Pre-plan your funeral
How do I make funeral plans in advance?
A pre-arranged funeral can be as simple as telling a funeral director about your likes and interests, and whether you wish to be buried or cremated. Or it might include specific details, like which music you’d like to be played at your service and who your pallbearers should be.
If you’re ready to discuss your funeral, give us a call and we’ll record your wishes. We recommend you also include your family in the process. While not legally binding, these thoughts can provide your family with some direction during what will likely be a very challenging time.
The Compassionate Funerals’ difference
We can host your family and guests at our lovely on-site chapel in Brenwood. We can also accommodate a service at a different location such as a park, sports club, public space, cemetery, or church.
Committed to our community
We’ve been serving this community for the past 18 years and are committed to providing the best service possible – for every family, every time.
Experienced and professional
We’re trusted for our attention to detail and our professionalism. We can help you plan your funeral – just the way you’d like it.
Not-for-profit
We’re here to make the world a better place. We give away all our surplus funds to organisations that are helping people in need, both locally and globally.
Compassion and support
Every family matters to us. We’re here to help you and your family in any way we can, providing compassion and support at every step.
You choose how you want to be remembered
When you pre-plan your funeral, you have the chance to think about the way you’d like to be honoured and remembered. You can choose between burial or cremation, select an urn or casket that reflects who you are, and make choices about floral designs, music, and various elements of the service.
How much will a funeral cost?
Funerals generally cost between $4,000 and $15,000. The price will vary depending on whether you choose burial or cremation and the other services you’d like. To ease pressure on your family later, we recommend you start to put funds away now – by setting up a funeral bond. See the FAQs below for more information about this.
Here’s how we help
We work through the details with you now
Our experienced team will meet with you to discuss the options available for your funeral. We’ll help you plan the service and discuss your preference for burial or cremation.
We record your preferences and help you work out how much it will cost
We keep a record of your preferences and recommend you share these with your family too. We’ll also help you determine potential costs so you know how much to put away now.
We will organise your funeral and provide support for your family
When the time comes, we’ll carry out your funeral in line with your wishes. Our team will also provide support for your family before, during and after the funeral.
Frequently asked questions
Not at all. One of our friendly staff can walk you through the process and answer any questions you might have. We can help you plan as much or as little as you like. To streamline your thoughts, you may like to use our free ‘Your Goodbye Booklet’. It helps you outline your preferences and how you’d like to be remembered.
We suggest investing in a funeral bond designated to Compassionate Funerals. Our team will estimate your funeral’s cost to give you an idea of how much to put aside. You can make a lump sum payment or set up regular instalments from your bank account. We’ll also discuss cemetery and crematorium expenses with you.
Funeral bonds are invested funds for future funeral costs, accessible only after your passing. Bonds provide financial security, easing the burden on your family. Any excess funds are returned to your estate. Alternatively, if your bond doesn’t cover everything, your family will cover the rest.
Funds up to $14,000* in a funeral bond aren’t considered assets by Centrelink. Check Services Australia for updates and eligibility.
*As of 1 July 2022. Visit servicesaustralia.gov.au
Planning ahead eases future financial and logistical pressures on your family. Your wishes will be honoured and funds put aside will cover your funeral expenses.
A funeral bond grows with interest to cover funeral costs, returning the excess to your estate. If it falls short, your family covers the remainder. Funeral insurance involves ongoing premiums until needed, potentially costing more than the funeral’s actual value.
We’ve been serving families like yours since 2006, making closure extremely unlikely. If it should happen, however, you can transfer your bond to another funeral director.
We are part of another funeral company in Melbourne. If you move to Victoria, we could transfer your bond there. For other states, we’d shift your bond to a provider in your new area.
What if the death occurs interstate or overseas?
We can arrange transportation of the deceased to Compassionate Funerals. Additional fees may apply for interstate transportation. Check if your travel insurance covers ‘repatriation of the deceased,’ which could offset associated costs. See repatriation services to learn more.
Looking for more information about pre-planning? Check out our FAQs above.