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More and more people are looking at ways of reducing the significant costs associated with conducting a funeral. The cost of an average funeral now ranges from $5,000 to $8,000.

Although Do-It-Yourself funerals are not for everyone, with a bit of planning and consultation with organisations such as your local Pensioners Association, church group etc, a DIY funeral can be a fulfilling and intimate experience for family and friends.

The following information is based on materials compiled by the Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association Of New South Wales Inc Australia. 

To download the complete “Funeral Costs Fact Sheet” developed by the CPSA , please click here.

1.      Obtain Death Certificate

When a person dies the death must be confirmed by a doctor who completes a Medical Certificate of cause of death. This has to be sent to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages within your State so that a Death Certificate can be issued.

2.      Arranging the Funeral

There is legislation that individuals must comply with in order to arrange a funeral without the services of a funeral director.

(a) Death At Home

When a death occurs at home the funeral arrangements will need to be arranged through a funeral director (because they can correctly store and prepare the body to be placed in a coffin).

(b) Death Occurs in Hospital

However, when a death occurs in hospital it may not be necessary to use a funeral director to make the necessary arrangements. If the hospital has a morgue (not just a holding room) they will prepare the body to be placed in a coffin (where possible) so relatives who provide their own coffin can collect the body.

It is advisable to be aware of what must be done prior to the time the arrangements are required to be made as the body must be removed from a hospital within 5 days of death.

3.      Purchase the Coffin or Casket

Individuals will need to purchase a compliant coffin or casket made of natural materials which can be sealed. The Australian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association (ACCA) provides "Guidelines In The Use of Cardboard and Other Receptacles". Please click here to download these guidelines.

4.      Conduct of the Burial or Cremation

·     The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages within your State must be notified of the death and forms will need to be completed.

·     A Death Certificate is required when dealing with certain institutions and a fee applies for having it provided.

·     An application for burial or cremation must also be completed. All arrangements for the burial or cremation will need to be made directly with the cemetery.

·     Pall-bearers must be provided.

·     Transportation of the deceased from the hospital to the cemetery must be dignified and with due reverence. www.onearth.com.au

Native Woodland (UK) Natural burial grounds Simple funerals, the way you choose, in beautiful natural surroundings
Let us show you how simple it can be with our
quick guide to arranging a funeral:-

The beauty and lasting legacy of a natural burial can be combined with whatever type of arrangements you prefer to make. Funerals are very personal occasions and should reflect the wishes, character and personality of the person concerned. Many people find great comfort in the tradition of a church ceremony, others would prefer something less conventional.

http://www.nativewoodland.co.uk/index.php

Green Fuse If you need to arrange a funeral, or want to plan a funeral in advance, or simply want to know more about funerals, you have arrived at the right site. Passionate about good funerals, helping families to find their own ways to say their last goodbyes. The experience of the time leading up to the funeral can be as important as the ceremony itself.

http://www.greenfuse.co.uk/

Ecological burial
Promessa Organic AB is developing and offering a new method of laying the dead to rest. An environmentally friendly form of burial that takes full consideration of the biological realities to which a corpse is subjected.

http://www.promessa.se/index_en.asp

Green Endings
We are based in London and cover the M25 region.

Arrangements can be made for any style of funeral, from a woodland burial using a cardboard coffin to a more traditional send off.

http://www.greenendings.co.uk/

The Natural Death Centre is unique in providing the only independent funeral advice service in the UK. We provide information on all types of funeral choices, but are especially known for advice & support on family-organised, environmentally-friendly funerals, and Natural Burial Grounds

http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/

Eco Coffins - we deliver worldwide
BIO-DEGRADABLE ECO-COFFINS & CASKETS FOR GREEN BURIALS AND CREMATIONS
http://www.eco-coffins.com/

The Spirit Tree is an earth friendly carbon neutral burial option for those wishing to have their remains cremated. The concept is quite beautiful actually. The biodegradable cinerary urn has outfitted with a ceramic top perforated with hydration holes. The bottom is a combination of peat moss, dirt, wood chips, and post consumer paper that is biodegradable. The remains and the seeds of a tree, or any plant of your choice, are added to the interior of the urn and it is then placed in the earth outdoors in a fertile location. The ceramic top is weathered away over a long period of time and the tree grows up through the center from within as a living memorial to your loved one.

“The act of restoration can be as simple as replacing something that has aged and died away. Above all it means to heal, to make whole, to reweave broken strands and threads into a social fabric that honors and nurtures life around it. To restore is to make something well again. It is mending the world. People have to believe there is a future in order to look forward.”

Not only is it carbon neutral by offsetting the CO2 created during the cremation process, but it is a great way to continue the circle of life while creating a strong visual and emotional symbol for those wishing to look to the future. 

http://www.thespiritree.com/