How to Make Funeral Arrangements

Arranging a Funeral in Sydney

With the help of a good funeral director such as GW Kelly funeral services, it is not difficult to make funeral arrangements in Sydney.

Despite the grief that is obviously felt by the family of the deceased, it is important for them to appoint a family member who will take charge of the whole ceremony, and be the intermediary between the needs of the family and the directors of the service. 

A decision that may be taken together with the whole family, among other things like writing obituaries, will be the choosing of the casket and its display. Many times the casket choice is based on whether the family wants to have an open casket, or not.

You will have to decide on whether the casket will be open only half way; revealing only the torso and head of the deceased, or completely; so that the whole body can be seen lying in the coffin.

In some cases, the family’s funeral arrangements are based on a closed casket, and the body will not go through the viewing process. Whichever way is decided, the team at GW Kelly can assist in guiding you and the family through the process of arranging a funeral in Sydney.

Many funeral homes Sydney have a reception room where funeral arrangements for a viewing can be made. It is in this same reception room that a short service may be said by a minister before the casket is closed and carried out to the hearse, in order to be transported to the cemetery for burial. 

There are some families that prefer that the service be held in a chapel. In this case, the casket will be driven in the hearse to the chapel, where the viewing can take place, followed by the funeral service. Thereafter the casket will be taken to its final resting place, which is a common decision when arranging a funeral in Sydney.

After the funeral service, a gathering of friends who want to offer their condolences will have been arranged in what is commonly known as a wake. The reception room of the funeral parlour may be used for this purpose, although many families hold such gatherings at their own homes or another function room. GW Kelly can assist in making arrangements for a wake in Sydney.

The biggest part of arranging a funeral in Sydney is making sure that there is enough space for all attendees. One never really knows how many people will turn up at a funeral, but deciding an estimate on attendees is important to ensure the majority of people are catered for.

Let us help you at your time of loss. Our professional, caring and experienced staff are ready to visit you or come see us in either of our two branches – Revesby or Macquarie Fields.