Historically, funerals have been sombre religious occasions followed by a traditional burial. As society has become more secular, civil ceremonies have increasingly replaced religious services, and the idea of a funeral as a celebration of life rather than a sad and serious occasion is becoming the norm. More than 85% of Australians would prefer a relaxed, celebratory or fun final send-off than a more solemn funeral.

Continue reading “3 Beautiful and Memorable Ways to Celebrate a Loved One’s Memory After Cremation”

When you lose a loved one, one of the most important aspects of organising their cremation is choosing an urn. Urns hold the cremated remains (also known as ‘ashes’ or ‘cremains’) of the deceased and serve as the perfect memorial of their life when displayed in the home. If someone very close to you has passed or you’re in the unfortunate position of having lost two loved ones, you may want to consider opting for a companion urn.

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Depending on your culture, religion and other beliefs, a funeral may mean many things.

For many cultures, a funeral simply signifies the end of life on earth and the body we inhabit. After a funeral, the personal journey of the deceased continues as they move into the afterlife, reincarnation, paradise or heaven. The ceremony is an opportunity to remember, to mourn, to celebrate and to help your loved one on their journey.
Continue reading “Funerals: Celebrating Life”

An obituary is one of the many ways that you can honour a loved one after death. Importantly, it also allows those who the deceased has lost contact with to be made aware of their passing.
Continue reading “Final Tribute – What to Include in an Obituary”

There are many considerations that are made when deciding how one’s body is respected in death. Some may be financial, others religious, and some may simply be determined by circumstances.
Continue reading “Burial or Cremation – a Personal Choice”

Making the choice to be cremated or buried can be complex and fraught with emotion. Family can be overwhelmed by the idea of cremation or the cost of burial, and it can often be difficult to respect the wishes of the deceased where conflicting values are held.
Continue reading “Why Burial is More Poetic Than Cremation”

A Will is a legal document that outlines your wishes for what will happen to you, your property and assets after you are gone. It’s the only way to be sure that your Estate (the legal term for your property and assets) will be divided among those you care about in a way that you’re comfortable with. Regardless of the value of your Estate, it’s important to create a Will for a number of reasons.

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When someone close to you is gone, it’s important to celebrate their life in a way that has meaning to those left behind. One way to pay tribute to your loved one without holding a full professional funeral service is to simply hold a memorial with friends and family. If you choose to hold a memorial instead of a professional funeral service, an unattended cremation service is a practical and affordable option. It means that once the ashes are collected the family can take time to organise a personal memorial that’s unique, special and rich in meaning.

Continue reading “Ideas for a Personal Memorial”

The eulogy is the part of the funeral service that celebrates the life of someone who has passed away. It’s a personal and often anecdotal speech that commemorates life and bids farewell while offering comfort to those left behind. The eulogy usually lasts for about five to ten minutes – although there are no rules to this – and can be delivered by a family member, close friend, the minister or celebrant, or someone else appointed by the family.

Continue reading “What to Include in a Eulogy”

Because we all experience grief in a unique personal way, it’s not easy to know how to help someone who is grieving. 

Lend a Sympathetic Ear

Listen attentively and sympathetically. It’s important your friend or family member knows you are actively listening and to their concerns and not judging.

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Planning a funeral is a big job – there are many choices to make that you may not have considered before. At Cremations Only, we’re here to guide you through the arrangements and ease the burden of planning. Our funeral directors in Brisbane will guide you through each step of the proceedings, and all legal requirements, surrounding professional funeral services. Take a look at our brief guide below to get an idea of the processes involved. 

Continue reading “A Brief Guide to Funeral Planning”

It’s a common misconception that choosing cremation means forfeiting a professional funeral service. In fact, when you choose to proceed with a cremation after the passing of a loved one, you may still enjoy the benefits of a full professional funeral service just as you would at a burial funeral. The ultimate advantage of cremation is flexibility to carry out the funeral or memorial in a way that suits the family. You are not tied down to holding a burial on the same day as the funeral service – which can be overwhelming to some grieving family members who are not ready to let go yet. As well as allowing the family time to grieve, there are other benefits to choosing cremations – read on to learn more.

Continue reading “Benefits of Cremation”