Arranging a Funeral

At the time of bereavement in your family it is important to contact the Funeral Director of your choice as soon as you feel ready to do so. If the death has occurred at home you may contact the Doctor first, if in a Hospital or Resthome contact your Funeral Director and they will liaise with the necessary people and arrange to transfer your loved one into their care.

We would normally meet with the family in their home or at the Richmond Funeral Home to arrange the funeral.

Funerals are arranged and directed anywhere a family wish, whether it be in their local Church (of any denomination), clubrooms, home, garden, town or country, or from our Chapel at the Richmond Funeral Home, Richmond Road, Carterton

Arranging Venue and a Person to officiate: We will discuss with the family their requirements and will make the necessary arrangements with regard to the service venue, wherever it may be and will arrange the clergy of your choice or suitable person to take the service.

After Funeral Catering: The Richmond Lounge is available for after funeral catering or we can arrange a venue and catering requirements to meet individual family wishes wherever ie. Church Hall, local Club or RSA, local conference facility etc.

Cemetery or Crematorium requirements: We will take care of all cemetery or crematorium arrangements after offering families the various options available to them.  In the case of Burial, families may need to consider; which cemetery, plot requirements and whether they wish for provision to be made for further burial(s).

Casket Flowers: Casket flowers can be arranged on your behalf, from a florist of your choice.

Hymn Sheets: We can provide service sheets to record the hymns and order of service when required. Coloured photos for the front are now a popular choice.

Photo Tributes: We are able to prepare a photo tribute for playing at a reflection time in the service.  The Richmond Chapel has the facilities to present a photo tribute, however some other venues do not and in this case we are able to hire the equipment required.   These tributes take time to prepare and it is important that you discuss with your funeral director early on in the arrangements if you require this.

Taping of the Service: We can arrange for an audio recording of the service to be made for you on request.
A video recording is also possible.  It is important that the request for a video recording is made in plenty of time so this can be arranged.

Tribute Cards: We can supply a tribute card on request, for those attending the service to sign.  These will form part of a Memorial Album presented to the family later and will give the family a record of those who attended the service.

Alternative Ceremonies: For those families who request an alternative ceremony we can arrange for a celebrant or suitable person to meet the family’s individual needs.

Burials: For Burials we can arrange for an existing family plot to be prepared or can arrange for a new plot to be purchased to meet the requirements of the family in a cemetery of their choice.

Cremation:  The Clareville Crematorium situated at the Clareville Cemetery is a cremation facility owned and operated by the Richmond Funeral Home.

Certified Death Certificate: We will take care of all the legal requirements and obtain a certified copy of the Death certificate from the registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages for the family or solicitor handling the estate. This is normally available within 7 days of the funeral.

After Cremation: There are many options available to families when deciding on the placement of a loved ones cremated remains.  Our staff will discuss the options available with families and assist them with their choice. Family attendance at the placement of the ashes is also an option, and is often encouraged nowadays.
A variety of urns to place a loved ones cremated remains in are available on request.

Cremations or Burials Arranged: We can arrange for a Burial or Cremation anywhere in New Zealand.

Transportation and shipment: We are able to arrange for the repatriation of persons to other centres in New Zealand and overseas.

Newspaper Notices: Our Staff will assist with compiling an appropriate notice for the paper and will place the notice in any local, national or international newspaper you choose.

Suggestions of how a newspaper notice could be set out: