Funeral Planning With A Quirk

‘Fun’eral Planning With A Quirk

Funeral planning can seem like a sombre business, but approaching the task with a quirky sense of fun and your own personal interests in mind can make all the difference. Let's cover what to check off before you check out, how much you might expect to pay, and a few ideas on how to make your final farewell a true reflection of who you are.

Write it down
If you want to make things easier for those you leave behind, consider documenting your wishes ahead of time. One option is My Will Wishes, a guided booklet that prompts you to record everything from funeral preferences to personal messages and practical details. It might not be the easiest thing you'll ever complete, but it could be one of the most considerate gifts you leave your family.

Ditch the boring box
A good funeral squeezes a lifetime of stories, passions and memories into a few short hours. So why not make sure the casket tells part of that story too? Ross Hall from Dying Art has spent years creating customised coffins ranging from Formula One race cars and giant chocolate bars to designs covered in travel photos and garden scenes. "It's endless what you can do," he says.
Dying Art advisor Debra McClean remembers designing a fishing-themed casket for a keen angler. "You've got an image in your head that he's forever off fishing," she says. "The casket is the very last thing you see of your loved one. It's comforting to know they've gone with their passion."

Make it unmistakably you
Funeral planning isn't just about where you'll end up. It's about how you'll be remembered. Perhaps your first date involved a bunch of flowers you've never forgotten. Maybe you're known for your baking, your gardening, or your obsession with cream buns. If cream buns are your thing, make sure there's a tray of them at the wake. If you couldn't get through a day without a Coke, why not have everyone raise a bottle in your honour? The little details are often the ones people remember most.
Music can be especially powerful. When my mother’s health began to decline, she chose many of the elements of her own service, including the hymns and music. Having "Sweet Caroline" playing over a slideshow of her life became one of the most moving moments of the day. We knew she loved the song, but somehow having her choose it herself made it even more meaningful.

Thinking green
For those wanting a lighter environmental footprint, there are now alternatives to traditional burial and cremation. Options such as water cremation, biodegradable urns and environmentally friendly ash mixtures are becoming increasingly popular for people wanting their final act to give something back to the earth.

Don't forget those who can't attend
One positive change to come out of the Covid years is the rise of livestreamed funerals. Services can now be viewed by friends and family anywhere in the world, and recordings can be watched later when the whirlwind of the day has passed.

What will it cost?
Whether you choose burial or cremation, funerals aren't cheap. A modest funeral can easily cost around $10,000, depending on where you live and the choices you make. If that's a concern, there are options available. Work and Income may be able to help through its funeral grant, ACC provides assistance in some circumstances, and funeral insurance remains popular with people who don't want their family scrambling to cover costs. Or there's the old-fashioned approach: put a little aside each week and let time do the heavy lifting.

Rest in peace
Once you've planned your fabulous farewell party, there's really only one thing left to do: make sure someone knows where you've written it all down. After all, there's not much point designing a fishing casket, selecting the perfect soundtrack and ordering enough cream buns for the entire neighbourhood if nobody knows about it. Then you can rest easy knowing that when the time comes, your family won't be left guessing. They'll be celebrating the wonderfully unique person you were.