Last updated 5 months ago
Given the fact that funerals in Australia can cost upwards of $5000, it makes a lot of sense to consider pre-paying your funeral. There are a few things that it is necessary to consider though, before moving forward, check to see if you already have funeral cover.
If you have life insurance, your insurer will pay a benefit sum to your dependants. This could cover the cost of your funeral already. The process of reimbursement may be lengthy process, so your family may be asked to pay for your funeral service. Then once probate has been granted, your insurer will pay the benefit.
You may also be entitled to benefits from other sources such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, Centerlink, or your trade union.
Funeral Bonds
Funeral Bonds are a tax free method of setting aside funds that can be released upon your death. Most of the time, money set aside for these, or pre-paid funerals are exempt from the asset or income test for aged pensioners.
Pre-Paid Funeral Benefits
This scenario gives you the opportunity to choose the funeral you would like. There are typically two ways for you to pay for your funeral; either in full or by instalments. In some states, it is necessary to have your pre-paid funeral registered also. Each state has a Fair Trading Office that would be more than happy to assist you with any enquiries regarding this.
The Cosmopolitan Funeral Services Family
When we care for you, you are more than just a client; you become part of our family. We are proud to offer you Pre-Paid funeral services. We can assist you with all of your funeral arrangement requirements. For information on arranging your funeral, please call (02) 8999 8479. To receive your FREE Personal affairs wallet, please visit our website.
Last updated 6 months ago
A Personal Affairs Wallet has been developed by Cosmopolitan Funeral Services to assist you in planning ahead with your funeral arrangements.
We understand that the passing of a loved family member or friend is a very difficult time for those who are left to cope with the loss. The wallet sets out the information required to plan, prepare and carry out a funeral. It details the process and answers some commonly asked questions.
Our services are available at any time, day or night- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our premises include chapels, comprehensive mortuary facilities and showrooms, a wide range of coffins, and the latest model vehicles.
We explain what a funeral means, and offer advice on coping with the loss of a loved one.
One of the things we pride ourselves on is the ability to pre-pay your funeral. The Personal Affairs wallet talks you through fees, and the benefits of a pre-paid funeral plan.
There are a myriad of choices to be made when arranging a funeral. Some of which may be obvious, like whether to be buried or cremated. We also mention some things that you may not have considered, like if you will be providing catering for the attendees.
Cosmopolitan Funeral Services firmly believe, a funeral is a tribute to a life lived. When we care for you, you are more than just a client; you become part of our family.
To obtain a FREE copy of our Personal Affairs Wallet and take advantage of our pre-paid funeral service, please visit our website or call (02) 8999 8479. Our staff are privileged to serve you and will tailor a funeral to meet your specific needs.
Last updated 6 months ago
Funeral traditions in different countries
Death is a universal fact of life wherever you are in the world, so it's no surprise that the tradition of funerals for the deceased is a common practice in many disparate cultures. What may be more surprising is the huge diversity of these traditions.
Common funeral traditions
In multicultural societies, it's important to respect the traditions and customs of people from different backgrounds, and this is made easier as many common funeral practices tend to be roughly similar in nature.
Many funeral traditions celebrate the deceased person's life with testimonials and eulogies given by family members and close friends, while the body itself will typically be buried or cremated, depending on spiritual and cultural beliefs.
It's also typical for people of similar cultures or faiths to wish for their remains to be interred among those of people of similar beliefs, which is why many cities in multicultural nations feature a wide variety of cemeteries.
Atypical funeral traditions
When funeral rites differ greatly from these common practices, the results can sometimes prove shocking or fascinating for people with no prior experience of these cultural idiosyncrasies.
Some of the more unusual funeral rites observed around the world include the Ancient Egyptian practice of mummification and entombment, the Indonesian custom on the island of Sulawesi of burying deceased infants in the trunks of trees and the contemporary custom among women of the Gimi tribe in New Guinea to eat the flesh of deceased males.
Funeral directors in Sydney
Cosmopolitan Funerals arranges all aspects of funeral services in New South Wales, including pre paid funerals, repatriation and interstate or international repatriation. Call 02 8999 8479 for more information about cremations, burials and funeral services for the greater Sydney area.
Last updated 6 months ago
Hearses were originally horse-drawn, but silent electric motorised carts were introduced as horses began to be phased out as transportation. According to the Scientific American (May 1907)petrol-driven hearses began to be produced from 1909 in the United States. Then, motorised hearses became more widely accepted in the 1920s. The vast majority of hearses since then have been based on larger, more powerful car chassis, generally retaining the front end, but with custom bodywork to the rear to house the coffin. Some early hearses also doubled as ambulances, owing to the large cargo capacity in the rear of the vehicle.
In North America & Europe, two styles of hearse bodywork are common. The older style is the limousine style; these have narrow pillars and lots of glass. These are more popular in the United Kingdom, among others. More popular in the United States is the landau style, with a heavily-padded leather or (later) vinyl roof, and long blind rear quarters, similarly covered, and decorated with large metal S-shaped bars designed to resemble those used to lower the tops on some horse-drawn coaches. It is common practice in the USA for the windows to be curtained, while in the UK the windows are normally left unobscured
Cosmopolitan Funerals has a large variety of Funeral Hearses and ambulances to accommodate your needs. For more information or to obtain a pre-paid funeral quote, please visit our website or call us on (02) 8999 8479.
Last updated 6 months ago
Funeral services have been significant traditions in many cultures throughout history, but the nature of funeral practices and traditions has changed substantially over time.
Origins Of Funeral Customs
It's impossible to determine when funeral traditions began, with these practices likely being as old as civilisation itself. Anthropologists and historians have identified several common aspects present in the funeral traditions of every culture, including the practice of holding a ceremony or ritual, interment of remains in places believed sacred and the creation of memorials for the deceased.
Some of the earliest burial grounds thus far excavated include those of a Neanderthal male (c. 60,000 BCE) buried with animal antlers and flowers, and a similar burial site excavated in what is now Iraq, in which pollen from plants was found among the remains.
Many thousands of years later, the Ancient Egyptians developed the act and practice of embalming corpses, and the Ancient Chinese began the practice of ancestor worship.
Modern Funeral Rites
Although many modern funeral practices are now widely practiced and followed, that doesn't mean funeral customs are set in stone. Indeed, studies in countries such as the United Kingdom and America have revealed changing habits in ceremonies and practices.
This includes the opening of 'green' cemeteries, which offer a more natural and environmentally conscious method of disposing of remains, utilising biodegradable caskets or other materials, and without the use of embalming fluids.
Funeral Homes In Sydney
Whatever type of funeral you desire, Cosmopolitan Funerals arranges services and other aspects of funeral planning in New South Wales. Call 02 8999 8479 for more details about burials, cremations and funerals for multiple religions in Sydney.
