Depending on where a death occurs different steps will need to be taken so we hope the following information may help you:

At Home

If the death occurs at home with family or friends present a family member should contact the person’s Doctor. Their Doctor will usually issue a death certificate (required by law) if the deceased has been treated by them in the past and they can confirm the cause of death. However, if the death occurs in a home and no one is there at the time of death, the police will need to be notified and respond to the home before the deceased can be transferred from their home.

If in any case you are unsure of who to notify or what to do, you may call us on (03) 9706 3136 and we will assist you in notifying the appropriate services.

While Under Supervised Care

When a death occurs in a care facility such as a hospital or nursing home, the professional staff will notify you and the necessary authorities. If the name of the funeral director has been left with them they will notify the nominated funeral director at the time of death.

We offer four value for money funeral packages, however if you are planning a different type of funeral for your loved one we are also happy to provide you with a quote over the phone 24 hours/7 days based on your needs. View PackagesWe initially transport your loved one from the place of death to our Centre of Clinical Care. Botanical Funerals provide professional and hygienic clinical care and body refrigeration facilities to ensure the dignity of the deceased is maintained at all times.

Our experienced and qualified staff prepare, wash and dress the body as required and place the deceased in a casket or coffin. Families sometimes participate in this process for religious or personal reasons and we are happy to accommodate where possible.

One of the first things to do before meeting with your funeral consultant will be to check if the deceased left any wishes for their funeral in their last will or in a pre-arranged funeral contract.

However, if the deceased has not expressed any wishes about their funeral, you will need to make these decisions in their honour. Your funeral consultant can guide you through all the options available and provide you with creative and personalised solutions.

As part of our professional service to you, we will apply for a standard certified death certificate with the Registry of Birth, Deaths and Marriages Victoria on your behalf. This will be sent to you directly in the postal mail and usually arrives between two and six weeks after the funeral and possibly longer with Coronial involvement.

To make this process easier for you, we have made the form available to be filled online. Simply click on the button below to be taken to the Births, Deaths and Marriages form where you can provide us the necessary information to begin this process.

Births, Deaths & Marriages Form

The Coroner’s role is to confirm and certify an individual’s death and investigate, if possible, the identity of the deceased, how the death occurred and the cause of death.

Please click here for more information on the role of the Coroner from the Coroners Court of Victoria website.

There are a number of individuals and groups to notify after a death. The Department of Human Services have provided a helpful checklist of who to advise, for more information please click the button below. Download Checklist

The choice between burial or cremation is one of the most important decisions you will need to make as it can influence other key aspects of the funeral such as the type of casket or coffin and where the wake will be held.

While burial is a more traditional option, commonly chosen for cultural or religious reasons and often involves a graveside committal service, cremation is usually done privately with no attendance and the funeral is completed in a single location. Our staff will provide you all the available information and options so you can make an informed decision.

A Funeral celebrant is a non-clergy professional with no links to any religion or belief who prepares and delivers a high quality funeral service. While, the clergy is a religious minister or priest who generally follows traditional protocols in preparing and delivering the funeral service. The choice of either a Funeral Celebrant or Clergy will often depend on whether or not the deceased was religious and followed a particular faith.

We partner with Urnity who provide a quality range of urns, easily purchasable online for a great price. To view the full range available go to urnity.com.au, or click the image above.

Remember to use the code Botanical10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order, and a portion of the sale will also be donated to Suicide Prevention Australia.

Why have a viewing?

A viewing is an opportunity for family and friends to see the deceased for the final time. Gail Rubin, a leading death educator, believes the bereavement process starts with the recognition and realisation that someone has died. To come to terms with the reality of death, someone has to stand up and say, “Yes, so-and-so has died,” or if you prefer, “passed on.” The viewing of the deceased can help loved one’s with the realisation that the death has occurred.

Viewings at Botanical Funerals

Botanical Funerals can provide you and your loved ones with an intimate and personalised viewing experience. We can hold viewings in certain religious and non-religious venues throughout Melbourne or even at the family home. For your convenience, we can provide a viewing either during normal business hours or after hours.

For those wanting to reduce their carbon footprint on the environment, Botanical Funerals offer the EcoFuneral Package and can also provide you with tailored eco-friendly options. Please ask our friendly staff for more information on our environmentally friendly offerings.

When arranging a funeral, there is a variety of statutory forms that must be completed as part of the organisation process. To make this process as easy as possible you can fill in these forms online by clicking on the links below. Alternatively you may download, print and fill in the form prior to the funeral consultation. Not all forms need to be filled, so please consult your funeral director if you are unsure which forms to fill in.

 

Advertising the details of the funeral such as the date, location and time can be important particularly for communicating to people you may have missed or have lost contact with.

In addition to your complimentary eTribute, digital notice, you may also wish to advertise the funeral in the Age or Herald-Sun or in rural community or interstate newspapers. Our staff are able to assist you in placing the details of the funeral in the print media on your behalf.

FLOWERS

Flowers can be important in accompanying the coffin during religious, civil or cremation funerals.

Botanical Funerals, in partnership with Grandiflora, offers a high quality collection of flower options that can be tailored to suit your requirements and budget. To scroll through our range please use the arrows.

Outside of traditional locations for funerals such as churches and crematorium chapels, Melbourne has an extensive array of beautiful venues to hold funerals suiting all levels of budgetary requirements from simple to extravagant.

Below are some of our commonly used venues, however please ask us for local venue options in your area for holding a beautiful and personalised funeral.

SPRINGVALE BOTANICAL CEMETERY

BUNURONG MEMORIAL PARK

Funeral By The Bay

Beautiful Garden View Funeral

Native Garden View Funeral

Vineyard Funeral

Heritage Chapel Funeral

We have a range of hearse options available from traditional to contemporary. You may view a sample of our range above.

We have a range of family car options available in a range of sizes. You may view a sample of our range above.

Botanical Funerals has a collection of funeral stationary to help families celebrate a life and capture lasting precious memories that can be passed on to future generations.

The products include Order of Service Booklets, Bookmarks, Thank You Cards, Prayer Cards and more. To view the range available please use the navigation arrows above, or view our ‘Tribute Collections’ booklet by clicking the button below.

View Entire Range

A complimentary 40 photo life reflections DVD is included in most of our funeral packages. This increasingly forms a very important part of the funeral, where people can reflect and celebrate a beautiful life with photos and accompanying music. Ask our friendly staff for further information on our life reflection DVD offerings.

Gathering together, sharing memories and re-connecting with family and friends is often an important part of the funeral. If you would like us to arrange the catering, we have an experienced caterer who provides fresh food and can cater for specific dietary requirements, please click here to download a copy of the menu.

Poems and readings can help personalise the tribute to your loved one. Below is collection of poems and readings that you may wish to use.

Poems

Memories of you

I remember everything about you,
your voice, your smile, your touch,
the way you walked, the way you talked,
the way you looked at me, meant so much.

I remember all the words you said to me,
some funny, some kind, some wise,
all of the things you did for me,
I see now with different eyes.

I remember every moment we shared,
seems like only yesterday,
or maybe it was eons ago,
It’s really hard to say.

You are gone from me now,
but one thing they can’t take away,
your memory resides inside my heart,
and lights up my darkest days.

True love

True love is a sacred flame that burns eternally,
And none can dim its special glow or change its destiny.
True love speaks in tender tones and hears with gentle ear,
True love gives with open heart and true love conquers fear.
True love makes no harsh demands It neither rules nor binds,
True love holds with gentle hands the hearts that it entwines.

You were a precious gift

You were a precious gift,
Our joy, our dreams.
You were a sparkle through the darkness;
Our hope for a brighter tomorrow.
You warmed our hearts, gave light to our minds,
And beauty to our spirits.
We gave you our love, wrapped you in our care,
caressed you with our smiles.
Now you are gone.
We grieve. We miss you so much.
The loving memories of you will keep you
Forever close to us – in our hearts,
our thoughts, our souls….

Do not stand at my grave and weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Author Mary Frye

Four candles for you

The first candle represents our grief.
The pain of losing you is intense.
It reminds us of the depth of our love for you.
This second candle represents our courage.
To confront our sorrow,
To comfort each other,
To change our lives.
This third candle we light in your memory.
For the times we laughed,
The times we cried,
The times we were angry with each other,
The silly things you did,
The caring and joy you gave us.
This fourth candle we light for our love.
We light this candle that your light will always shine.
As we enter this holiday season and
share this night of remembrance
with our family and friends.
We cherish the special place in our hearts
that will always be reserved for you.
We thank you for the gift
your living brought to each of us.
We love you.
We remember you.

I am always with you

When I am gone, release me, let me go.
I have so many things to see and do,
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with too many tears,
But be thankful we had so many good years.
I gave you my love, and you can only guess
How much you’ve given me in happiness.
I thank you for the love that you have shown,
but now it is time I traveled on alone.
So grieve for me a while, if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by trust
that it is only for a while that we must part,
So treasure the memories within your heart.
I won’t be far away for life goes on.
And if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can’t see or touch me, I will be near
And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear
All my love around you soft and clear
And then, when you come this way along,
I’ll greet you with a smile and a “Welcome Home”.

Remember me

Remember me when I am gone away,
gone far away into the silent land;
when you can no more hold me by the hand,
nor half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
you tell me of our future that you planned;
only remember me, you understand
it will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
and afterwards remember, do not grieve;
For if the darkness and corruption leave
a vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
better by far you should forget and smile
than that you should remember and be sad.

Author Christina Rossetti

Miss me but let me go

When I come to the end of the road
and the sun has set on me,
I want no rites in a gloom filled room,
why cry for a soul set free.
Miss me a little – but not too long,
and not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we once shared,
miss me – but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take,
and each must go alone.
It’s all a part of the Master’s plan,
a step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
go to the friends we know.
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
miss me – but let me go.

Readings

An Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you:
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the land of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

Psalm 23

The Lord’s my Shepherd, I shall not want,
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,
He leadeth me beside the still waters,
He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness, for His name’s sake,
Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou
art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Though preparest a table before me in the presence
of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil.
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house
of the Lord forever.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time for everything,
And a season for every activity under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
A time to embrace and a time to refrain,
A time to search and a time to give up,
A time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to tear and a time to mend,
A time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to love and a time to hate,
A time for war and a time for peace.

Gaelic Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until
we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Psalm 103: 8-17

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
Nor will he harbor his anger for ever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
Or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is his love for those who fear him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
For he knows how we are formed,
He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass,
He flourishes like a flower of the field;
The wind blows over it and it is gone,
And its place remembers it not more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
The Lord’s love is with those who fear him.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

Writing a eulogy can be difficult because of the emotion it generates. This however, can be an important time to mourn, reflect and say good-bye.

In reflecting on your loved one’s life, you may wish to talk about important milestones, tell stories and discuss what the deceased meant to you.

As a multicultural family and an experienced funeral director, Botanical Funerals is able to provide Melbourne’s culturally diverse community with specialised service and care. We have extensive expertise and knowledge in funerals for Asian and European families and our staff are proficient in several languages including Cantonese, French, Hakka, Mandarin and Spanish.