SDF Blogs

IntroductionIs embalming essential? What actually happens? FirstSD Funerals does not offer embalming. It is not something we are considering, and for the hundreds of funerals

IntroductionThe feedback I receive from families is incredibly important to us. The vast majority is very positive, and I certainly take into account anything I

One of the Greatest Fears… IntroductionThere are things in life we would prefer to avoid. Needing to go to the dentist, watching what we eat,

IntroductionFunerals can be difficult times. High emotions, dealing with change and loss, as well as grappling with things you don’t usually confront. We often see

The word “cheap” doesn’t always carry a positive connotation. It is often associated with being “nasty.” Of course, finding a sale where the price is

Here are the most googled questions asked about funerals. Is embalming necessary?No.  Ninety-nine percent of the funerals I’ve conducted have been without embalming. How much

Introduction When considering a funeral home, can you change your mind? Arranging a funeral can feel overwhelming, not least because it involves the loss of

Introduction There is nothing quite like Christmas time. In New Zealand, the weather is warmer, but it will probably still rain on Christmas Day. Everyone

Understanding what isn’t necessary when arranging a funeral can ease the burden. Here are 10 Things to consider. IntroductionMost of us have attended a funeral.

2024 – The Year That Was On a personal level, this year started out much better than previous years.  Newly married meant many improvements –

IntroductionMost people know that funerals can be extremely expensive. And like many things today, these costs keep rising. A funeral can be an important rite

Introduction  The cost of living has been on a steep rise longer than we care to remember.  The necessities of life are now priced at the

IntroductionArranging even the simplest funeral has a degree of stress for families.  So there is no avoiding the stress.  But there are ways to ensure

Introduction Dying young is one of the greatest dilemmas and heartbreaks in life. A person with their whole life before them comes to a sudden

IntroductionLast week, I spoke about an email I received concerning Funeral Homes offering their places as a location for people choosing to legally end their

IntroductionI want to make it clear that I am unsure if this is true. However, it is reportedly happening overseas. I received an email over

Personal Memorials Over the past few weeks we’ve been able to design and create some very personal urns for families.  This week our family didn’t

IntroductionWhat happens when a person is taken to the crematorium?  Well… we kinda know what happens…. kinda. It’s one of those things in life people

Why would families choose SDF? IntroductionWhy is it that people continue to choose and recommend SDF?  We’re small, very basic, limited services, no flash buildings

The Cost of Dying  IntroductionAs with everything today, the cost of dying is also increasing.  That final journey can be tough on those left behind

Low-Cost Funerals Is there such a thing? IntroYou may not have noticed that today many funeral homes now promote affordable and straightforward funeral options.  It

Five Things That Makes Us Different From Other Funeral Homes? Not Better / Not Worse – Different The Last One in our series #5 5-Star

Five Things That Make Us Different From Other Funeral Homes Not Better / Not Worse – Different #4 Dignity Without Expense /Competent and Caring Yes,

Five Things That Make Us Different From Other Funeral Homes Not Better / Not Worse – Different #3 Easiest Arrangements The BackgroundThe second thing, besides

Five Things That Makes Us Different From Other Funeral Homes Not Better / Not Worse – Different #2  We Only Have Low Prices The BackgroundFrom

Five Things That Makes Us Different From Other Funeral Homes? Not Better / Not Worse – Different The first thing to say is that this

Pre-Paying Funerals is it worthwhile? There are times when people ask me about pre-paying for a funeral – usually their own.  The main reasons are

What Happens When You Phone a Funeral Home? Phoning a funeral home is not a common activity for most people.  For most people they may

The Changing Face of Funerals Almost every week, people talk to me about the kind of funeral they would like to have.  It is one

I haven’t watch TV news all year and guess what….. Something changed with TV news.  I remember Dougal Stevenson, Richard Long, Philip Sherry, Judy Bailey

DIY Funerals – What you need to know. Please do not read this if you are sensitive about this subject.  There may be comments or

What happens to a body after it dies?  This isn’t so much about the spiritual after life beliefs people have.  It is a very simple

A short SDF series onWhat do you do when…. 5. Family Members Don’t Get On?   How to survive family relationships when dealing with death.

A short SDF series onWhat do you do when….  4. when you need to organise a funeral?  So someone has died and you are the

A short SDF series #3  What do you do when….  when you want a funeral without the huge expense?  There are many options for families

A short SDF series on What do you do when…. 2. when you are facing death? Seven steps to help you when are facing death.

A short SDF series on What do you do when…. 1.  What do you do when you feel you just can’t cope.   Understanding the emotions

How Involved Should You Get Helping With Your Loved One Who Just Died? That title ↑ seemed to go on forever.  Hopefully what follows explains

The other day, a person came to discuss funeral options. After an unpleasant experience last year when her brother passed away, she didn’t want to

Do you have to do everything a person requests for their funeral?   Sometimes when a person dies, they have a list of everything they

20 things Funeral Homesdon’t want you to know 15 things was a very popular post.  So it is well worth taking another look and even

What exactly is a Direct Cremations? The Direct Cremation has become a more popular option over the years.  For some it is simply a financial

Overcoming the Fear of Funerals The other day, I was arranging a funeral with a family for their husband, father, and grandfather. Like many families,

I reserve the right to do more – without increasing costs  One of the best things about being your own boss is being able to

Caring for the Decease It is important that families feel confident leaving their loved one in my care.  On my website there is a page

Choosing the right Funeral Home – for you Organising a funeral isn’t something people do on a regular basis.  So it’s little wonder that you