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After a Cremation Enquiry

Step 1: Take some time to read everything

There’s a lot to take in when someone has died, and there’s no need to do it all at once.

When you get a moment, have a read through the information we’ve sent you, including your Service Proposal. It sets out what we talked about and what happens next.

Step 2: Get the important paperwork done

There’s a small amount of paperwork that’s always better out of the way sooner rather than later.

Your Client Portal is where I’ll collect the information and documents I need from you. Depending on your situation, you might see tasks like these:

Authority to Release

If your person died in hospital, the hospital will need an Authority to Release from me before I can collect them. This is you (or the appropriate next of kin) giving me permission to bring your person into my care.

Personal Details

The Personal Details form has everything needed to register the death with the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, so the official Death Certificate can be issued. Please fill this in as soon as you can, because any delay here holds up the certificate.

Other tasks might pop up in your Client Portal as we go, like photos for a booklet or tribute, music choices, or choosing a coffin or casket.

Step 3: Have a think about the farewell

If you have some time, take a look at Say Goodbye Your Way.

I built it from my own experience losing Mum and from supporting families since. It’s there to get you thinking about the things that can make a farewell personal, and to help you make decisions in your own time.

You don’t need to have it all worked out straight away. Some things become clearer as we go.

Step 4: Review and accept your Service Proposal

When you’re ready, have a look over your Service Proposal and accept it.

It lists the services and products we discussed and what they cost. If you change your mind about anything, like a different coffin or adding a photo tribute, just let me know and I’ll update it.

Step 5: Bringing your person into our care

Once everything’s in place, I’ll collect your person and bring them into my care.

I’ll be upfront about this one. Because of the way we run Rest, once collection has happened, viewing isn’t possible. It’s one of the ways we keep our prices down.

That said, there’s usually no need to rush the collection, so if you’d like time with your person first, you have it. And if being involved in their care matters to you, we can help you wash and/or dress them somewhere familiar, like your own home.

In case you’re wondering, our facility is in Applethorpe.

Step 6: Doctor’s examination and cremation

I’ll arrange for an independent doctor to examine your person and provide the Form 4 - Permission to Cremate.

Once that’s done, I’ll book the cremation with Warrill Park Crematorium in Willowbank.

Your cremation will most likely take place:

[CREMATION DATE / TIME]

Step 7: Finalising the details of the service

I’ll keep in touch with you as we work towards the service, and together we’ll lock in the date, time and everything else. Depending on what you’ve chosen, that might include:

Some of this might be collected through your Client Portal along the way.

Step 8: The day of the service

On the day, I’ll usually arrive about an hour beforehand.

I’ll work with the crematorium, venue, celebrant, church, priest or whoever else is involved to make sure the timings and practical bits are taken care of. That’s my job on the day, so you can focus on saying goodbye.

Step 9: Registering the death and the Death Certificate

Once your Personal Details form is in, I’ll register the death with the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages so the official Death Certificate can be produced.

It usually arrives around 2 weeks after the cremation, but it can take up to 4 weeks. It’ll be posted straight to the informant’s address on the Personal Details form, or to another address if you’ve given us one.

Step 10: Returning the ashes

After the cremation, I’ll prepare your person’s ashes and return them to you, usually within a week.

A final note

I know this can all seem a little clinical, but I’d rather you had all the information than be left wondering what happens next.

Please know that from here on, I’ll treat you and your person with care and dignity. I’m not a grief specialist, but I’m always here and happy to help in any way I can.

And remember, whatever you’re feeling right now is normal.

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