Burial or Cremation

Often the deceased has made their wishes known, but if not then it is up to the family to choose. Whatever your choice, Pellows Funeral Directors will be able to take care of the arrangements for you.

In New Zealand, there are four options available: burial, cremation, burial at sea or donating a body to medical science.

Burial

In the past, this was the most common choice and is still favoured by many. It provides a family with a focal point, a grave to go to where they remember their loved one. Burial involves buying a burial plot, paying an interment fee, which covers the cost of the grave and maintaining it. Purchasing a memorial or headstone is a separate cost. In most cases, the places people can be buried are limited by law to official cemeteries or traditional burial grounds.

Cremation

Cremation provides greater flexibility when choosing a final resting place because there are few restrictions on specific places of burial. Ashes can be buried in a cemetery or special memorial area, or they can be scattered somewhere the family or deceased thought appropriate, such as in a garden, at sea, or in a favourite place. Some people split the ashes between different places. A memorial or plaque is often chosen to provide the focal point for the family.

The process of cremation involves placing the body within the casket into a cremator and the cremation process takes approximately two hours. The ashes are removed from the cremator and placed in a container measuring approximately 26cm long and 15 cm deep. Ashes are normally returned to our premises and family collect them by arrangement. We have a range of attractive urns available.

Medical Science Donation

If there is interest in the option of organ donation or leaving the body to medical science, arrangements need to be made prior to death and we can provide information about this.

For more information or advice please click here or phone Pellows Funeral Directors
on (07) 856 5129.