Learn how planning your funeral can honour your wishes and ease the burden on your loved ones.
Different perspectives on funeral planning
Some people may find the idea of planning their own funeral too sad or morbid. They may think that funerals are for the family, and should be organised by them.
Others may feel comforted knowing that the funeral will be carried out according to their wishes and that family or friends won’t have to guess what they would have wanted.
Some people may prefer to have a memorial service or a living wake, while others don’t want any kind of funeral at all, or are concerned about the cost.
What are the options?
It’s a good idea to discuss the type of funeral you’d like to have with family and friends ahead of time. Even if you aren’t concerned about it, a funeral or memorial service can be an important part of the grieving process and provide comfort for family and friends.
You may find satisfaction in leaving your mark on the occasion, and in involving your family in the planning.
If you’d like to make preparations but you can’t do the work, or prefer not to, talk to a spiritual care practitioner, funeral celebrant or end-of-life doula for assistance, as well as any family or friends.
Alternatively, you might simply discuss your preferences with your family and executor. Or you might write down your wishes or lodge a plan with a funeral director of your choice.
Prearranging a funeral
You can plan your funeral to meet any cultural or spiritual preferences that are important to you. You might have a few requests for music you want played or poems you’d like read, or you may have detailed plans for the full service.
You can also choose to have a non-traditional event such as a celebration of life. If you change your mind, you can alter these arrangements at any time. To prearrange or prepay a funeral, talk to a funeral director.
For more information, see Arranging funerals.
You can download a pre-planning information form from Funerals Australia. It’s important to let your family know of any arrangements like this that you have made and to give copies of a prepaid funeral contract to your family or file it with your will.
More resources
Fiona Wiseman, Senior Social Worker, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Grace Berwald, Consumer; Peta Brydon, Metastatic McGrath Breast Care Clinical Nurse Consultant, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, NSW; Kate Bunyan, Social Worker, Psychosocial Lead, Cancer and Palliative Supportive Care, Canberra Region Cancer Centre, ACT; Hayden Christie, Medical Oncologist and Clinical Director Cancer Care Service and Clinical Lead of the VAD Service for Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, QLD; John Clements, Consumer; Claire Davies, Spiritual Care Practitioner, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Joanne Dean, Nurse Practitioner, PEACE Team, Clare Holland House, ACT; A/Prof Michael Franco, Medical Oncologist and Palliative Medicine Physician, Deputy Head – Monash Medical School, Monash University, VIC; Dr Sally Greenaway, WSLHD Director of Supportive and Palliative Care, Senior Staff Specialist Clinical Haematology and Clinical Ethics Service, NSW; Maree Grier, Clinical Psychologist, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Dr Catherine Joyce, National Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia; Mattesse Kitchin, Consumer; Penny Neller, Project Manager, End of Life Law for Clinicians, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, QLD; Caitriona Nienaber 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Palliative Care Australia; A/Prof Joel Rhee, Head of Discipline of General Practice, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, NSW.
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