Funeral Questions and Answers

You are likely to have many questions about funerals: we hope that this guide to funeral questions and answers is helpful.

If you need any further advice or information, please contact us and we will be glad to help you

Before the Funeral FAQs

What to do when someone dies?

Do you need a funeral director?

There is no requirement to engage a funeral director, but be aware that there is much to arrange within a short space of time when planning a funeral. You also need to consider the requirement for mortuary care and embalming, and the need to transport your loved one to a cemetery or crematorium in a respectful manner. Funeral homes and funeral directors have the experience, facilities, skills to do provide such funeral services – and more – in a way that’s professional and caring.

What do funeral homes do?

Funeral homes can organise every aspect of planning a funeral and the care of your loved one. Resthaven Funerals’ services include:

Transfer of your loved one, which may include national or international repatriation.
Personal care and attention of your loved one.
Embalming and mortuary care.
Obtaining medical paperwork from the doctor.
Preparing necessary documentation.
Attending to the registration of the death.
Provision of funeral home facilities and services.
Use or hire of hearse and other cars.
Supply coffins (caskets) and urns.
Organise monuments, such as memorial headstones and plaques.
Organise a celebrant, minister or priest.
Arrange reception venue hire and catering.
Design memorial and funeral books and programmes.
Create a photo tribute production DVD.
Arrange funeral service recording or live streaming.
Organise flowers for the casket, committal, and venue.
Organise newsletter notices.
Arrange cremation and complete the related paperwork.
Organise burial, grave digging, and cemetery.
Provide grief support.

Resthaven Funerals is able to accommodate most budgets so please talk to us for information and advice.

Why is it important to choose a funeral director that’s a member of the FDANZ?

The Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ) has a strict Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct that members must follow. Members must have appropriate qualifications and experience – and there is an independent disputes resolution process.

For your peace of mind, we strongly recommend you use a funeral undertaker that’s a member of FDANZ.

Resthaven Funerals is a member of FDANZ, and our company manager, Rachel Benns has served on the FDANZ board for five consecutive years.

What happens at the first meeting with the funeral director?

At the first meeting with the funeral director, we will discuss your wishes for the funeral and provide you with a no obligation quote. Please let us know of any financial constraints, and we can recommend funeral services to suit your wishes.

Please bring the following items with you to the meeting:

Clothing you would like your loved one to be dressed in.
Any personal items to be placed in the casket.
A recent photo of your loved one, so we ensure their hair and makeup is in their preferred style.
Details for the death certificate.

At the meeting, we’ll discuss whether your loved one is to be cremated or buried, and discuss options for caskets and urns, as appropriate. We will also discuss all the other aspects that go into planning a funeral.

Does Resthaven Funerals only organise Auckland funerals?

Resthaven Funerals has two Auckland funeral homes: one in East Auckland (Howick), and the other in South Auckland (Manurewa).

We work from these locations, but can provide transport and repatriation services nationally and internationally. We can also arrange the interment of cremation ashes at any location in New Zealand. If you’d like to work with us, but you’re not sure if we can serve your area or not, please give us a call:

Howick (East Auckland): 09 533 7493
Manurewa (South Auckland): 09 267 2530

What’s involved in arranging a funeral live stream?

Arranging a funeral live stream is easy and we can take care of the whole process for you. Our experienced funeral videographers provide all the equipment, and will set up unobtrusively at the venue.

You will be provided details in advance of the funeral that you can send to friends and family, so they can view the funeral live stream wherever they are in the world. They will be able to watch the funeral live, or replay it later. The video will also be available for download.

What is embalming?

During the funeral period, embalming serves the dual purpose of disinfecting and preserving your loved one, while also ensuring a natural and peaceful appearance.

There are situations where embalming becomes necessary, such as when the funeral needs to be postponed or when transportation to another city or country is required. However, there are also times when embalming is optional. Allow us to assist you in making the right decision by speaking with our knowledgeable team.

Resthaven Funerals takes great pride in its experienced and qualified staff who handle the embalming process with the utmost respect and dignity for your loved one, always ensuring their wellbeing.

Embalming is a highly skilled procedure that should be entrusted only to trained practitioners who are members of the FDANZ and/or the NZ Embalmers' Association. We encourage you to verify that the funeral home you choose meets these essential criteria.

Should I choose a burial or cremation?

If your loved one has expressed their preferences in advance regarding burial or cremation, those wishes will be honoured.

However, if no such instructions were given, the responsibility of choosing between burial or cremation falls upon the family. Resthaven Funerals is here to assist you in navigating this decision-making process and will handle all necessary arrangements on your behalf.

Price may be a factor in your decision making, and it is usually more cost effective to be cremated than to be buried.

Another option is to have a burial at sea: there are specially designated areas off the New Zealand coastline that can be used for burial at sea. There are strict guidelines around this: for example, a special casket is required. We can supply this, and make all the arrangements for you.

Can the funeral service be adapted to different beliefs and cultures?

Yes, absolutely – it’s important that the funeral service is a reflection of your loved one’s beliefs and culture.

Resthaven Funerals can arrange any type of funeral: religious funerals, non-religious funerals, agnostic funerals, atheist funerals, spiritual funerals, Maori funerals, Chinese funerals, Muslim funerals, Jewish funerals, Indian funeral, Christian burials and funerals, Asian funerals, natural burials… whatever you have in mind, contact us and we can make it happen.

The Funeral Service FAQs

How to write a funeral speech?

Can you create a funeral program?

How do I view a funeral livestream?

After the Funeral FAQs

What can be done with cremation ashes?

It’s totally up to you what you wish to do with your loved ones cremation ashes. Options include:

Interment in a cemetery.
Scattering the ashes in a special place (or numerous places).
Installing a memorial or plaque where the ashes are interred or scattered, as a place for the family to visit.
Scattering the cremation ashes at sea.
Keeping them at home in a decorative urn.

Reserving some for keepsake jewellery

Is there any easy way to make official death notifications?

Yes: myTrove is a free online service that offers an efficient solution to streamline this process and significantly reduce the associated paperwork. With myTrove, you can close accounts with banks and utility companies, and notify various government agencies such as the IRD, Ministry of Social Development, Work and Income, and the Passport Office.

You can use the myTrove service yourself, or delegate the responsibility to your lawyer.

Visit the myTrove website.

Do you provide grief support?

At Resthaven Funerals, we understand that everyone experiences grief in their own unique way and at their own pace.

Our commitment is to offer on-going care and support to our bereaved families. In the weeks following the funeral, we will personally reach out to provide guidance, support, and any information you may require.

To assist you further, we are pleased to offer you a complimentary copy of "Now What?," a valuable book written by renowned Grief Counsellor, Lois Tonkin.

As part of our comprehensive grief support services, we can also provide you with details and resources about support groups and other helpful avenues. Remember, we are here for you at any stage of your journey, so please reach out to us.

Online death notification service: mytrove

After a death, one of the more arduous tasks is to close out all the relationships the deceased had with various organisations, such as the bank, Inland Revenue, Ministry of Social Development, Work & Income, Internal Affairs Passports Office. Soon this will also include insurers and telecommunication companies, councils and energy companies, Kiwi saver etc. MyTrove is a free service.

After a death it takes an executor an average of 52.1 hours to close down these accounts and typically two months to a year to wind up an estate from start to finish. MyTrove will reduce the administrative burden by grieving families, or lawyers by reducing paperwork, removing the need to visit multiple organisations that require essentially the same information, and allowing personal and offical death data to work together. The service is free for those notifying of a death.

On the myTrove website, you can also find reference links that will help with other relevant services, like how to close down a Facebook or Instagram account, LinkedIn accounts, check for unclaimed money at IRD etc.

You can do this yourself or if you prefer, you can have your law firm do it on your behalf.

Arrange a memorable farewell for your loved one

You can customise every aspect of the funeral service to create a fitting farewell. We understand that coping with grief and making important decisions may be challenging, and we are here to guide you every step of the way.

Phone Howick 09 533 7493 or Manurewa 09 267 2530.

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