When someone dies.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you.
Expected death at home:
- If someone has passed away at home, phone their Doctor.
- The deceased person must be certified that life is extinct by any doctor or duly qualified paramedic and that the treating doctor is willing to supply a death certificate.
- If you have any difficulties, then phone your chosen Funeral Director to assist.
Nursing home:
- It is current practice for Nursing Staff to ask families to nominate a Funeral Director when the person is admitted.
- When a death occurs, the Nursing Staff will contact the Doctor and the Funeral Director you have chosen, who will then liaise with you.
Coroners:
- All accidents and when a doctor is not able to sign a death certificate, the police must be notified. The deceased person may be examined by the
State coroners department. - This process can often take one week or more. Contact your Funeral Director who will liaise with the coroner to discuss appropriate time of transfer.
Interstate / Overseas:
- Ring your Funeral Director, we will then liaise with the appropriate authorities and make enquiries on your behalf.
For more information please call us on (08) 8522 1734
Funeral essentials.
There are two parts to arranging a Funeral.
- Legal requirements
- Your funeral wishes
1. Legal requirements:
All deaths must be registered. The following information is required. Click here to download a copy of Personal Information Record, this includes Funeral wishes.
For all cremations and burials:
The deceased person – who is in the coffin and the name plate, must be identified by someone who personally knew the deceased and be willing to sign the appropriate document.
2. Your funeral wishes
- Cremation or Burial
- Location of service (or no service)
Other options:
- Coffin or Casket type
- Minister or Celebrant
- Refreshments / Catering
- Flowers / Donations
- DVD Photo Tribute
- Memorial Book
- Music
- Clubs / Organisations to be notified
- Viewings/Visitations
- Clothes for the deceased person
- Memorial Cards
- Funeral / Death Notices
Other information:
Keep these in a safe place and let your next of kin know where they are located:
- Bank Books, Credit Union etc
- Securities, Share Certificates and Bonds
- Medical benefits, Friendly society, Medicare
- Personal and other insurance policies
- Original & any copies of your will
- Service Records
- Superannuation Papers
- Pre-Arranged funeral certificate and cemetery lease
- Deeds for any real estate
- Pension Card
- You may have other important documents or associations to add to this list.
For more information please call us on (08) 8522 1734
Personalisation of the funeral.
People can choose cremation or burial services. These can be held at one of our Gawler chapels, a church of your choice, in a sporting club etc, your home or another contemporary venue special to you.
What Can You Do In Advance?
- Decide whether the funeral will be a burial or cremation.
- Decide on and gather together the clothing you may wish for your loved one to wear.
- Give some thought to the wording of the personal notices you may wish to place in the newspaper.
- Collect photos for a DVD presentation or for a memorial card.
- Think about what type of music or specific songs you may like to play at the service.
It is also helpful to gather the personal details that are required to arrange the funeral and legally register the death with the office of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
Our ‘Your Story Booklet’ is a comprehensive guide that you can plan with in advance. In it, there is a section to record the Births, deaths and Marriages information and it will speed up the process for your meeting.
Once the death is registered, Births, Deaths & Marriages will send you a formal death certificate, which is often needed in relation to any legal and estate issues that may need to be attended to.
This can take up to 3 weeks to be sent.
Send us files.
Using the form below you can send us photos, music and documents for your loved one’s printed materials, DVD Tribute, canvas, framed photo and funeral service.