Non Religious Funerals

Non religious funerals are very common, even amongst those who have a religious background. Non religious funerals can be held in many places, such as cemetery based chapels, reception centres, community halls, concert halls, and even parks, however, we always recommend for non religious funerals to be held in one of the cemetery based chapels, because they are correctly set up with ample parking and wake facilities. Some non religious funerals are also held by the graveside if a burial is the type of committal service that is selected. Non religious funerals usually consist of the following:

Viewing The Deceased: This is the final opportunity for the family members, relatives and friends to view the deceased. Viewings can be held in the chapel provided by the funeral director on a separate day before the funeral, or on the same day as the funeral, or even at the same place as the funeral, such as a cemetery based chapel. Viewing a deceased can be difficult for many, especially for those who are related to the deceased, and families that request viewings usually make the decision to view their loved one for their own peace of mind, and to assist them with the grieving process, whilst to give the opportunity to relatives and friends to also view the deceased.

The Funeral Service: This is the main part of a non religious funeral service, which is usually led by a Civil Celebrant. During most non religious funerals, the Celebrant will say a few humanist funeral readings and will also talk about the achievements and battles that the deceased has endured during his or her life, followed by a eulogy that is usually read by a family member. Non religious funeral songs and tributes such as humanist poems for funerals, family stories and photo presentations are also presented during the funeral service.

The Committal Service: This is the final part of any funeral which could be either a cremation or burial service, however, a basic cremation service is usually the preferred option for families that are looking for an affordable alternative. Families who request to have their loved one’s buried usually request to have a committal service at the graveside following the funeral. The committal service will usually be led by the same Civil Celebrant that led the funeral. The Civil Celebrant will say some burial service readings before the coffin or casket is lowered into the grave.

The Wake: Many families choose the option of having a wake so that the relatives and friends are given the opportunity to catch with one another. Wakes can be held in many different places, and usually, the menus that are supplied are determined by the time of the wake.