When a person has died, the two most common options for what happens to their body are burial and cremation. The first of these is more traditional, and involves digging a grave and burying the person’s body inside a coffin. The process is treated with respect, and here in Perth, a funeral director may be involved to help with the proceedings and planning. A burial plot must be purchased, which the deceased may have organised beforehand, and this is where they will be laid to rest. The grave will then be set with a stone with their name, dates of life and sometimes other messages.

Cremation is quite different, and it involves the body being burned to ashes. This type of funeral is more common elsewhere in the world, depending on the belief system and local customs, but has become very common in Western society. Even then, the process varies; sometimes the deceased is cremated in their own coffin, the one used during the funeral ceremony. Other countries may provide a coffin for this specific purpose. In any case, the contained must be combustible. After this, the body and coffin are reduced to ashes. In a typical Perth cremation, the temperatures reach around 1000 degrees celsius. The ashes are then collected in a capsule, urn or other container and given to the family.

Once again, the deceased may have wished to have their ashes scattered in a particular location. Otherwise, the family may keep the urn in remembrance, often placing it in a prominent location or another one of their choosing. There are many other possibilities for what to do with the ashes, depending on the deceased’s wishes or those of the family.

The services of a funeral director are popular among those seeking funeral services in Perth. Also known as an undertaker or a mortician, a funeral director is the go-to person who helps a family organise a funeral.

As funerals are a time when tensions run high among families, a funeral director must have an even temperament. A funeral director’s tasks are many and varied, and depend on what the family requires as well as what services are provided by the funeral home.

Tasks may include arranging for transport of bodies, organising viewings for the family, assisting with religious services, conducting the funeral and taking care of legal requirements such as obtaining a certificate of death. There are many small details to take care of when it comes to funerals, which families do not wish to organise while in mourning. Someone whose loved ones have passed is unlikely to have the patience to ensure flowers are sent to the correct location and stored well.

As funeral directors are required to accommodate a range of requests and must always express an appropriate level of sympathy, many years of training and experience are required before a funeral director is allowed to practice unsupervised.

It is common for funeral homes to be a family business, with the funeral director usually being a trusted member of the family who has been there for many years.

Usually, one funeral director will be the point of contact for a bereaved family, and they will liaise with other service providers as necessary. Giving continuity to the bereaved is important for their well being at a difficult time. Hopefully this has helped you know all about funeral directors in Perth and the many tasks their jobs require them to do.