Attending a burial
Burial services differ based on the personal and religious beliefs of the deceased, their family, and the communities they belong to. If there is a ceremony, it may be led by a celebrant, a funeral director, a religious official, or a family member.
Sometimes a formal funeral service is conducted in a church, chapel or other venue prior to the burial. In this case the family and friends will often follow the hearse to the cemetery or memorial park, and will be escorted or directed to the graveside by cemetery staff.
If you are meeting family and friends at the cemetery for a burial service, make sure you allow time to find the location of the service. Maps of our cemeteries and memorial parks are available for each location.
Families may request the burial is conducted in private, in which case mourners are not invited to be present at the time the coffin or casket is committed.
After the service, families and friends may choose to gather at an on-site function venue at the cemetery or memorial park, or at a nearby venue, to remember the deceased together.
Attending a cremation service
Cremation services come in many forms depending on the beliefs of the deceased, their family, and the communities they belong to.
Some cremations are conducted in private, with no service. Others are conducted in private with the funeral service held elsewhere. Often the funeral service is conducted in a chapel adjoining the crematorium and, following the service, the coffin or casket is committed for cremation. If there is a formal ceremony, it may be led by a celebrant, a funeral director, a religious official, or a family member.
In some cultures it is important for close family members to witness the cremation, and this can be arranged via your funeral director.
Our crematoria and chapels are located at Altona Memorial Park, Fawkner Memorial Park and Lilydale Memorial Park.
After the service, families and friends may choose to gather at an on-site function venue at the cemetery or memorial park, or at a nearby venue, to remember the deceased together.