The Funeral
You are assured that our funeral directors will bring their experience, knowledge, and skills to support and assist your family through this most difficult of times. There are many things that need to be organized for a funeral.
Celebrants & Ministers
Funeral services are usually led by a celebrant, minister or priest. Sometimes this role can be filled by a family member or friend. The celebrant or minister will help you plan the service.
We can talk about the number of people likely to attend, what sort of service would like and recommend some possible venues.
Funeral may be held in a variety of settings such as:
- Churches
- Marae
- Sports clubrooms
- Family home or garden
- Community center
Cremations & Burials
We arrange all the details for the final resting place and maintain extensive records. Burials can be arranged in any cemetery, either in existing graves or the purchase of new plots. We provide grave markers in the form of a white cross when a new plot is purchased.
All of our cremations are carried out here on the West Coast at Westland crematorium, Greymouth unless the family requests cremation at another location. So there is no need for your loved ones to be transported off the coast to say Nelson or Christchurch. You will also be supporting another West Coast Business.
There are a number of options in the West Coast for burials:
- Hokitika Cemetery
- Ross Cemetery
- Kumara Cemetery
- Karoro Cemetery – Greymouth
- Gladstone Memorial Park Cemetery
- Hari Hari Cemetery
- Whataroa Cemetery
- Fox Glacier Cemetery
- Okuru – Haast
Funeral Flowers
We can arrange flowers for the funeral, on your behalf, from a professional florist. Families are welcome to use a florist or provide flowers of their own choice.
Design & Printing of Service Sheets
Families are encouraged to be involved in the setting out and design of the personalised service sheets for the funeral. We can produce quality colour service sheets and photo enlargements.
Thank you Cards
We are able to design a personal thank you card for those who have supported you through the death of your loved one.
Visual Tribute
A Visual Tribute of photos to reflect the life of your loved one can be beamed onto a wall or screen. This is a meaningful way to share more memories and highlights of a life. It can be shown before or during the funeral and be accompanied by your own special music. Provide us with your photos and we will create a visual tribute for the funeral whether it is in our Chapel or at another venue.
Video Recording
We can arrange for an audio-visual recording of the funeral service. This will provide you with a permanent record of the funeral service and may be shared with relatives or friends who were unable to be there on the day.
Memorials & Monumental Work
We can provide advice and assistance in the selection and purchasing of granite, brass, bronze and Returned Services plaques. We arrange for new headstones and memorials and the addition of inscriptions and refurbishment of existing monuments. Please visit Thompson Monumental Masons for more information.
Financial Support & Advice
We offer a full range of services to accommodate most budgets. Please ring us to discuss your specific requirements. We can advise on the range of assistance available for families requiring help with funeral costs. Assistance and advice can be given on the closing of bank accounts and applications for funeral grants from WINZ and the Accident Compensation Corporation.