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

Should the funeral be an intimate or grand affair?

The funeral can be as elaborate or as intimate as families choose. It is important to remember that funerals are for the living and sometimes family members are faced with the dichotomy of adhering to a parent’s wish to have either a private service or even no service, despite those who are left feeling the need to have those closest to them around them to support them in their grief.    Sometimes a person leaving such an instruction does so, thinking they are making it easier for their relatives, but often it creates other problems. An example is where a family is instructed not to place a notice until after the funeral service, but on the other hand, there may be people who have had a friendship  with the deceased and the person making funeral arrangements is not aware of them.

At the end of the day, whether the funeral is an intimate one, or a grand scale production, is a decision made by the person authorized to make arrangements, generally the executor of a person’s will or their next of kin.