Ideas for Celebrating a Loved Ones Death Anniversary

Losing a loved one is never easy, and the thought of marking their anniversary can bring up a mix of emotions. However, it is also an opportunity to celebrate their life and remember the memories you shared together. If you're feeling overwhelmed, Conway Funeral Home is here to support you in finding a way to honour your loved one that feels meaningful to you.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Plant a memorial tree or garden -

Choose a location special to your loved one, and plant a tree or flowers in their honour. This not only provides a beautiful place to reflect and remember, but it also serves as a lasting tribute to their life.

2. Hold a memorial gathering -

Gather family and friends for a special event, such as a candlelit ceremony, picnic, or dinner. Sharing stories, photos, and memories can help comfort and heal those who miss your loved one.

3. Visit their final resting place -

Take a moment to visit the cemetery or memorial site where your loved one is laid to rest. Bring flowers, light a candle, or simply spend some quiet time remembering and reflecting.

4. Create a photo album or scrapbook -

Gather photos, letters, and other memorabilia that remind you of your loved one. Creating a photo album or scrapbook can be a therapeutic way to preserve their memory and relive special moments.

5. Make a donation in their name -

Honor your loved one's legacy by making a donation to a cause they cared about. Whether it's to a local charity, a school, or a wildlife sanctuary, this can be a wonderful way to continue their legacy and make a positive impact in their memory.

6. Write a letter or poem -

Take the time to write down your feelings and thoughts about your loved one. This can be a cathartic and personal way to reflect and remember them.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to mark the anniversary of a loved one's passing. What's most important is that you choose an option that feels meaningful to you and provides comfort during a difficult time.

At Conway Funeral Home, we understand the importance of honouring and remembering your loved one. Our compassionate and experienced team is here to support you in finding the perfect way to pay tribute to their life. Contact us today to learn more about the funeral and memorial services we offer in Wodonga Victoria.

How to Choose a Cremation Urn for Your Loved One?

There is a wide range of cremation urns available for you to choose from. But how can you find the best one to honour the life of your loved one? Let’s look at some of the factors you should consider when making this important decision.
 

Finding The Right Material

There is a wide range of urn materials for you to choose from. Often, the right material will be determined by the way you intend to use the urn. For example, if you want to keep it at home or store it in a columbarium niche, you have a wide range of options to choose from. The most popular choices are; stone, metal, ceramic, and wood. The best funeral home in Wodonga will have a selection of urns available for you to select. This will allow you to feel each one in person, to see which one you prefer.

On the other hand, if you intend to bury the urn you will have a more limited selection. There are some biodegradable urns that were specifically designed for this purpose. 

Selecting The Best Shape

Once you have an idea of the type of material you want to use, it’s time to consider which shape you want the urn to take. Again, there is a wide selection to choose from. The most common option is the traditional oval shape. Though, square and rounded urns are becoming more popular. If you want, you can request a custom shape, like a dove or a heart. Another option is to opt for a series of smaller urns, so each family member can have a reminder of their loved one.

The way you intend to use the urn can determine the type of shape you need. If you plan on scattering the ashes, it’s best to choose an urn with a wide opening. This ensures that the cremains will flow out smoothly and be distributed evenly. If you intend to place it into a columbarium niche, you might have restrictions on the size of the urn. Wodonga funeral homes will be familiar with these requirements, helping you choose a beautiful urn that will fit within these limits.

It should be noted that the volume of the urn will be measured in cubic inches. The standard size is 200 cubic inches, which should provide plenty of space for most adults. Though funeral directors Wodonga will be able to help you choose something that will be the right size for your loved one.

Customizing The Urn

One of the most important parts of the process is deciding how you can customize the urn to better suit your loved one. There are numerous ways that you can do this. For example, you might want to engrave their name onto the front of the urn. Sometimes, you can also add a photograph. You can also change the colours used. Some people even opt to take a small amount of ashes and turn them into keepsake jewellery, so they can keep their loved ones close to their hearts each day.
 

Conclusion

Choosing the right cremation urn for your loved one is a deeply personal decision. The good news is that there is a huge range of urns available, with many ways to customize each one. This should allow you to find something that expresses the personality of your loved one.

What is a Living Wake and How Do You Plan It?

Typically, a funeral will only occur after someone has passed away. However, this means that they won’t be able to appreciate the beautiful words and kind memories that are shared about them. This is why some people are opting to have a living wake. Here’s what you need to know about these ceremonies.

What is a Living Wake?
A living wake is generally similar to a funeral ceremony. Close family and friends will gather together to share some highlights from a person’s life. However, in this case, their loved one will still be alive and able to hear what everyone has to say. Because of this, the tone tends to be more celebratory, rather than the sombre nature of a funeral.

Increasingly, more people are willing to try this type of ceremony. It’s common for people to regret not taking the time to share their feelings with a loved one before they passed. Plus, it gives a dying person the closure of knowing the profound impact they had on those around them. 

When is a Living Wake Commonly Used?
Though anyone can have a living wake, it’s most commonly used for elderly people who are approaching the final chapter in their lives. It’s also common for those dealing with a terminal illness to organize a living wake.

Facing the end of life will always be hard. But knowing that you’ve had a positive impact on the world can bring some people peace during this difficult time.

What Venue is Best For a Living Wake?
There are many ways that you can plan a living wake. Most commonly, it’s held at a local Wodonga funeral home.  It can follow a traditional funeral format, with each family or friend getting a chance to share their favorite memories.

However, this isn’t the only option that you can explore. Some people prefer to hold a more informal event, gathering at the local pub or their favorite sporting club. You can also hold it at a local park or opt to charter a boat.

What Happens at a Living Wake?
While the venue is important, it’s also vital to think about the tone of the event. Some people prefer it to be more formal, following the same format as a traditional funeral. Others, though, opt for a more relaxed event that feels closer to a birthday party.

Regardless of the tone, all living wakes will share a few common elements. First, they should provide an opportunity for family and friends to gather to celebrate the life of a loved one. This typically involves making a few speeches. You might even want to prepare and read a eulogy.

Next, it’s common to highlight some of the memorable moments of a loved one’s life through a photo presentation. This is usually set to their favorite song. Funeral directors Wodonga can help you organize a touching ceremony that celebrates the life of your loved one.

Conclusion
A living wake can be a moving experience. You’ll be able to tell loved ones how important they were, while they are still alive to appreciate the beautiful sentiment.  This can provide a sense of closure before they pass away.

Things You Should Know Before Pre-Planning Your Own Funeral

Increasingly, people are opting to pre-plan their funerals. This is a simple way of reducing the amount of stress that your family will experience when you pass away.

All the difficult decisions have already been made. All your loved ones need to do is work with the funeral home to follow your instructions. Hopefully, this guide will talk you through the process of pre-planning a funeral.

Consider the Type of Funeral You Want
There are multiple aspects to planning a funeral. It’s best to talk to Wodonga funeral directors. They will be able to guide you through the process, helping you decide the farewell you want. When the time comes, your family will have a clear reference, helping them execute your wishes. You can rest assured that the best funeral home in Wodonga will follow your instructions. 

You Can Pay in Advance
During the planning process, you can request an itemized list of funeral expenses. If you are happy with the costs, you can move forward. If not, you can change your selection to reduce the costs. Following the death of a loved one, grief can cause people to make emotional choices. When pre-planning, you’ll be able to make more rational choices, ensuring you are getting value for money.

Once you are satisfied with the arrangements, you can start pre-paying. This will give you peace of mind, as you know everything has been taken care of. Plus, you’ll be able to lock in today’s price, protecting you from potential price rises.

There are a few ways that you can pre-pay for a funeral. You can pay upfront. Or you can arrange a funeral bond through Sureplan or Foresters.

Thirdly, you can take out funeral insurance, paying a fortnightly premium. However, as you grow older your premiums will start to increase. Because of this, it’s usually cheaper to work directly with Wodonga funeral homes.

Tax Advantages of Paying in Advance
Paying in advance is not just about eliminating the financial burden on your family. It can also have several advantages during your life. The government doesn’t consider it an asset. Because of this, it won’t have any impact on your pension payments.

Make Your Arrangements Known
Wodonga funeral homes will respect your wishes, creating the type of ceremony that you wanted. But this will only be possible if you make these arrangements known. It’s best to write them down. Make sure that this document will be easy to find in the event of your passing. It’s a good idea to have multiple copies. One can reside with your attorney, another with your family members.

A common mistake is putting these documents with the will. The issue is that the will is often opened and read after the funeral.

Conclusion
It can be difficult to think about death, especially our own. Put it is an unavoidable part of life. Pre-planning will ease some of the pressures that will be placed on your family during this difficult time. Plus, it will allow you to make your wishes known, so you’ll be able to go out on your own terms.

Funeral Procession - Everything You Need to Know

There are a few common parts of a funeral and one of them is the funeral procession. So, what is this, and what is expected of those taking part? Here are some of the things you need to know.

What is a Funeral Procession? 

Let’s start with the basics, what is the funeral procession? This is the way that the coffin is moved from the funeral home to the burial plot or crematorium. Usually, it will have a group of vehicles driving together, with the hearse leading the way. At other times, the procession will occur on foot. Occasionally, a large procession will have a police escort.  At other times, the start and end of the procession will have a funeral home vehicle.

In most cases, the procession will feature everyone who is planning to attend the burial or cremation service. The hearse will have the family members of the deceased. Everyone else will be following closely behind in their cars.

Funeral Procession Etiquette

If this is your first time driving in a funeral procession, it’s understandable to be a little nervous. But there are a few simple things that you need to keep in mind. This will allow you to avoid any problems. First, it’s a good idea to arrive early. When you arrive, tell the Wodonga funeral directors that you are planning on driving in the funeral procession. They will tell you where to park your car. Often, this will be close to everyone else who is taking part in the drive. Sometimes, your vehicle will be marked with a flag, this signals that you are taking part in the procession.

On the drive, you’ll need to stay close to the car ahead of you. This will require you to stay alert and follow the car in front of you. It should be noted that funeral processions will often be traveling slower than normal. There are a few reasons for this. First, it ensures that the group can stay together and remain safe. It’s also a good way of designating respect. When you are driving, it’s best to match the speed of the rest of the procession.

Once you arrive, you will park your car and the cemetery attendant will guide you to the burial site.

Organising the Procession

In many cases, you won’t have to organize the procession yourself. You can leave this responsibility with the Wodonga funeral directors. however, you might need to decide who is going to be taking part in the procession.

Conclusion

A funeral procession is the best way of transporting your loved one from the funeral home to the burial site. It is based on ancient tradition, stretching back to Ancient Greece. It’s a touching way for family and friends to pay their respects. As long as you follow the right etiquette, everyone will arrive at the burial site together.

What are the Responsibilities of Funeral Directors?

As you decide between Wodonga Funeral homes, you may be wondering how to choose the right one for your needs. A major part of deciding on a funeral home is looking at Wodonga funeral directors to see which one can best accommodate your needs. A funeral director plays a major role in the funeral service, which is why it’s so important to carefully select the right funeral director for your needs. Reading on, you can learn more about the responsibilities of funeral directors.

Funeral Service Director Tasks
Some of the primary tasks that funeral directors take care of include:

●    Have consultations with families and loved ones of the deceased to arrange the details for the funeral, including selecting casket/coffins, plans for the services, and help writing the obituary.
●    Supervise and direct the work of the other staff including the death certificate clerks, embalmers, funeral attendants, and other death.
●    Monitor the various aspects of the operations of the funeral services to make sure that they are in compliance of any applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
●    Negotiate the contracts for the prearranged services.
●    Be a source of counsel and comfort to the loved ones of the deceased.
●    Plan out and then implement changes to the services that you offer to meet the needs of the community and/or increase the profits for the funeral home.
●    Plan out and then implement promotions and other marketing tactics and activities to improve funeral operations.
●    Schedule the cremations, burials, or funeral services.
●    Complete and maintain essential records including documents required by the government, product inventories, and tracking documents.
●    Identify any needs for skill development for the staff.

Embalming
Funeral directors are often trained, licensed, and practising embalmers. This means that they often handle embalming as well. Larger funeral homes will often have a few embalmers on staff, as well as other apprentices to help.

Respects Customers and Special Requests
A funeral director needs to work very closely with the family and friends of the deceased. They need to take into consideration the special requests and cultural requirements for the funeral services. The goal is to respect these customs and special requests to ensure that the deceased is honoured properly.

Administrative Responsibilities
There are many administrative responsibilities of the funeral director. They will take care of any paperwork that is associated with the passing of a person, such as the death certificate. They can also assist the families with other formalities and other notifications.

Conclusion
Conway Funerals knows just how important funeral directors are to funeral services. From the planning process to after the funeral, a funeral director is a great asset to any family in mourning. They help with planning every aspect of the funeral and works hard to make sure that everything goes as planned. They are also a great source of emotional support for families during this difficult time. When you are selecting a funeral home, you are selecting a funeral director. This makes it crucial that you select the right funeral home for your loved one’s services.

What to Do When Someone is Grieving: Things You Can Do to Help

When someone else is grieving, you may be at a loss as to what to do. They are worried about choosing the right Wodonga funeral home and handling the grieving process, so loved ones want to know what they can do to help them during this difficult time. It can be hard to watch people that you care about in mourning, but there are some things that you can do that can help them through this process. Reading on, you can learn about the different things that you can do for a grieving loved one.

Everyone Grieves Differently
Probably the most important thing to remember at times like these is that everyone has their own way of grieving. This can make it extremely difficult for you to know what to do when you see someone going through this process. What makes all of this more difficult is that there are people who are really uncomfortable with talking about death and/or grief. If you are someone who is uncomfortable with these subjects, your instinct may be to stay away from someone who is grieving.

You may even find yourself in the position where you just don’t know what to say. The important thing to remember is that while everyone may be different in how they feel emotionally about the passing of a loved one, everyone needs patience and support. There is no right or wrong way for a person to grieve, which is why you need to figure out the best approach for helping your loved one.

Validate Their Feelings
Grief isn’t some fleeting feeling. For many, this is an ongoing process, one that comes and goes. They say that “grief comes in waves” and that is a pretty accurate way to describe this. There are certain things that are obvious triggers, such as anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, or death anniversaries. However, it can also come at unpredictable moments. Maybe a song comes on the radio. Maybe you smell a specific food. These are triggers that can cause someone’s grief to resurface.
 
When these moments happen for your loved one, you need to validate these feelings. They need to know that what they are feeling is okay. Make sure that you remind them that they need to be kind to themselves in those moments that they feel grief. Let them know that they don’t need to put on a brave face. Also let them know that you are here for them whenever they want to talk about it. And if they don’t want to talk about it, let them know that that’s also OK.

Conclusion
Conway Funerals understands just how complicated the grieving process is, which is why they offer essential information on this topic. The goal with this article is to offer advice to people who just want to help their loved ones through this complicated and difficult time. Grief is a process and showing up to help someone going through it can be an essential part of overcoming their sadness.

Who to Notify After a Loved One Passes

The grief involved with losing a loved one is immense. They have formed such an important part of your life for so long, it can be hard to know what to do after they are no longer there. This information can help you know what to do after your loved ones have passed.

Call Close Friends and Family

When you first discover that your loved one has passed, you’ll need to call important friends and family members. Let them know what has happened. Allow yourself to comfort each other and grieve together. This will help you process the initial shock associated with losing a loved one.

If They Died at Home

Next, it’s time to move on to the legal side. In this case, you will need to call the family doctor. They need to have examined the deceased in the last six months. They will be able to issue a death certificate. This will allow the funeral director to transport the body to the funeral home. If they didn’t have a doctor you can call the police.

Sometimes, your loved one might have been under the care of a hospice nurse. In this case, the hospice nurse will be able to issue a certificate of death.

If They Died in Hospital

Sometimes, your loved one might have died in hospital.  In this case, the hospital staff will examine them and create the death certificate. From there, the funeral home can arrange for the transport of the body.

Contact the Funeral Home

Shortly after the death, you should contact the funeral home. This will allow you to have a few important discussions. Most importantly they will discuss the funeral options in Wodonga. The funeral director can help you take care of all these proceedings, easing the burden of organising the services.

Use the Australian Death Notification Service

When someone has passed away, there are a lot of important organisations that need to be notified. In this case, the Australian Death Notification service can help. By following the steps, you’ll be able to tell multiple organisations at once, allowing you to close the accounts. To do this, you’ll need to have a certificate of death.
 
Call Wider Group of Friends and Family

After you have told the immediate friends and family about the death. This can be a big task, especially if your loved one was a social person. You might need to track down these people through email and phone contacts. If possible, get a friend or family member to help you with this. You don’t need to call all of them personally. You can send out a group text or email to alert them of the passing. It can be a good idea to create a post about the death on social media.

Notify Their Employer

After the death, you’ll need to get in touch with their employer.  Tell them about their passing. You’ll also want to finalize any paychecks and collect any benefits that are owed. You can also talk about any insurance policies that might cover funeral expenses.

Start Forwarding Mail

Shortly after the death, you should visit the post office. You’ll want to start forwarding the mail to yourself. This will ensure that it doesn’t pile up at your loved one’s house, causing you to miss an important message.

Conway Funeral Homes Can Help

When a loved one passes, there is a lot for you to take care of. Our caring staff can help take some of the stress away from planning a funeral. So, call us to talk about funeral options in Wodonga to plan a service that will honour your loved one’s life.

Who to Notify After a Loved One Passes Away

One of the benefits to looking at pre planning options in Wodonga is because if you pass unexpectedly, your loved ones will have one less thing to worry about amid their grief. When they are notified of a loved one’s passing, they can just let the plan happen as their loved one planned prior to their death and focus on getting through this very difficult time. But who should be notified after a loved one passes? You can learn more about this by reading on.

What Happens Immediately After a Loved One’s Passing?
After a loved one passes away, there is a series of things that will happen depending on where they are when they pass. If the death happens unexpectedly at home, you will need to call the police using 000. The police officer will report the death to the coroner, who will record the death. If the death was expected, then you just need to follow the end of life procedures that was pre-arranged with their medical teams. If the death occurred in a nursing home or at a hospital, the medical professionals will issue the death certificate. If the loved one was an organ donor, the medical professionals will arrange for this to take place.

Who to Notify After a Loved One Passes Away
When your loved one passes away and it has been verified by a coroner or medical professional, you will be able to get their death certificate. Once you do, you need to start notifying the various places that you need to know about their passing. You will likely need to notify financial institutions, government departments, and any other memberships and bills that your loved one had. If you want to make things a little easier on you, you can get a checklist from the Department of Human Services to see who you should be notifying.

Another great idea is that you can enter the details about your deceased loved one into the Australian Death Notification Service. This allowed you to notify multiple organizations at a single time, getting accounts closed or transferred without too much of a hassle. This is a great option because it can help reduce the stress of notifications, especially during your time of grief.

You may be eligible to receive financial support after the passing of your loved one, depending on what your relationship is to your loved one. You will also want to remove their name from mailing lists, as this can reduce the amount of unsolicited mail that they get. Lastly, you want to be sure that you handle their social media accounts. You could deactivate their social media accounts, or you can see if there is an option to memorialize their social media accounts.

Conclusion
When a loved one passes away, there are a lot of things that you will be responsible for handling. This includes ensuring that the proper people are notified of their passing. With the advice here, you can have an easier time with this process.

What Does Probate Mean?

It can be overwhelming while you are looking at your funeral pre planning options in Wodonga. You might come across different terms and concepts that you may not fully understand. One concept that you may not fully get is probate. The goal here is to help you understand everything that you need to know about probate, so that you can better understand this process.

What Does Probate Mean?
The first thing to address is what probate actually is. Probate is the term that is used to describe the legal process of what is required prior to the deceased person’s estate being able to be distributed to their beneficiaries. This process can typically take between 6 and 12 months to complete, depending on the assets that require attention. For instance, if there is a home or other property that needs to be sold before distribution, probate will take longer. This process will also look over the validity of the will as well as who is responsible for the estate.

When Is It Necessary?
Probate is usually required when the deceased person leaves behind specific types of assets. If there’s any money in the bank account, probate may be required before the money is released to the executor. However, this will only happen if the amount of money in the bank exceeds a certain threshold. If the bank account has a smaller amount of money, you might just need a copy of the death certificate and the will to get the money. Every financial institution will have their own policies regarding this, so you might need to ask them directly. 

Another situation where probate may be required is if the will is contested. Probate will take the time to make sure the estate is handed over to the right person according to their look at the case.

What’s Involved with This Process?

Every situation is different, which means that the probate process may not be the same for everyone. For the most part, you can expect these tasks to be part of the probate process:

●    Apply for the Grant of Probate for those larger estates.
●    Appoint the Will’s executor.
●    Claim insurance benefits and superannuation.
●    If there is no surviving spouse, they will value, manage, and sell any property.
●    Cancelling the deceased person’s driver’s license.
●    Transfer the ownership or sell the vehicle.
●    Pay any outstanding bills or other liabilities.
●    Determine any beneficiaries and then distribute the bequests.
●    Closing any accounts

These are just some aspects of the process that needs to happen for probate.

Pre planning funerals can be a stressful process, but one that Conway Funerals can help you with. They can walk you through everything that needs to be covered during this process to help make this process seem a loss less stressful. The good part about pre planning your funeral is that you can give your loved ones one less thing to worry about after you pass. Everything will already be handled, so that they can be free to grieve.

Helping You Pay Tribute to a Loved Ones’ Life Well-Lived

A celebration of life is a great way for you to pay tribute to a loved one’s life well-lived. Wodonga funeral homes are the perfect places for you to plan the celebration of life that is truly representative of your loved one’s life. When you choose from the best funeral directors in Wodonga, you are going to be sure that you get the help that you need in planning the perfect celebration. Let’s take a look and understand what a celebration of life is and some tips for putting on the best event.

What is a Celebration of Life?

The goal of a celebration of life is to have an uplifting event that focuses on the positive parts of the person’s life. Dealing with grief is an incredibly difficult and personal experience for everyone. While wakes and funerals are somber events that are more formal. Some people are opting for a celebration of life instead. By focusing on the joy that your loved one brought to you and everyone around them, you may have an easier time getting through that grief. Most people choose to have this celebration instead of the traditional funeral and wake, while others may have this at a later time. This is your event, so plan it as you feel necessary.

Celebration of Life Ideas

If you’ve decided that this is the approach that you want to take, then you may need some ideas that can help you plan the perfect celebration of life to pay tribute to your loved one. This section will give you some ideas to help plan this event.

Choosing the Right Location

Where should you hold this event? You are planning an event to pay tribute to your loved one, so you should choose a meaningful location. Maybe there was a place at the park that they really loved or some venue that they liked to go to. This helps make the event more personal to your loved one.

Sharing Stories

This is a celebration to honour your loved one. This means that you should welcome people to come up and share stories about your loved one. You’d be surprised just how great it can be for everyone who is mourning to share these stories, connecting with each other in the memory of the person who has passed on.

Have Some Memorable Activity

It can be a good idea to consider some activity to join everyone together at this celebration. Maybe they can create a memory capsule, where people bring a memento or some item that reminds them of a loved one. They can tell a story about the item and then put it in a box or capsule, which can be buried with the loved one or locked away, or even kept with you.

Celebration of life events are becoming a popular option, whether it’s in place of or used in addition to a traditional funeral service. This can be a casual or even formal celebration that creates an uplifting moment for everyone in attendance. This is one way where you can truly pay tribute to a loved ones’ life well-lived.