SDF Blogs

“What do you need to do to have a funeral?” A funeral is a very personal and in some cases private time for families and friends.  And because all families are unique funerals should reflect that.  Society is slowly moving

The cost of a funeral has made some people wonder how hard could it really be to do it yourself?  Especially if all you want are the absolute basics – no fuss, no stress. There are websites that give you

I remembered a story about a wedding where the couple had sponsors for virtually everything at the ceremony and reception and the wedding didn’t cost them a cent.  I decided to googled sponsored weddings to see if it is a

I was 20 when my dad died. It’s been over 30 years since my dad drowned.  A decision to swim after work on the Gold Coast one day changed everything for our family.  Caught in a rip, he just couldn’t

Five things you don’t need to worry about when planning a funeral. Many people speak of the number of things that happens with a funeral.  During a time when people are often stressed, highly emotional and possibly with their mind

Am I a cowboy? Ask me that question when I was ten years old and I would have said, “I wish.”  Hat, gun, horse – what’s not to like? However we know that a cowboy in business terms isn’t great. 

Planning and paying for your funeral ahead of time is often encouraged by funeral homes and insurance companies.  They have their reasons, which they say are for your benefit – not theirs.  The main benefits are not being a burden

There is in the media again stories about the cost of a funeral.  Often these stories are poorly hidden adverts for the benefit of Life Insurance companies or Funeral Homes.  It is the message that funerals are expensive and the

Seven things that make SDF different from other funeral homes: Our style.  The thing families experience the most is our relaxed style.  It doesn’t mean we are slack; rather, we create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable. It suits our

“What happens to the body after death? Now, I know that this subject may be a little off-putting for some people, but the intention isn’t to shock or upset anyone. This message won’t go into any details, but it will

What happens when the coroner is involved? The first thing to say is that when a death is unexpected the shock can initially be overwhelming.  In an instance your whole world is turned upside-down.  So many questions and uncertainty fills

“Do not let the cost of saying goodbye add to your grief.” When I first began SDF, I wrote this line (above) with a focus on the funeral costs.  Giving families a real cost alternative was something new to Nelson. 

There are those who do not worry about the costs of a funeral.  They want all the optional extras.  This blog is not for them.  There have been a few stories recently about the increase in council fees for cemetery

Well, it’s the season when we see the often-mysterious and shy politicians emerging from the dark places within the Beehive. Most of them squint into the sunlight and follow their leader, nodding their heads at the right time when the

There is nothing quite like death to make us think about life. There are big questions about what life is truly about.  Then there is the other question of if there is anything after death. In New Zealand, the Christian