The choice between burial and cremation largely comes down to personal choice, and is often influenced by cultural factors such as religion. 

For most funeral services a coffin is chosen and is displayed at the funeral then transported immediately afterwards to a burial plot or a crematorium. However, this is not always the case. For example, for some services a cremation will have already taken place, and the ashes of the deceased may be present for the ceremony.

Cremation

When a body is cremated the coffin and remains will be burned and turned to ash. The ashes can be kept in an urn, spread at a special location or buried - this can be in a burial plot with a family member who was not cremated if desired. Family members may be able to witness the cremation, this is common in some cultures such as Hinduism. 

Burial 

Burial generally involves the coffin being placed in the ground and covered, then marked by a headstone or monument. It is also the term usually used to refer to a coffin interred in a mausoleum or crypt. 

In Sydney choosing a burial will generally cost more than a cremation, because of the need to purchase a plot and a headstone or marker, however it is not always the case. You can discuss all the options with your funeral director to get a better idea of the costs and what else is involved. 

There is no set limit for how long to wait before holding a funeral; there are several factors that can affect your planning and decision. 

If a death is referred to the coroner for investigation, the body of your loved one may not be available until the investigation is complete. A funeral director can liaise with the coroner to work out when a funeral can be conducted. Some families may choose to proceed with a service prior to the coroner releasing the person’s body.

If having an open casket present is important for you for personal or cultural reasons most funeral homes will suggest holding the funeral service within two or three days of the death occurring. However this period can be extended somewhat by embalming the body. 

You may also want to consider those likely to attend the funeral. If interstate or international travel is required you might have to allow extra time. You can also speak to your funeral director about arranging alternative options such as a live stream of the funeral broadcast online for those unable to attend.

Viewing is a personal decision, and there are many different reasons why people may choose to do so. Often there are religious or cultural factors that encourage a viewing as part of a funeral service, and experts do suggest that viewing the body can help those grieving confront the reality of the situation. Some people may choose to have a small viewing with only members of the family or a small group of people. This can be arranged to take place in the funeral home at any time, in the days before the funeral or even on the day of the funeral. 

As mentioned above embalming may be necessary for viewing to be a viable option more than two or three days after the death has occurred.

A casket is a squarer, more box-shaped vessel, whereas a coffin is wider at the shoulders and tapered at the bottom. However, it’s not uncommon for people to call coffins caskets and vice versa.

Embalming is a process that involves disinfecting the body, draining fluids and gases and replacing them with embalming fluids. This process is most commonly performed to allow for the body to be viewed for a longer time, and is often necessary if the body is going to be transported a long way. It can also be recommended if the body suffered trauma (such as a car accident) or the appearance was significantly affected by something like chemotherapeutic drugs. 

Some religions and cultural groups prohibit this process, and embalmed bodies may not be able to be laid to rest in some natural burial grounds in Sydney because of the chemicals used in the process.

In the immediate aftermath of a loved one dying, as well as the need to tell close friends and family, you will potentially have to make contact with some other people or organisations, depending on a few factors such as where the death occurred and whether it was expected. If they passed in hospital or nursing home it is likely a funeral director will be able to take care of most of the contact that is necessary for legal purposes. If they died at home you will have to contact an ambulance service and their doctor as well. If a death is sudden or unexpected the police may also have to be contacted. A funeral director can help at any time in this process, and can offer advice on who to contact and when. 

After the funeral service there is a long list of organisations you’ll need to contact in the longer term. Some things to think about include:

• Banks and financial institutions - accountants, credit card and savings accounts, superannuation
• Insurers - car, house, health and life insurers, as well as checking if there were any insurances as part of superannuation
• Government agencies - the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Services Australia (formerly Centrelink), Medicare
• Medical and health services - while you’ve likely contacted the GP in the immediate aftermath physiotherapists, dentists, social workers and other health services may still need to be notified
• Home services and utilities - power and water suppliers, local council, phone and internet providers, any gardeners, meals-on-wheels or other home-service providers, newspapers
• Sports clubs and other associations - RSL clubs, social clubs
• Social media and online accounts

For a comprehensive checklist click here.

Every family is different, and everyone will have their own different wants and needs for their funeral so the cost is quite variable. You can view our funeral costs.

To help with financial planning for funeral services we have a number of plans and packages available, including pre-paid funerals.