Funeral directors must, therefore, play a dual role. They have a duty to serve people at a most difficult time in their lives, while at the same time they must run a profitable business.

However, bereavement counsellors agree that the funeral service has a therapeutic value in assisting the bereaved family's readjustment after a death, but they emphasise the importance of ritual in this process. By ritual, they mean the personal ritual of people coming together and saying something - not the ritual of expensive equipment (hearse, mourners' cars, chapels, coffins).

Contents of the book include:

• Procedure when a person dies
• Obtaining a Death Certificate
• Role of the Coroner
• Role of Executor
• Role of Police
• Role of Funeral Director
• Basic Funeral
• Documents for Burial and cremation
• Memorialisation
• Non-religious Funerals
• Shipping of 'human remains' to Overseas Countries
• The Cost
• Children's Funeral Costs
• When is the Coroner Involved?
• Inquest
• Destitute Funeral
  - Definition
  - Procedure for Cremation and Burial
  - Responsibility of Contractor
  - Participation by Relatives and Friends
• Funeral for a Stillborn Baby
  - Definition
  - Cost
  - Destitute Burial
• Financial Assistance
• Funeral Funds
  

"....This is a great little booklet that should be on the shelf in every health professional office..." (Mal)

We will include more of the content over time but if you want a copy now they are available from:
Social Work Department
Liverpool Hospital
P.O. Box 103
Liverpool NSW 2170

<-----Back to Books