: Video tape the service Multimedia photo presentation Basic photographs taken Order of service Other options: (one or more) Prayer cards Catering Other: Special Requests

31 We can all tell a story Elysian Fields Funerals Phone 1300 ELYSIAN ( ) info@elysianfieldsfunerals.com.au Elysian Fields Funerals Pty Ltd atf James Family Funerals Trust trading as Elysian Fields Funerals

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