Caring for Your Loved One
When someone you love passes away, contact Australian Heritage Funerals so that we may accept the person into our care. We provide a twenty-four hour service every day and do not charge "after hours" fees.
You can be totally assured that we will be looking after your loved one with the utmost sensitivity and dignity and will always conduct ourselves in a quiet and professional manner. At all times we will treat your loved one in the same respectful way that we would want one of our own family treated.
Throughout the preparation process, it is important that the person who has passed away retains their dignity. We will prepare them for the funeral, washing and dressing them carefully. If special mortuary care such as embalming is considered necessary we will always ask the family for their permission.
It is very useful if you can supply us with a recent photograph as it is important that the person who has died looks like his or herself. This helps us to present the person in a way that is natural.
Individual care of the person can begin by giving us the person's makeup, perfume, aftershave or nail polish which we can use during the preparation. You may also wish to give us items such as dentures, glasses and jewellery if these were worn.
Our caring staff normally prepare the person and will carry out your wishes. However, occasionally a family member may ask to be involved in styling their hair, applying makeup or dressing them. If you have a special request, please do not hesitate to discuss this with us so that we can advise you.
We need to know how you would like your loved one dressed. You may decide that you would like the person dressed in their own clothes, maybe a favourite outfit or something they felt comfortable in. Alternatively, we have a selection of gowns called shrouds to choose from.
We will need the person's clothes as soon as possible. When selecting the clothes to be worn, please remember items such as underwear and footwear. However, the choice of clothing is very much a personal decision.
Jewellery is another area that needs careful consideration. Please tell us if you would like jewellery worn at the time of death, such as wedding rings, returned to you. Or you may wish the person who has passed away to wear some item of jewellery.
You can be assured that your loved one that you have entrusted to us will be treated with dignity and respect at all times.
