Affordable Costs
The truth is – funerals aren’t affordable for many people. Costs can quickly rise before you know it.
Even when families specifically want a low-cost funeral, they can be shocked with the final invoice. The costs are deliberately vague and the pressure to do more to better “honour” the person is a common sales ploy.
What about my pricing?
I began my business advertising fixed prices that won’t change – so no surprises. These prices cover everything the family needed for a funeral.
My focus has always been on how best to serve families, rather than how best to make money out of them – especially when they are grieving and vulnerable.
Below are all my costs for a cremation and a burial. Plus all the other costs that may occur. They are clearly shown. There is no other expenses I will try to (or even can) add.
Also, below the costs are some links to WINZ, ACC and Air NZ that may help.
Helping you
I know the pressure financial strain can bring, and that is why I only have low-cost options. Funerals are tough enough.
Remember that you can have a farewell / funeral that is significant and meaningful to you. There are many options that I would be more than happy to discuss with you. A funeral does not need to be expensive to be meaningful
* Low cost funeral companies
Memorial Services
A popular option many families are choosing is to have the cremation soon after death and then a gathering or memorial service at a later date.
Besides definite financial savings, there can be other worthwhile benefits with this option. Click here to read more about Memorial Services.
A Simple Direct Cremation
– $2,415
(includes gst)
- Contact 24/7
- Ensuring the family is cared for and their needs met
- Personally meeting with family to discuss their needs
- Taking care of their loved one until the cremation
- All Transportation
- Completing all legal paperwork and requirements
- Co-ordinating between all agencies
- A Wooden Casket
- Cremation Fee
- A Crematorium Urn
- Personally delivering the urn to family at a time that suits them
- Death Certificate
- Placing newspaper notices as needed
- Professionalism and care
This list covers everything you need for a cremation to take place.
The only additional costs could be for a doctor’s certificate or if a pacemaker needs to be removed.
Private Cremation
with Chapel Service
– $2,995
(includes gst)
Often people choose to have a private cremation service at the crematorium chapel with close friends and family. This is an intimate way for people to say their final farewell.
It can be informal or more structured, led by anyone. I am very happy to help lead a service and assist in anyway you want. This is your time to share stories, listen, remember and grieve.
Although it is called a private cremation, the family can invite whoever they want. The chapel seats 40 comfortably.
Some families have had this service and then had another memorial service or get together some time later. This can give more options for families without the additional expenses. Having lead many services, I am more than happy to discuss various options to consider.
A Simple Burial is only
$2,288
(includes gst)
- 24/7 Personal Support and Care
- Meeting with family to discuss their needs
- Keeping the family informed throughout
- Coordinating with Council and Cemetery
- Graveside Service (if wanted)
- All Transportation
- Completing all legal paperwork and requirements
- A Wooden Casket
- Death Certificate
- Newspaper Placement
- Does not include grave plot purchase or interment*
Once the person is in the coffin I don’t touch the person again. I do not re-dress or embalm the person (but this can be done for additional costs). I do place cooling pads on them until the burial.
This price covers is everything you need for a burial to take place.
*Plot and interment costs aren’t included because sometimes the plot is already purchased and there are different prices between cemeteries. Councils will have these prices available, which won’t have any additional fees from a funeral home.
What extra services are available to me in conjunction with the Simple Direct Cremation and Burial packages?
Doctor’s Certificate $90 – $200
For a cremation a doctor needs to view the person and write a medical certificate. Sometimes there is no cost for this if the death has occurred in the hospital for instance. In the past the GP has had to send out an invoice directly to the family. However this cost might be added to the invoice on their behalf. This price does vary with different doctors and medical centres.
Keeping a loved one at home – upto $250
You may wish to keep your loved one at home before the cremation or burial. This is no problem at all, and I am happy to cater to needs and wishes. It is generally possible to keep your loved one at home for 1 or 2 nights. The details of this can be discussed at the time. As there is some logistics to this, the price for this is up to $250.00. Please contact me to discuss your wishes.
Pacemakers removal $150
It is critical to remove pacemakers prior to cremation. If a doctor has not removed a pacemaker, I need to employ a qualified person for the procedure prior to cremation.
Viewing at Talbot Street – no charge
I don’t usually have viewings after collecting the person. However I do not stop family from seeing their loved one at my place if they wish. This is usually done if they didn’t have a chance to see them beforehand or it helps them process the death. The room I use is for holding the person until the cremation not viewing as such. So if families are well aware of this I am more than happy to accommodate them. There is no charge for this.
Newspaper notices
I do not charge for placing any newspaper notices. I simply pass on the cost the newspaper charges for the notices. This cost varies depending on the newspaper and the length of the notices.
Urns – $200-$300
We have a small range of urns available for sale. All of the urns locally crafted and made from recycled native timber or untreated plywood. There are many different types and they are all unique pieces that also has a local artist’s professional touch by Kath. The price includes a plaque.
Long distance travel
Mileage costs may need to be added if the travel distance is more than 35km from Nelson / Tasman. This will be discussed with you at the time. I do not charge travel to Motueka.
There are NO ADDITIONAL CHARGES for calls after-hours,
on the weekends or on public holidays.
Family run funeral services
Are you thinking about doing the funeral yourself?
On special occasions I can assist families who wish to do most of the funeral themself. In the past funeral homes have not encourage this as it is business they don’t get. However I believe that if this is what families truly want I will help.
However what you quickly realise is that even a simple funeral has a degree of complication. This is mainly because people don’t organise funerals often. Even knowing where to start can be difficult.
There is the logistics of collecting, transporting and keeping the body until the funeral. But people have done this. So I would help with some of the “behind scenes” aspects, including the paperwork.
The concept is that the family looks after the person and transporting the person. They would contact crematorium to book cremation or council for a burial.
I can help them with the paperwork, provide a coffin (if needed) and organise the Death Certificate. This is very hands on for them and hands off for me. The price for this depends on each family. The cost would be between $500 to $1500.
This service ensures that all legalities are covered and helping with the process. The family would visit my office in Richmond to organise and complete all the funeral preparations they need. Also I am there as a backup if needed.
This is definitely not for everyone and the best thing to do would be to have a chat with me first.
Funeral Grants
WINZ Funeral Grant
You may be eligible for assistance from WINZ to cover funeral costs. This is usually for people who are on a government benefit. You can apply for the grant by contacting WINZ directly. A WINZ grant can cover a huge percentage of our Direct Cremation costs.
Click here for the WINZ website.
ACC Funeral Grant
ACC can help towards the costs of the burial or cremation and related ceremonies due to an accidental death. This funeral grant can be paid for both New Zealanders and overseas visitors to New Zealand.
Click here for ACC Funeral Grant
If finances are still a concern for you please do contact me as I can discuss payment options that may help. My aim is to help people through this difficult time – not just with great service, but understanding financial pressures also.
Compassionate Fares
Air New Zealand offers compassionate fares for unexpected deaths. It is definitely worth looking into if you want to lessen costs if you are flying in.
Pre Planning
Pre planning funerals is an option that I offer. The difference I have is that my services are very straight forward for families to deal with. Unlike other funeral homes there is not a long list of the paperwork needed to be filled out.
I often have people phone me very confused about the funeral process and what they need to do. After a few minutes of chatting the person has a clear understanding of how I run my services. They often comment on how much at ease they feel knowing it wasn’t a daunting as they thought.
Often the cremation is a small family event, but we have had large services as well. Many families chose to have a bigger celebration of life or get together a week or so after the cremation.
Our aim is to help families work through this difficult time with care and support.
Pre Paying
I have been asked about pre-paying funerals. I do not provide this service. However I suggest that if families wish to put money aside, they simply create a new bank account and put money into that.
One of the real advantages of this is that it gives family complete control over their money and if their circumstances change and they want to go with another funeral company that can be done with no problems or additional cancelation costs at all.
There is a lot written about the unnecessary need to do this and the pit falls people fall in to. So do your research first.
Sometimes people have had unpleasant surprises when their pre-paid funeral ended up costing more than they thought or the type of funeral wasn’t what they thought.
With SDF you know exactly what you get and how much it will cost.