Faq's

• When Someone Dies
  • Q. What do I need to do when someone dies?
  • Q. What happens when someone dies unexpectedly?
  • Q. How long does it take for a deceased to be released to the funeral directors after a post-mortem?
  • Q. What is a post-mortem or autopsy?
• About Embalming
  • Q. Does the body have to be embalmed?
  • Q. Why is embalming done?
  • Q. What sort of clothing does the deceased need?
  • Q. How much make-up is applied to the deceased?
• About Funeral Directors
  • Q. Do we need to use funeral directors?
• Viewing the deceased
  • Q. Is viewing the deceased recommended?
  • Q. Should children be allowed to view?
  • Q. How should the viewing process be handled?
  • Q. Can adults learn anything from children?
• The Funeral Service
  • Q. What things need to be considered when planning a funeral service?
  • Q. Should the family use a minister or a celebrant?
  • Q. Is there such a thing as funeral etiquette?
  • Q. What is the funeral procession?
  • Q. Should the funeral be an intimate or grand affair?
  • Q. Can I be confident Mannings are familiar with the customs/funeral rites of my specific religion?
• About Ashes
  • Q. What container are the ashes returned to the family in?
  • Q. Can I be sure the ashes that are returned to me are those of my family member?
  • Q. Can families scatter ashes wherever they like?
  • Q. How soon after the funeral should the family make a decision about the placement of ashes?
• Costs and Formalities
  • Q. How do I get a death certificate?
  • Q. What is the cost of a funeral?
  • Q. Where do I obtain funeral insurance?
  • Q. How do I organise a Prepaid Funeral

Does the body have to be embalmed?

There are many aspects to this question. Some people, through their religious beliefs or personal views, state that the deceased is not to be embalmed. This situation is fine if the funeral service is going to take place within a short space of time, say the next day.  If a family explicitly say there is to be no embalming, Manning Funerals will abide by their wishes. Families often asked how long a body will keep without embalming – the simple answer is, in life we are all individuals and in death we are no different. Many things need to be taken into consideration;  the condition of the deceased, what illness caused their death, how long they had already been dead, what medication they had been taking, and the climate at the time. Some bodies may begin to deteriorate within hours of death, while others may not show any signs of deterioration for days, but no guarantees can be given with an unembalmed body. Refrigerated conditions will not prevent decomposition – it may only slow down the process...