The Planning

At Chris Timmins we know that the planning is a vital element in the delivery of the special funeral service you require for your family member or loved one. Once the arrangement conference is completed our planning process starts. These pages briefly discuss the planning process of our personal funeral service from conference to the day of the funeral.

Bookings

At Chris Timmins Funerals the funeral service is conducted at a time and place of your choosing. However some limitations make occur due to clergy or celebrant availability , church events, cemetery or crematorium schedules and even after funeral catering venue bookings.

Once all necessary funeral documentation has been prepared by the deceased Doctor or State Corner, all funeral bookings can then be made. Your personal funeral arranger will make all necessary arrangements and then confirm time. It is our policy never to confirm the time of the funeral until everything is in place.

Funeral documentation

In New South Wales there are two types of documentation that can be issued to allow a funeral to take place. Documents can be issued in either of two ways and depend on the circumstances of the death.

Natural causes

When the death occurs due to natural causes a registered medical practitioner will issue a document call the “Medical Certificate of Cause of Death”. If the funeral is to be a cremation and addition document is prepared by the same doctor to allow the cremation. In cremation these two documents are then reviewed by a second Government Approved doctors who completes a Medical Referees Certificate to allow the cremation.

Coroner’s case

I about 10% of funeral the Coroner is involved in the death. In these situations the Coroner will issue relevant documentation for both burial and cremation as necessary. This may delay the funeral by a few days. The coroner may then review the circumstances surrounding the death at their discretion. This is called the Coroner’s Inquest and takes place at a later date. This inquest does not delay the funeral but if the situation is applies; you should contact the relevant Coroners Court.

Organising

Funerals are about organising. Every aspect must be checked and rechecked prior to the day of the funeral. In addition to booking of the funeral, some of our duties include:

• Newspaper notice in local, metropolitan, interstate and overseas publications
• Floral tribute orders and delivery details
• Orders of service and liaison with printers
• Additional hire car requirements
• Clothing for the deceased
• Donations envelope collection
• Memorial book preparation
• Medical or coronial documentation
• Personal memento placement in the casket
• Statutory registration of the death
• Mounting of religious symbols if required
• Preparation of grave markers
• Liaison with external grave digging contractors
• Liaison with local council
• Liaison with Health Department representatives
• Airline bookings
• Liaison with singers and musicians

This list above is not exhaustive and indeed individual for each service. Every personal detail is vital to the funeral service. Our years of experience and internal control systems ensure that all arrangements on the day are conducted in accordance with your personal wishes.

Family tasks

As stated elsewhere the personal input of family members and close friends insures the funeral is the celebration it should be. At the arrangement conference and meeting with the officiate a list of family tasks will be prepared. It is important that these be address as early as possible, our experience has shown that if things are left to the last minute problems can occur. Early attention to theses items avoids a disappointment on the day that lasts a long time.