The funeral industry traditionally builds reputation based on repeat business and high levels of grief within families. What a lot of people don't realize is that a very large percentage of funeral companies in Australia all have the one parent company that owns them, INVOCARE.

 

With three national brands (White Lady Funerals, Simplicity Funerals and Value Cremations) they also have 47 other brand names they trade under in Australia, largely through acquisition of family owned local businesses that they have kept the name of. Brands like Guardian Funerals, Liberty Funerals, Mackay Funerals and George Harnett Metropolitan Funerals are all owned by InvoCare.

 

InvoCare also own a large number of memorial gardens including Rookwood, Pinegrove and Castlebrook in NSW and Mt. Thompson and Great Southern memorial park in QLD. The company has also started acquiring pet crematoriums to add to their many other businesses.

 

The reason for including all of this information on my website is to give you an understanding of what you are dealing with when it comes to organizing funeral services. If you are shopping around with the limited time available to you when a loved one passes, be sure that you are not comparing prices from two companies that are basically the same business with a different shopfront. 

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PLEASE NOTE: I DO NOT CONDUCT CEREMONIES FOR ANY ONE FUNERAL DIRECTOR OR AT ANY ONE PLACE.

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There are funeral Celebrants out there that attach themselves to funeral homes so they gain some sort of exclusivity when it comes to any funerals conducted by that particular funeral home. You do not have to use a Celebrant attached to a funeral home no matter what spin of words a funeral director may try to tell you. The funeral director will not offer you this at the time as they have their tried and tested stable of Celebrants that will work with them on a regular basis churning out funeral after funeral.  

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As the person paying the bill it is YOUR CHOICE for everything to do with the funeral you are organizing. 

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In most cases the funerals that I get asked to do are a direct result of the person (you) telling the funeral director that they would like me to be the Celebrant for the funeral. I take the time to meet with the family and find out about the loved one they have just lost. I also ask about the family and who will be speaking, who will be organizing any tributes, readings and the eulogy.  

When it comes to funeral service options, there are four major types you will generally choose from:

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• No service, no attendance funeral (otherwise known as a direct burial / cremation or bare funeral): As the name suggests there is no service and no attendance. 

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I CAN OFFER A LIFE CELEBRATIONS SERVICE OR MEMORIAL SERVICE

SHOULD YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION FOR A FUNERAL SERVICE

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• Single service funeral: A typical single service funeral takes place at a funeral home chapel, church or other place of worship. The service includes a final committal ceremony and there is no procession to the cemetery or crematorium.

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I CAN OFFER EITHER A TRADITIONAL FUNERAL OR LIFE CELEBRATIONS SERVICE

SHOULD YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION FOR A FUNERAL SERVICE

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• Dual service funeral: A typical dual service funeral begins at a funeral home chapel, church or other place of worship and is followed by a procession to the cemetery or crematorium for a final committal ceremony. 

 

I CAN OFFER EITHER A TRADITIONAL FUNERAL OR LIFE CELEBRATIONS SERVICE

SHOULD YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION FOR A FUNERAL SERVICE

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• Graveside service: A graveside or arrival service takes place either entirely at the graveside or crematorium chapel. In the case of burials, a graveside service may sometimes be held at the cemetery chapel followed by a very short procession to the graveside for a committal ceremony. 

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I CAN OFFER EITHER A TRADITIONAL FUNERAL OR LIFE CELEBRATIONS SERVICE

SHOULD YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION FOR A FUNERAL SERVICE

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