When you lose someone you love, writing and giving their eulogy is a huge honour, but it’s also a huge responsibility. If you have been asked to write a eulogy but you aren’t sure where to start, don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. In this blog post, we will talk you through how to write a moving eulogy, pitfalls to watch out for, and we will arm you with tips for getting through giving the eulogy you write on the day of your loved one’s funeral. Let’s start with the basics. What is a eulogy? Simply put, a eulogy is a spoken tribute to someone who has passed away, given at their funeral or memorial service. There are no hard and fast rules as to who should give the eulogy at a funeral. The eulogy can be given by a spouse, son or daughter, grandchild, sibling or even a friend. It may fall to you by default, you may be asked to give the eulogy, or you might even volunteer to step up. What makes a good eulogy? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to how to write a moving eulogy, but all eulogies have one thing in common; they are a final farewell and celebration of the life of the person who has passed away. A good eulogy will capture the essence of the deceased and bring them back to life in the minds of the audience, almost like they are in the room with you all. It is heartfelt, meaningful and honest. The average eulogy is 3 – 5 minutes long, and written with both the deceased person and the audience in mind. Keep the tone conversational – you are celebrating your loved one’s life and conversing with a room full of friends. There is no need for big words or grand statements. How do I start writing a eulogy? Getting started can be difficult, but it’s important not to leave writing the eulogy to the last minute. Start by considering the person you are writing about and brainstorming. Note down what kind of person they were, who their family is (spouse, sons, daughters, grandchildren, siblings etc) and who they are survived by. What was your loved one known for? Think of specific examples that characterise this. For example, if your loved one was known for their kindness, share a specific example of a time they demonstrated this. If they were known for their wicked sense of humour, think of something funny they did such as a particularly good April Fool’s prank! Decide on the tone of the eulogy you want to deliver. Remember, a eulogy doesn’t have to be sad and mournful. Depending on the person it is celebrating, it could have elements of humour or be uplifting and inspiring as well as being sad. Now it’s time to start writing. If the officiant does not introduce you, ensure you start by introducing yourself and explain your link to the deceased person. … Read More
Pre-planning your own funeral
Pre-planning your own funeral has become increasingly popular in recent years. In this article, we will explore why you may choose to pre plan your own funeral and what is involved. Why should you plan your own funeral? There are many advantages to planning your own funeral. Perhaps the biggest advantage of pre planning your own funeral is that doing so allows you to ensure that your wishes around the way your life is celebrated are respected. You are able to choose whether you are buried or cremated, whether or not your ceremony is religious and the type of coffin you will be laid to rest in, along with a host of other important details of your final farewell. You can design your service to be exactly as you wish, setting the tone for the celebration of your life with your own choice of music, songs, readings and even the dress code. By preplanning your funeral, you get to be remembered the way you wish to be. Another important advantage of having a pre-arranged funeral is that if you pre-pay for your own funeral, your loved ones are spared the stress of making arrangements in what is usually a matter of days, and paying what can add up to a large sum of money. The people you love the most will be freed of the burden of financial stress and able to grieve their loss without added worry. Finally, having a pre arranged funeral means that at any time you can change your mind about what you want. Perhaps you plan to be buried, you pre-arrange your funeral and then a few years later you decide you’d rather be cremated; that’s okay! It’s as simple as contacting us to let us know of your change of preferences. Is it weird to plan your own funeral? In short, absolutely not! In fact, planning your funeral is a final and loving gift you leave behind, easing the burden on your family of planning and paying for a funeral. In fact, more and more people are choosing to pre-pay and pre-arrange their own funeral because they don’t want their family to have additional worry and stress when they pass away. How do you pre plan your own funeral? The first step to pre-arranging your own funeral is establishing what your wishes are around the end of your life. There can be a lot to consider that you may not have thought of, so if you haven’t already, click here to read our blog post about final wishes, and download our free Final Wishes Planner to help you. Once you have established what your end of life wishes are, the next step is to get in touch with us. Childers-Woodgate Funeral Services offers pre-arranged pre-paid funerals in conjunction with Bundaberg based company Flexible Funeral Benefits Pty Ltd. To read their brochure, click here. Our friendly team will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and will walk you through the process of … Read More
How do I talk to my family about my final wishes?
There is no doubt that talking to your friends and family about your final wishes can be a difficult and emotional conversation for all involved – many people find talking about death uncomfortable, particularly talking to your children about what to do when you die. However, one of the few certainties of life is death. Whether you have a terminal illness or are fit and healthy, we never know when our time will come, so regardless of how difficult it may be, discussing your final wishes is an important conversation that you shouldn’t ignore. In fact, documenting your final wishes and ensuring your loved ones are aware of those wishes is a loving gift you can leave behind when you pass away. What are your final wishes? Before you discuss your final wishes with your friends and family, it is important that you decide what your wishes are. It is important to make decisions around whether you would like a religious funeral in a church, or a more casual memorial. Would you like to be buried or cremated? There are many questions to take into consideration, and our free printable final wishes template can help you to map out your wishes in an easy to complete and read format. Use the completed worksheets during your discussion with your family and ensure your next of kin and at least one other person has a copy and knows where the original is stored. One of the most challenging parts of having this conversation is getting started. In this blog post, we will give you some tips for initiating the conversation around death, end of life wishes and ensuring that your wishes are respected when you pass away. How do I start? How you open the conversation around your final wishes may feel awkward, but it is important. We would suggest making your intentions of opening the door to this discussion clear to your friends and family – it’s best not to blindside them. Decide who you would like to be involved in the conversation, and set a time and place for this to take place. Where would those involved in the discussion feel most at ease? For some, this might mean arranging for your discussion to take place on neutral ground. For others, a meeting around the kitchen table might be the most comfortable. Ensuring everyone feels as comfortable as possible – including yourself – is important. Express to those you wish to include how important it is to you to have this conversation, as this makes it more likely for them to willingly participate. At first, you may find it easier to limit the number of people involved in the conversation and then include others later. It is important that everyone who will be involved in making arrangements after you pass away is included in the conversation at some point, as this can help to avoid conflict when the time comes. You might even like to practice the conversation around your … Read More
What is a direct cremation?
While traditional funeral services often involve a church or civil service and a graveside service, a direct cremation is a cremation that takes place with no attended service. Also known as unattended cremations or no service cremations, direct cremations have become increasingly popular over the past year due to the restrictions in place due to Covid-19. They offer an affordable option for cremating a loved one who has passed away, while still allowing for a memorial service to be planned for a later date if you so wish. How much does a direct cremation cost? The good news is that direct cremations offer an affordable alternative to traditional funerals. While the cost of a traditional funeral can quickly add up, the cost of a direct cremation is limited to fees incurred by the transportation of the deceased person, crematorium fees, registration of death and other paperwork and the return of the ashes to the next of kin. In contrast to this, the cost of a traditional funeral includes the funeral director’s time in arranging the funeral, mortuary care fees, transport, church fees, catering and multiple transportations of the body of the deceased person. Benefits of a direct cremation While many people prefer a traditional funeral and cremation, there are some benefits to having a direct cremation. Direct cremations are a more budget friendly option, and they ease the stress of planning a service during a time of grief and distress. Planning a memorial after a direct cremation allows you to show love and respect for your loved one who has passed away, and add personalised touches such as an ashes scattering ceremony to your memorial event. Planning a memorial after a direct cremation A direct cremation can ease the pressure on family of planning a funeral service in a matter of days, allowing for a memorial service to be held at a later date. Memorial services often allow for greater creativity and flexibility than a traditional funeral service. You may choose to hold the memorial service after cremation at a place that was special to your loved one, or to include activities or tributes that a highly personalised. We will discuss how to go about planning a memorial on our blog in the coming weeks. Final thoughts… We hope this article about direct cremations has answered some of the questions you may have around what direct cremations are, how much they cost and what some of the benefits are. Please contact us for help in arranging a direct cremation in Childers, Woodgate, Gin Gin, Apple Tree Creek or the surrounding areas. My Final Wishes Planner Please Enter Your Details Below to Download our FREE My Final Wishes Printable Workbook. Your Story Booklet Please Enter Your Details Below to Download the Australian Funeral Directors Association “Your Story” booklet. Honouring Life Booklet Please Enter Your Details Below to Download the Australian Funeral Directors Association “Honouring Life” booklet.
What is an Advance Care Plans and why should I have one?
With last week being Advance Care Planning week, now is a great time to open up a conversation about what an advance care plan is, why you should have an advance care plan and how to make one. Everyone should consider having an advance care plan in place, but they are particularly important those who are elderly, frail, terminally ill or have chronic medical conditions.
A Guide to Funeral Flowers and Arrangements
These wonderful flowers have been designed and presented by Sue Meredith from Flowers by Susan, Gayndah. Simply stunning! Sending flowers to a funeral or to the family after a loved one has died is a long-running tradition in Australia and an appropriate way to pass on your condolences. Choosing the right funeral flower arrangement can be a little difficult. If possible, it is best to ask the person who is organising the funeral beforehand whether or not there is a colour scheme. Wreaths These are the flower tributes that are most typically associated with funerals. They are circular in shape and are suitable for sending directly to a funeral whether you are family or a friend. Funeral crosses Funeral crosses also have strong connotations with funerals. However, they are traditionally sent by family or close friends. They are available in a range of colours and styles from most florists. Posies The posy tribute is suitable for any mourner to send to either the funeral, or to the home of the person who has passed away. It is circular so that the flowers can be viewed easily from all angles. They can be made in modern or traditional styles. Tied sheaf A tied sheaf looks very similar to a normal flower bouquet. The plastic that would usually surround the bouquet has been removed and it is tied instead. It is suitable for any mourner to send a tied sheaf. Funeral spray Funeral sprays are commonly associated with sympathy. This would be an ideal tribute for a friend and their family. Coffin spray A coffin spray is chosen by the person arranging the funeral or close family members. It would generally be seen as inappropriate for anyone else to send one as they traditionally adorn the coffin or casket.
Celebrating Life
Celebrating Life We want to take this opportunity to remind you of our motto Where Caring Comes First. We all should wake up every day and be thankful to see the sun shining in the sky. No matter what is going on in your life, you must celebrate and find beauty in each moment. It’s a miracle to be living, breathing and taking in every minute of every day. Treat your life as the wonder it is. Live in every moment, don’t take anything for granted and never have regrets. You only have one shot to live life to the fullest. Don’t waste it on the trivial. Because we care about you and your family, we want to help you celebrate life by sharing the following inspirational quotes: “Life is what you celebrate. All of it. Even its end.” – Joanne Harris “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss “One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” – Gerard Way “There is no security in this life. There is only opportunity.” – Douglas MacAurthur “Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumblebee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” – Ashley Smith “The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live.” – Elbert Hubbard “Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good.” – Mr. Feeny of Boy Meets World “If we are ever to enjoy life, now is the time, not tomorrow or next year…Today should always be our most wonderful day.” – Thomas Dreier. “A day without a laugh is a wasted day.” – Charles Chaplin “Throw your hands up in the air and celebrate life.” – Steven Tyler “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” – Unknown “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey Use these quotes to celebrate each day!
Top 5 Reasons to Pre-plan Your Funeral
Top 5 Reasons to Pre-plan Your Funeral If any of the following statements describes you, then you are probably someone who will appreciate the benefits of preplanning your funeral. You want to ease the burden on your family. If your wishes are unknown when you die, they will be faced with making difficult decisions at a trying time. Will they know if you wish to be buried or cremated? Will they agree on a coffin? Will they agree on how much to spend? Confusion and disagreements are common occurrences when there is no plan to follow. You can avoid this by leaving behind a plan. You want to assume the financial responsibility for your funeral. Planning ahead enables you to make financial arrangements to cover your funeral costs. Even if you are leaving behind sufficient money, will your survivors be able to access it? You want your family to have the benefit of a meaningful funeral. A funeral is an important event for a grieving family. Psychologically, it provides a sense of closure and enables the family to begin the healing process. Families benefit emotionally and socially by honouring the lives of their loved ones with a fitting ceremony and by giving them a proper send off. It is difficult to make the funeral the best it can be when planning it in a short time. You want your final wishes to be followed. If you have specific preferences for the disposition of your remains and the nature of your funeral services, you can clearly express them in your funeral plan. You may have a preference for burial or cremation, or the music and readings at your funeral. Or you may not want a funeral ceremony. Whatever your wishes, they need to be set forth in your funeral plan. You want to be self-reliant and have your affairs in order at the end of your life. Taking care of your funeral arrangements is a thoughtful and caring thing to do for your family. It is comforting to know that you have done all you can do to ease their burden. Contact us today to help you pre-plan your funeral.
Remembering Loved Ones at Christmas
Looking for unique and inspiring ideas for remembering loved ones at Christmas? Whether you have recently suffered the loss of a loved one or you are simply missing his or her presence, there are special ways to include him or with special ‘in memory’ at Christmas decorations and gifts. 1. Purchase or make your own personalized ‘in memory’ at Christmas ornament with your loved one’s name or photo on it to commemorate your loved one. Gather the family together and share memories of your loved one while you hang the ornament on the Christmas tree. 2. Tie a beautiful ribbon around the trunk of your Christmas tree in your loved one’s favourite colour. 3. Remembering loved ones at Christmas is simple to do by hanging stockings with their names embroidered on them. On Christmas Eve, have your family members fill the stockings with cards and letters to or about your loved ones. You can all take turns reading the memories out loud on Christmas Day. This is sure to become a beautiful and meaningful family tradition. 4. Make an angel tree topper in memory of your loved one to top your Christmas tree. You could make the angel’s clothes or wings out of your loved one’s clothing. 5. Dedicate a small Christmas tree to your loved one and decorate it with photos, notes, and special ‘in memory’ at Christmas ornaments. 6. Make a memory wreath dedicated to your loved one and hang it on your front door. Decorate the memory wreath with ribbons in your loved one’s favourite colours, sentimental objects and photographs. 7. Buy a special candle and dedicate it to your loved one’s memory. 8. If you enjoy doing crafts, try making a memory candle with a treasured photograph of your loved one. 9. At your place of worship, light candles in your loved one’s name or remember him or her in prayer. 10. Set up a memorial table in your home for remembering loved ones. When friends and family come over for Christmas dinner, ask them to bring a small memento to place on the memory table that reminds them of someone special that has passed away. 11. Buy your loved one’s favourite holiday flowers or plants to display in your home over Christmas. For an extra special touch, make a homemade plant marker with your loved one’s name on it. 12. Find a poem that reminds you of your loved one, or compose an original poem. Use your best penmanship to write the poem, frame the poem and displayed it in your home over the holiday season.
Organ Donations
Facts and statistics One organ and tissue donor can transform the lives of many people. Australia is a world leader for successful transplants. Australia’s donation rate has more than doubled in recent years. Did you know? Around 1,400 Australians are currently waitlisted for a transplant. A further 11,000 are on dialysis, many of whom would benefit from a kidney transplant. In 2017, 1,675 lives were transformed by 510 deceased and 273 living organ donors and their families. In 2017, more than 9,600 Australians benefited from eye and tissue donation. The majority of Australians (69%) are willing to donate their organs and/or tissue when they die. In Australia, 90% of families say yes to donation when their loved one is a registered donor. This compares to the national consent rate of 59%. If our national consent rate reaches 70%, Australia would be in the top 10 performing countries. One in three Australians are registered donors despite the majority (69%) believing that registering is important. While the majority of Australians (71%) think it’s important to talk a with their family/partner, only half (51%) of Australians have discussed whether they want to be a donor. Of the 36% of Australians who feel confident they know if their loved ones are willing to be a donor, 93% say they would uphold their wishes. Would you like to know more? https://donatelife.gov.au/about-donation/get-facts/facts-and-statistics