Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when a loved one dies? What is the funeral process? This is our most often-asked question. Let’s assist you with the answers below…

What should I do when a family member has died?

Depending on how or where they died, there are a few processes that will need to be followed. If you are unsure at any time, please contact our Funeral Director and we’ll do our best to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

A Funeral Director will guide you through the various decisions that need to be made about the funeral and any other issues related to the death. It’s important that you feel comfortable with and trust the Funeral Director that you choose. Just Funerals are professional, reliable and dependable.

When a family or friend notifies us about a death, we will usually ask for the following information; The name, phone number and contact details of the person phoning us or the person who will be our main contact throughout the funeral process.  We will also ask about the deceased, their name, where they are, their address etc.

At the Funeral Arrangement we will also ask for information so that we are able to register and order a death certificate. If families can have the deceased parents and marriage details this will be helpful, but this is not all need at the arrangement.

In the case of a sudden or unexpected death, an accidental death or if a doctor is unavailable, a coroner will be called in to establish cause of death. Usually a post mortem or autopsy will take place where the deceased’s body is examined by a pathologist. If the coroner decides to hold an inquest, this usually takes place several months after the funeral and funeral arrangements will proceed as normal.

Yes, we have a number of chapels that we use in Christchurch. There are many locations and area for Funeral Services with the deceased present or for specialised memorial services.

Provided there are no legal impediments, the funeral usually takes place within two to four days following death. It may be necessary to wait a little longer if family overseas need to travel to New Zealand.

At Just Funerals, we provide a range of funeral packages to suit your preference and budget. Depending on your choice of casket, flowers, death notice, cremation or burial, the costs will vary. Please discuss your individual requirements with our Funeral Director, and we will provide a service to meet your needs.

Once cause of death is established, ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) is able to pay compensation to the dependents of an accident victim. The Death needs to be as the result of an accident. There is a ACC Funeral Grant that is just over $6200 that is available to assist with funeral costs. Should a death be the result of a homicide the ACC Funeral Grant is $10,000. We are able to assist family in filling in the correct forms and guiding you through this process.

When a death occurs, the deceased’s bank accounts are frozen. If there are sufficient funds in the bank account, we may be possible to request payment from the bank for the cost of the funeral. The final account is sent to the person making the arrangements with the Funeral Director.

You may be eligible for a WINZ Funeral Grant. Please apply directly with WINZ. You’ll find more information on a WINZ Funeral Grant here.

We understand that often there is not enough time to plan a funeral, especially in the case of a sudden death. Please call our Funeral Director as soon as you are able, so that we can assist you with all of the arrangements. In most cases we are able to provide a funeral service with as little as 12 – 24 hours notice.

Just Funerals have viewing facilities at our funeral homes. For a larger viewing we can arrange a location and time convenient for the family. Contact us for further details.

We always offer this option to families. Whether it’s just for a few hours or a few days, we believe that having your loved one at home helps many families begin the healing process.

Anyone is able to officiate at a funeral. Just Funerals can recommend a number of professional celebrants. Or you may prefer to have a friend or family member conduct the service. For a Simple Cremation, if the family requests a prayer, reading or a poem before the cremation, Just Funerals will carry out these wishes.

One of the major costs of any funeral is the casket. At Just Funerals we offer the option of a simple cremation casket; lined on the inside and finished on the outside in the style of a traditional casket, your loved one is placed in a tastefully finished casket. The outer casket is removed prior to cremation. All Just Funeral funeral options include a name plate for each casket.

In choosing between burial or cremation, the deceased’s wishes are usually followed. If their wishes are not known, the family make this choice. Still favoured by many, burial allows the family a place to go where they can remember the person who has died. For a burial to take place, a burial plot will need to be purchased, an internment fee is paid for the maintenance of the grave site, and a memorial or headstone is purchased. Cremation offers more flexibility in terms of choosing your loved one’s final resting place. Ashes can be buried in a memorial garden or scattered at sea.

This will depend on the crematorium facilities, but at many facilities it is possible. Please discuss your wishes with our Funeral Director.

That largely depends on the family’s wishes; you may wish to scatter them in a special place, place them in a Wall of Remembrance or a Memory Garden. Just Funerals provide a selection of tasteful Ashes Urns.

There is no catch. Working with facilities such as public chapels and crematoriums, we meet with the celebrant and the family to ensure that your wishes are always taken into consideration. Our range of funeral options are designed to suit your budget and preferences, with cost-saving options where possible. There are no hidden costs in our funeral packages. As each funeral is different we encourage family members to provide as much input as they would like.