Refreshments after the funeral

Once the formal part of the funeral service has ended you may like to gather with family and friends for refreshments. Funerals are often times of reunion so this is a time when you and your family can relax in a casual atmosphere and catch up with friends both old and new to share stories and reminisce about the life of the one who has died.

Venues at which you may like to have refreshments can include :

. your own home.

. if the funeral was held at a church the ladies guild may be happy to supply refreshments in the church hall for a fee.

. your favourite café or restaurant.

. funeral directors tea room if the funeral was held at the Alex Gow Funeral Home.

. specialised catering facility at the cemetery or crematorium.

The mourning car

We at Alex Gow can arrange transport for you in one of our mourning cars. The driver will call for you, take you to the funeral and return you home at its completion.

In addition to convenience this service is offered as a safety precaution for those who believe their driving skills may be affected by their grief.

Each mourning car can carry up to 4 passengers and if other cars with family and friends are present at the pick up point they are welcome to follow the mourning car to the funeral.

Travelling in a cortege

The cortege is a significant part of the funeral ceremony. This final journey has a long and rich history which draws families, friends and communities together to pay their last respects.

As the funeral cortege leaves for the final resting place, please switch your headlights on in the low beam position until you reach your destination. This will let other motorists know that the procession is underway; allowing them to extend to the cortege the appropriate and dignified passage. This procedure is approved by the Police Department to assist funerals in moving through traffic.

The funeral account

As part of the service of arranging the funeral, the funeral director arranges payment on your behalf for the purchase of all goods and services associated with the funeral. These services might typically include cemetery plots, cremation fees, floral tributes, funeral notices, catering services, clergy and musician fees.

This way all the expenses for the funeral including the funeral director’s own charges can be sent to you in one convenient itemised account.

A component of the funeral director’s charges is the estate fee. This can be deducted from the funeral account providing your payment is received by Alex Gow Funerals by the due date. Payment can be made by cash/cheque or credit card.

If the person who has died held a bank account with sufficient funds to cover funeral expenses, in most cases the funeral director’s account can be presented to the bank for direct payment.

Although during a time of sadness it may seem awkward to discuss costs, open and honest discussion is necessary during the planning stages of the funeral. It is important to balance emotional decisions with practical common sense.

Available entitlements

Centrelink

The Centerlink bereavement payment is to assist with settling financial affairs associated with expenses incurred by the deceased prior to death. This may include the extension of existing payments and/or a lump sum paid to a surviving partner, a carer or a parent of a young child to assist with the changed financial circumstances caused by the death of a person who is a pensioner, a long term allowee, a child or care recipient.

Department of Veterans' Affairs

If the deceased was an ex-service person you will need to contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and ask if they are eligible to claim a veterans’ funeral benefit. If they are entitled, you will be sent an application form to complete and once returned, payment will be made into the deceased veteran’s estate.

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