I am Cate Brockbank your Funeral Arranger, Funeral Director and Celebrant from Freshwater Funerals.

If someone you know is close to the end of their life or has died - I will be available to support you in preparing a funeral that makes you feel like your person has truly been recognised. 

A funeral is an occasion that gives families and friends time and space to grieve a loss in their lives. 

Even when a death is expected due to a long illness, nothing prepares us for the day they will no longer be around. 

Grief can be audible and heart-wrenching or it can be a peaceful relief that the person is now at rest.

However that grieve and loss when it is so new and fresh is different from one person to another. 

As a funeral arranger, I will do everything I can to make this process as easy as possible for you and the family and friends. 

My core value is to CARE

Show Compassion for your loss
Pay Attention to detail of how you would like me to arrange the funeral
Respect your wishes and the wishes of your family and the wishes of the deceased if they have left any specific requests. 
I am Empathetic by nature and will support you at this time of sadness. 

Guiding you through the steps can be a healing experience and creating a beautiful ceremony for your loved one is both an honour and a gratitude that you would ask me to help you.

MAKING DEATH AFFORDABLE 

I charge a Directors fee depending on what you need without a Service Fee.

If your pockets are not deep but you still want a beautiful service and ceremony. I can do this for you.

Ways to Save but still give your loved one a beautiful send-off:

As your Funeral Director I will give you options.

Many of my funerals have included family members taking a role in preparing for the funeral. 
For example:
      A nephew who is a graphic designer to design the order of Service Brochure
    A Granddaughter who is a florist to create the flower arrangements for the coffin and venue.
    A husband who can use Canva or similar to create the picture tribute. 
    A musician friend to play at the funeral   
    You can even prepare in advance someone in the family who is a carpenter to create a coffin or an Urn
     Friends to bring food platters for the Wake
Many people feel it is a privilege to be asked to help with arranging the funeral and often the cost are reduced because of these special people.

I you wish me to do everything, I have professional companies who will do a beautiful job of creating flowers, order of service, music and picture tribute.

I will only charge you my Funeral Director Fee - $1500
The combined price for FD and Celebrant - $1950
Celebrant only Price - $980 Includes the cost of the BDM death certificate valued at $67.
Creating your Order of Service & Hero Photo - $245 + the cost of printing depends on number ordered 
Creating your Photo Video _ music separate - $345

All other costs are additional and charged at the rate that the professional companies charge. I do not charge a service fee or add a commission to any of the following Services:

Mortuary
Transport Arrangements
Coffin
Urn
Crematorium & Cremation or Burial
Hearse with Driver
Staff on day
Venue for the Ceremony - This could be outdoors, in a Chapel at a Crematorium, at a Surf Life Saving Club or any venue that they loved to attend. 
Flowers and Decorations - I can assist with this if required
Catering & Venue for the Wake / Celebration of Life Gathering
Ashes to Fireworks Display and council approval costs
Streaming of the Funeral for those who could not be there

Before Death:

I will come to your home to talk to you about your options.
Your special person may want to be involved in this conversation if they are close to death.
It is their end of life we are arranging and often they have wishes that want to be included in their funeral.

After Death:

First call me to arrange for the deceased to be transported to a mortuary who will take your person into their care. this can be prepared prior to a death. 

We can now arrange a meeting at your home to discuss exactly what you would like to happen for your loved one. 

Things you may wish to think about early on:

  What music suits your person
  Photographic memories and video memories
  Which photos for the Order of Service and the
  Your favourite photo for your A3 or A2 Hero Photo to put in a frame on a stand
  Who would you like to invite - do they have a contact list
  Do you wish to have a newspaper notice or a social media notice
  Design of the Order of Service - I have lots of options you may wish to look at. 
  Photographs in video put together with music
  Flowers or Living Plants as decoration
  What special memorabilia you would like on the Memorial Table
  What would your loved-one like us to wear to celebrate their life - Colourful, Black with a touch of colour, Everyone in a specific colour. 
   A drink they may like to share. We can arrange little tasting cups to drink in celebration of their life. 

Options Below:

1. Cremation only with No Service and No Attendance
2. Cremation with a Service at a convenient time & place with the Ashes present 
3. Cremation with a Service at a convenient time and place where the Ashes are scattered, planted or sent skyward in fireworks.
4. Service at a Special Venue followed by a Cremation
5. Service at a Crematorium followed by a Cremation or a Burial

I have put some ideas below to give you ideas:

1. Cremation only with No Service and No Attendance

The cost of the transfer of your loved-one from their death bed to the Mortuary,
There is minimal cost for mortuary to prepare your deceased person for Cremation,
The cost of the Cremation - depends on the crematorium.
Arrangement Costs which include all paperwork, doctors certificates & BDM Death Certificate
I will deliver your loved-ones ashes to your home.  
    Additional costs may include:
Extra nights at the Mortuary,
Preparation and a vigil with a viewing at the mortuary, 
A Special Urn for the scattering ashes

Advantages: A direct cremation is your cheapest option and allows as long as you need to prepare for the Celebration of Life of your loved-one.
No time constraints to arranging the celebration of life, funeral or wake.
Disadvantages: a direct cremation means there will be no service directly after the death of your loved-one However my may chose to have a vigil at the mortuary before the cremation occurs.
Family sometimes feel they have not had a chance to say goodbye if they were not at the patient's bedside at the  time of death. 

2. Cremation first with a Service at a convenient time & place with the Ashes present and a Memorial Table
 
Following the cremation, and after an in-depth discussion with the family, we will put all necessary arrangements in place at a venue that suits the family at a time that suits the family. 

The Arrangement:
Helping you choose the venue
Deciding on what flowers you would like and the preparation of the table with the Ashes in a lovely container 
Offering suggestions for containers or urns
Helping you choose a video streaming company, photographer or videographer
The Celebrant Services to oversee the Ceremony and Eulogies
Order of Service brochures
Photo Video of the life of your loved-one
Catering can be arranged by a company of choice for the Wake

3. Cremation first with a funeral service at a convenient time and place where the ashes are scattered, planted or sent skyward in fireworks.

After an in-depth discussion with the family, we will put all necessary arrangements in place at a venue that suits the family at a time that suits the family. 
   
The Arrangement:
 
Helping you chose the Venue - Indoors or Outdoors
Offering ideas for how and were to scatter the ashes, a paddle-out, from a boat, a bio-urn, a tree planted somewhere special or sending you loved one off in a flash of fireworks. (Ashes to Ashes)
Deciding on what Flowers you would like and the preparation of the table with the Ashes in a lovely container 
Offering suggestions for containers or urns
The Celebrant to oversee the Ceremony and Eulogies with a battery operated sound system
Helping you choose a video streaming company, photographer or videographer
Order of Service brochures
Photo Video of the life of your loved-one
Catering can be arranged by a company of choice for the Wake
Your celebrant will help guide your in creating a beautiful ceremony to honour the legacy of your loved-one

4. Service at a Special Venue followed by a Cremation

The Arrangement:

The cost of transferring the deceased body to the mortuary
Mortuary Services - Preparation of the deceased with a family viewing or a closed coffin.
Number of days stay at the mortuary while the family prepare for the funeral
The medical cause of death certificates and cremation certificates required by law
Viewing of your loved one's body prior to cremation can be at the Mortuary or at the Crematorium Cremation & BDM Death certificate 
I will book the Crematorium for the cremation to take place after the Service.
The Service can be at the crematorium chapel or a home or a club or venue or an outdoor area, this is your choice.

We will help you chose a coffin or casket you would like to have present at the service.
Flowers for the coffin and venue
You will need a hearse to take the coffin to the crematorium unless the funeral is at the crematorium. 
Pall Barers can be family members or hiring of staff to carry the coffin in and out. 
Your Celebrant will oversee the Ceremony and Eulogies & farewell your loved one.
           I will write the script to depict the legacy of your loved one.
           I will ensure the service runs on time and I will support your through giving your eulogy. 
Video streaming by for family and friends who cannot make the funeral - Arranged by myself.
Choose a photographer or videographer if you feel this is necessary
A pictorial tribute with music and holding slides
     The Family will need to send them the pictures on "We Transfer" or a USB or MP3 or MP4.  
Order of Service brochures - done by a designer and printing company
Catering for the Wake - is usually available from the venue or can be hired in. 

5. Service at a Crematorium followed by a Cremation or a Burial

The Arrangement:
I would arrange this service which will include 
The cost of transferring the deceased body to the mortuary
Mortuary Services -
Preparation of the deceased - Basic preparation or embalming 
Days stay at the mortuary and medical cause of death certificates required by law
Viewing of your loved one's body prior to cremation or burial can be at the mortuary or at the Crematorium
Cremation & BDM Death certificate

As your Funeral Director 
I will book the Crematorium 
Help you choose a coffin or casket you would like to have present at the service, or a simple cremation casket..
Flowers for the coffin and venue
You may or may not need a hearse.
Assist with helping you create and print the 'Order of Service'
Assist with helping you create a beautiful photographic video with music

I can be your Celebrant and oversee the Ceremony and Eulogies & farewell your loved one.
I will write the script to depict their legacy to keep their memory for years to come.
I will ensure the service runs on time 
I liaise with the crematorium staff or arrange staff on the day to ensure the smooth running of the Celebration of Life

Video streaming is arranged by the crematorium, one camera angle only
Alternatively a professional Streaming company will give you a very beautiful service filmed from different directions.
- They will give you a link to send to friends and you will have access to the link for a few months after the ceremony.
Choose a photographer or videographer 
A pictorial tribute with music and holding slides - Perhaps you know someone who would take on this important role. You will need to send them the pictures on "We Transfer" or a USB or MP3 or MP4.
Details will be sent to you as to how to upload the photos to create the photo video. 

Order of Service brochures - can be done by a designer or a family member who is good with graphic design and printing company.

Catering for the Wake - is usually available on-site if you choose this option. 
You may choose a location that has catering or get outside catering brought in.