Botanical Funerals | Melbourne Funeral Directors by Ian Allison

6 GENERATION FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Genuine 5 star online reviews

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Botanical Funerals is an independent family owned funeral company, owned and operated by Ian and Shirlene Allison.

With over two decades of experience in offering high-value funeral service arrangements in Melbourne and following the standards set by his predecessors, Ian sets himself and his firm apart with integrity, honesty, and professionalism.

OFFERING BEAUTIFUL
FUNERAL VENUES
ACROSS MELBOURNE

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Leave a message of condolence for a
loved one, view their DVD Tribute
and more with eTributes.

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WHAT MAKES OUR FUNERAL SERVICES UNIQUE?

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Transparent & Fair Pricing

Understanding of Multicultural Needs

Our Rich & Lengthy Family Heritage in the Community

Personalised Services

Commitment to Quality Care

THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES IS OUR TOP PRIORITY | COVID-19 UPDATES

WHY CHOOSE BOTANICAL FUNERALS?

We accompany you through every step to achieve the best outcome for you and your family. As a multicultural family, we understand the diverse needs of the community and provide a unique approach to funeral services and a commitment to quality care.

Transparent Pricing. Value For Money.

We have many choices and service options available for families.
We have four value for money packages or you can tailor your choices to your needs.

Essential Care Cremation

$3,500

A private direct cremation without a ceremony or viewing.

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Private Gathering

$5,500

A Private Gathering at either Springvale, Bunurong, Lilydale, Altona or Fawkner Crematorium. Also includes an elegant coffin, cremation and associated fees and a viewing (if required).

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Graveside Care

$5,600*

An elegant coffin, floral tribute, a Celebrant or Minister to officiate the service at the graveside and an eTribute.

* Please note cemetery fees are additional to this package.

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Complete Care

$7,500

An elegant coffin, a floral tribute, a viewing (if required), a ceremony at a chapel at Springvale, Bunurong, Lilydale, Altona or Fawkner Crematorium, Order of Services Booklets, Reflection of life DVD, eTribute and a Celebrant or Minister to officiate the service.

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Need to tailor a package to fit your needs?

A Funeral Consultant is ready to assist you
24 hours / 7 days
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“In an industry which seems to me to be dominated by stagnant, old companies it was refreshingly life affirming to have a team of young professionals who brought a glow of hope to an otherwise sad and bleak occasion. I have no hesitation in endorsing Botanical Funerals to anyone who finds themself in the unenviable and sad position of having to arrange a funeral. It is an inevitable part of life that we must all pass away, it is an immense consolation to have found such a deeply compassionate and professional man in Ian Allison and his beautiful team at Botanical Funerals, to make that task so manageable.” - Dominic Natoli

“When my Dad passed away only 4 days ago, Ian was so supportive and caring. Botanical Funeral's attention to detail is meticulous. My family felt included in every aspect of the funeral. I received a great deal of positive feedback on how stylish and beautifully presented everything was on the day. Botanical Funerals don't try and up sell you into more expensive items and so the funeral was definitely within our means. My Dad would have been proud.” - Belinda-Jane Peterson

“Ian and his team came highly recommended and there are no doubts as to why. Their handling of our father’s funeral service, all enquiries before hand and anything we needed was dealt with ease. Thanks again for everything, you made everything so much easier for us in our hardest time and can’t thank you enough.”- Alex Shevchenko

“Botanical Funerals conducted our Dad’s funeral during the current stage 4 lockdown. Albeit the difficulties due to the restrictions, Ian and his team did an excellent job! Their superior and professional services are greatly impressive, second to none, thus highly recommended! Family members unanimously commented on how lovingly and beautifully we farewelled Dad! It was only made possible because of Ian and his team. MUCH APPRECIATED!”- Angela Li

“Excellent services and friendly team! Thanks Ian for your help in organising my Grandmother’s funeral. I'm really lucky to have known you otherwise I would have no idea how to organise the funeral and you helped me from A to Z to make it easier and understandable. If someone is looking for funeral services I would like to introduce Botanical Funerals By Ian Allison as its truly a 5 stars service.” - Sambath Khim

“My family and I are very grateful to Ian and his team for their assistance when my father passed away. Ian’s approach was the right balance of professional, empathetic and sensitive, without being cloying. He helped us navigate all the difficult decisions with ease and helpful advice, which resulted in a very beautiful service for my father. I don’t often review businesses and I certainly didn’t think at the outset that I would be reviewing the services of a funeral director, but the work Ian and his team have done is simply too good not to share.” - Agatha O'Donnell

“The lengths this wonderful family go to for their clients is astounding. I can't thank you all enough for everything you did to make my dad's funeral amazing. From the silly little inside jokes to the very personal touches, everything and everyone was wonderful. A huge special Thankyou to Melissa and Ian for your loving, caring support made me feel like they are a part of my family. An outstanding job done by all. Thankyou from the bottom of my heart.” - Robyn and Roy Fulford

“When my mother passed away the first thing that went through my mind was having to run the gamut of arranging a funeral. Once we found Botanical Funerals I was free to continue the grieving process. Ian & Shirlene Allison went the extra mile to ensure things went smoothly with the minimum of distress to our family. Fantastic professional, yet personal service, coupled with low prices and great flexibility. Thank you.” - Lee Capocchi

REVIEWS

ETRIBUTES

Our eTributes provide a way for family and friends to express and share their thoughts on the person being remembered. Record condolences and tributes in text, audio, photographic, video formats and much more.

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Send us photos, music and documents for use at the funeral.

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STATUTORY FORMS

Complete all of the legal Statutory Forms online.

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Book Appointment

Book an appointment online to discuss pre-paid funerals..

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“I’ve never had to organise a funeral before, what should I consider in choosing an appropriate funeral director?”

In choosing an appropriate funeral provider, you should consider that levels of service, quality and value vary widely among the industry.

From our experience, people choose Botanical Funerals because our team are experienced,helpful, professional and offer unmatched value, looking after you every step of the way.

We provide information and guidance and present you with options that best suit your family’s emotional, spiritual, cultural and economic needs. We also provide a 100% service satisfaction guarantee.

“Why should I pre-arrange my funeral?”

From our experience, people often choose to pre-arrange their funeral for the following reasons:

To save the emotional and financial burden on their family.

To ensure their wishes are carried out eg. Religious or non-religious ceremony, burial or cremation etc.

For economical reasons – you can make considerable savings in the long-run by taking out a fixed price funeral today and in some cases it may also help minimise your tax commitments.

“What makes a funeral more meaningful?”

In her award winning book, ‘A Good Goodbye’, Gail Rubin, a well-known death educator, discusses the four R’s that make a funeral more meaningful and helpful to you in your time of grief, these include the following:

Recognise Reality
Remember
Reaffirm
Release

Psychologists cite a number of reasons for holding funeral rituals. They make the dead “safely dead,” dispatched with proper ceremony to rest in peace. They confirm the deceased and their survivors matter, and that the community will continue. They provide structure in the midst of chaos and disorder, and ensure communal support for survivors during a stressful time.

“Should I choose burial or cremation?”

The choice between burial or cremation is one of the first decisions you will need to make when organising the funeral and will often influence other important parts of the service.

People will often choose burial for cultural or religious reasons or if there is an existing family grave. In Victoria, a burial plot is a perpetual investment and therefore, we advise that you visit the cemetery so that you can consider all available options before making your decision.

While burial allows for a service at a chapel or church followed by a graveside service, cremation is commonly undertaken privately, whereby there is no attendance at the crematorium. Therefore, with cremation funerals, the funeral is usually all completed in one location.

Botanical Funerals’ caring and friendly team will provide guidance and options so that you can choose whether burial or cremation best suits your needs.

“Who should you notify after a death?”

There are a number of people to contact after someone dies. A helpful list has been provided by the Department of Human Services which you can download at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/who-to-notify-checklist.pdf

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“How can I personalise my loved one’s funeral?”

The personalisation of the funeral allows those close to the deceased to share memories, reflect and express their feelings to others. With personalised elements of the deceased tastes and values, those left behind can recreate an intimate connection with the deceased while honouring their life.

Whatever your wishes, our experienced staff will listen to you and provide you with guidance and options that best suit you needs. For example, we will help you choose:

• Readings or poems recalling the life of the deceased.

• Music and songs that contribute to the funeral.

• Symbols and gestures that help honour the deceased such as the placing of flowers on the coffin, a memory table of the deceased favourite items or the creation of a service booklet.

“What should I do with the ashes after cremation?”

There are many choices available to you in relation to what to do with the ashes. You may wish to keep them at home in an urn or share them between relatives and friends in several urns. Or you may wish to scatter them in a special location.

If you decide to memorialise the ashes in a cemetery or memorial park, there are a wide variety of choices for you to consider and it is advised to visit the cemetery before you decide. Memorialisation within a cemetery or memorial park can be done in an existing family grave, a niche wall, family memorial garden, garden of remembrance, just to name a few.

“How do you announce a death?”

Traditionally a death is announced in the death and funeral notices section of the newspaper. This is commonly done in either The Age or Herald-Sun.

Death notice
The announcement in the death notices section of the newspaper usually includes the deceased’s surname, first name and age, even the date and place of death. Also, people often include the names of the closest relatives of the deceased such as parents names, partner’s names, in-laws, children and grand-children.

Funeral notice
The funeral includes information about the ceremony: date, location and time and information about the burial or cremation.

More and more people are now turning to social media to announce a death and we can assist you with this announcement through our e-tributes platform. Ask our friendly staff how.

“What’s involved in repatriating the body of a deceased person overseas?”

Taking home the body or human remains of someone who has died or who has been buried in a foreign land can be an important spiritual journey for many. The family may feel that the person’s soul may not be at peace if the body was buried anywhere other than their homeland.

To repatriate the body of a deceased person requires many administrative procedures and documentation as well as an extensive knowledge of the obligations of each country and embassy. Botanical Funerals has significant experience in repatriating deceased persons throughout Asia, Europe and the Pacific Islands. We also have an extensive network of suppliers interstate and overseas who can assist us if and when required.

“How to choose a casket or coffin?”

The first thing you will need to understand is the difference between a casket and a coffin. A casket is rectangular and uniform in shape and usually wider and longer than a coffin. While a coffin tapers at the head and the foot.

From our experience, in choosing a casket or coffin people often look for a particular shape, colour, type of wood, fittings and interior. The shape can vary from your choice of casket or coffin and flat, tiered or domed lid. Colour choices range from light to dark shades, gloss, matt or satin finish, which are all options available in our range.

Our caskets and coffin are derived from sustainable timber and include composite timber, pine, oak, blackwood or mahogany. Fittings and interiors also greatly vary depending on your needs, whether you prefer gold, silver or wooden handles and particular symbols added to the casket etc. Our friendly team, will provide you with suitable information in order for you to make the right choice that best reflects the personality of the deceased.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Help Save Lives

poster head

Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) is the chosen charity of Botanical Funerals.

We are committed to making regular donations in support of suicide reduction and you can contribute by purchasing these posters.

100%

100% of all donations go directly to Suicide Prevention Australia.

*Please note all purchases provide a downloadable file for you to take to your local printer.

Shirlene Allison talks about supporting Suicide Prevention Australia and how you can help donate.

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8.3

Deaths by suicide in Australia each day – 1.9% of all deaths.

34%

of deaths for people aged between 15-24
is from suicide.

44.5

Median age of people who have suicided.

76%

of suicide deaths are male, outnumbering female 3:1.

2x

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are twice as likely to
die by suicide.

“At Botanical Funerals we believe that through understanding, collaboration and research we can together make a difference.”
Ian Allison

WHY CHOOSE BOTANICAL FUNERALS?

Transparent Pricing. Value For Money.

Essential Care Cremation

$3,500

Private Gathering

$5,500

Graveside Care

$5,600*

Complete Care

$7,500

Need to tailor a package to fit your needs?

ETRIBUTES

Send us Files

STATUTORY FORMS

Book Appointment

Help Save Lives

100%

8.3

34%

44.5

76%

2x

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“What’s important in choosing a funeral home?”

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