Blog/Resources

Preparing for a Funeral Mass at a Catholic Church

A funeral celebrant plays an essential role in creating personalised and meaningful funeral services across Australia. From crafting heartfelt tributes to guiding families with compassion, a professional funeral celebrant ensures each ceremony truly reflects the life, values, and legacy of your loved one.

A common question many Australians ask is: Does the coffin get cremated with the body?

Live streaming a funeral allows family and friends to attend a service from anywhere in the world. In this guide, we explain how to live stream a funeral, what equipment is needed, how to ensure privacy, and why professional funeral streaming services provide the most reliable and respectful experience during a difficult time.

Embalming is a process carried out by a qualified professional embalmer. It involves the temporary preservation of the body by the use of chemical reagents. This stalls the natural stages of decomposition but does not completely prevent it, this can be a common misconception.

A funeral procession, also known as a cortege, is a solemn journey that accompanies the deceased from the funeral service to their final resting place. This guide explains what a cortege is, who takes part, traditional etiquette, and what to expect if you’re participating or encounter a funeral procession on the road.

Choosing what to wear to a funeral can feel overwhelming, especially when you want to show respect while adhering to appropriate etiquette. This guide covers traditional funeral attire for men, women, and children, along with tips for different cultures, seasons, and modern celebrations of life, helping you dress with confidence and compassion during a difficult time.

If you’re wondering what to bring to a funeral, the answer depends on the service and your relationship with the deceased. From sympathy cards and flowers to memorial donations and practical essentials, this guide explains thoughtful gestures and funeral etiquette to help you attend with confidence and respect.

Knowing what to say to someone who is grieving can feel difficult, as there are no perfect words to take away their pain. This guide offers simple, compassionate phrases and thoughtful advice on how to express support, avoid common missteps, and be present for someone navigating loss.

A wake is a gathering held after a funeral or memorial service, where family and friends come together to pay their respects, share memories, and support one another. This guide explains what a wake is, how it differs from a funeral or memorial service, and what you can expect if you attend.

Unfortunately at some stage in our lives we have to face the death of a loved one. In Australia the majority of deaths occur within Aged Care Facilities or Hospitals where staff members are there to support and assist families through the next steps that need to be taken.

When children or young people experience a death, their parents, caregivers and teachers are often concerned about how best to support and meet their needs.

Grief is our response to loss. It is the normal and natural response to loss, and it can affect every part of our life, including our thoughts, behaviours, beliefs, feelings, physical health and our relationships with others.

A death notice is to inform people of the passing of your loved one with details of when they passed and the family members they belong to. There are many ways to write a death notice, and the staff at Michael Crawford Funerals are willing to help and guide you through personally.

A eulogy is a speech given at a funeral or memorial service in memory of the deceased. A eulogy can be delivered by a family member, relative, close friend or you may like to leave it up to the priest, minister or celebrant to speak.