FAQ's Frequently Asked Questions

This depends on where the death occurred. If someone dies in a hospital, hospice or nursing home the nursing staff will contact the Doctor to issue the death certificate. After notifying the next of kin of the death, all the family have to do is then contact their funeral director who will then take them through the next steps.

If a death occurs at home, the Doctor who was caring for the deceased should be contacted as soon as possible after death. The Doctor will then confirm the death and a Death Certificate will be issued. Once this has been verified, we can then take the deceased into our care.

On the odd occasion where there is an unexpected death whether it is at home, in hospital or in a place of public use, the death must be referred to the Coroner’s Office. The Police must be called when an unexpected death occurs. If the cause of death is not clear, the Police will contact the Coroner. The Coroner must establish the cause of death and this may mean an assessment by the Pathologist or a post mortem. When the cause of death has been confirmed, the deceased can be released to the family to organise the memorial or funeral.

If there is an accidental death such as a motor vehicle accident, the Police will need to be involved. When they are satisfied with their examinations, they will liaise with the Funeral Director to transfer the deceased to the Coroners Mortuary and once the Coroner has finalized their obligations, the Police will call the chosen Funeral Director.

On most occasions we care for the deceased immediately by transferring them into our care from the hospital, hospice or family home once a Doctor has certified the death.

Once the loved one is in our care, the Funeral Director will then sit down with the family to listen to their wishes, answer any questions they may have and advise them. Quite often this is done in their own home where we find people feel most comfortable at such a sensitive time. Alternatively we can meet at our offices. We are happy to meet with families whenever is convenient as families often need a chance to come together before they go ahead with funeral arrangements.

The legal documentation then needs to be addressed as this is required for The Department of Internal Affairs and this is a group effort between the family and the Funeral Director, which helps build rapport and relationships. Simply Cremations has included a user friendly form which can be downloaded and filled out, or even completed online. This information is mandatory when a death occurs and is completely confidential.

During the initial meeting the Funeral Director can discuss the arrangements for a Simple or Traditional funeral service if required, and either the cremation or burial process. We appreciate the need for all loved ones of the deceased to spend time discussing what arrangements they may wish for over the coming days. Often we have been of service to a family member previously and relationships have already been established and can be built on further.

Once all families are comfortable with the arrangements, a time frame will be laid out and the funeral director will arrange the rest to suit the grieving family’s requirements. At Simply Cremations we believe communication is imperative and no stone is left unturned whilst no arrangements are made without the approval of the deceased’s family.

Our quality care continues throughout the entire funeral process, and we offer embalming and preservation as a service to ensure a positive and pleasant experience when viewing a loved one. Our embalming agents are fully qualified and have a high standard of care and ethics.

Embalming is usually required when family members are coming from far and wide and wish to view their loved one. It is not always necessary however and Simply Cremations can comfortably care for a loved one for up to five days prior to a funeral service without embalming, if no viewing is requested.

Unfortunately due to Health and Safety reasons no viewing can be arranged after 24 hours passing of the deceased without the embalming process being completed.

There are 3 reasons for Embalming to be performed and these are:

Sanitation: So people can view and touch the body without risks to their own health.
Preservation: The process of decomposition can be slowed down.
Presentation: Dressing the body, adding cosmetics and restorative work can be done if required.

A photo is usually a great support in helping to present the body in a fitting manner.
We support Eco-Embalming which is no more toxic than a teaspoon of salt and still at a very competitive cost.

Viewing the body is a very personal choice. In some cultures it is a core part of the grieving process, but some find it uncomfortable. Viewing can be the last thing someone can do for the person who has died and a time to express feelings and sentiments. But essentially it is an opportunity to farewell a loved one.

Often family and friends come from afar and wish to view their loved one. We can accommodate this in our offices or can leave the deceased with their family prior to the funeral service.

We also understand that there may be a requirement for an open casket at the time of a service. This can be achieved without any difficulty however it is best to discuss the arrangement in more detail with the Funeral Director. For example the casket may be open prior to the commencement of the service only therefore allowing an opportunity for those members of the congregation to view the deceased if they choose.

At Simply Cremations we are happy to help families with the formatting and writing of a Death Notice. We have included a layout of what is generally included and have examples to guide families in scribing a Death Notice. Of course families may wish to write them independently as we respect the privacy of all of our clients.

Many of our families wish to publish a Death Notice in the local Bay of Plenty Times or the New Zealand Herald. On some occasions, the deceased has lived in other regions and we can arrange a publication in other newspapers if desired. We have associations with other regional newspapers around the country. This enables people to see when and where a service is to be held, and ways in which to contact the grieving family. We are pleased to arrange this service for you and only pass on the cost of the notice.

Our ‘Traditional’ funeral service is generally officiated by a member of the clergy or a celebrant. This choice depends on individual family’s beliefs. In some circumstances, the family appoints a close friend to officiate the service which can make it more personal and poignant. But it’s important that someone who is comfortable in this role has the responsibility to ensure the funeral service is conducted in a manner which is appropriate for the grieving family.

We work alongside a handful of both female and male Celebrants that we trust will deliver a service that is dignified and compassionate. They work in line with the high standards set by Simply Cremations when respecting and bidding farewell to a lost loved one.

We are fortunate to have Mr Bernie Urquhart with us in the added role of assisting Warren or Carol when not officiating at services in both regions. We are also proud to have a close relationship with Benney Sowry who is a popular Funeral Celebrant in the Tauranga area.

All the celebrants that we work with on a regular basis believe in meeting with the deceased family and relatives as often as they need them to. Recording, discussing the important details of their loved ones life and listening to the family are a key role of a celebrant so a rapport can be built. As with the communication between families and the Funeral Directors, our celebrants work with us closely in the days leading up to the service to ensure no details are forgotten.lebrants work with us closely in the days leading up to the service to ensure no details are forgotten.

It is almost impossible to sum up a life story of a loved one in a few minutes at a funeral service. However, we recommend you tell stories and recall memories in valuable and creative ways.

It can be a daunting and challenging task to write and deliver a eulogy. A helpful eulogy is much more than a list of dates, but it is right to include important 'milestones' - birth and marriage, significant moves and changes of occupations.

Some people often begin with a poem or reading rather than simply with a birth date. If the subject of the eulogy had a particular spiritual outlook or favourite passage of literature, it may be easy to choose something that sets the tone perfectly. At other times, a story or a little historical background may help. For example, if a person was born in Wellington in the 1920's, our talk might begin with a word-sketch of what life was like in the city in those days.

The eulogy should act as a catalyst for others to call to mind their own special memories. So, talk about your feelings for this special person. Tell some stories about your experiences with him or her. Anecdotes are a splendid way to celebrate life - there is no reason to avoid the things that were amusing or even mildly irreverent!

Many immediate family members may understandably feel unable to speak publicly themselves, yet have important things to say. We recognise this and celebrants are generally very pleased to deliver a eulogy on a family member’s behalf or alternatively other members of the family may accompany each other.

As a very general guide, we offer the following checklist of things you may want to include...

• Birthplace and short details of early childhood
• Educational and sporting achievements, military service
• Career or profession
• Marriage and family life
• Hobbies, club memberships, charity involvement
• Preferences in music, literature, theatre, etc
• Characteristic words and sayings
• Personal qualities (perhaps illustrated by stories)

People often ask how long a eulogy should be and we recommend 10 minutes, or a couple of typed A4 pages is usually the norm.

At Simply Cremations we are proud to be able to offer a wide range of music and hymns that can be played at a funeral service. We have a comprehensive database of music and hymns and can provide a list of popular pieces for each. If we don’t have the special song you require, we are happy for families to supply CD’s or even purchase it for you at NO additional cost.

Music at a funeral service can often reflect our emotions and feelings in a way that our own words cannot. As a medium for the act of remembrance, music can have a powerful effect on those present at the funeral service. It can evoke memories and special times in people’s lives.

We often advise that a compilation of music is devised to play at the processional funeral, as well as a piece or a period of reflection during the service. A piece of recessional music at the conclusion of the committal service is often nice too. You may wish to include hymns or other ceremonial music.

Chosen hymns can either be played by an organist or played though a CD. Either option can create a special ambiance and are usually sung by the congregation. We ensure that each member of the congregation is supplied with their own words in print to these hymns.

Pipers are commonly heard at our funeral services as well and can really add that special touch. It can be a moving and poignant means of farewell.