Role of the Funeral Director

The role of the Funeral Director is to ensure that every detail is attended to in accordance with family wishes. Their role is to guide the family through the arrangements in a caring and understanding manner.

You can speak with the Funeral Director at his office or in the comfort of your own home. Some of the Funeral Directors duties include:

  • Meet with family to discuss the arrangements
  • Liaise with various organisations including Cemetery, Medical Staff, Clergy, Club and Service groups.
  • Collect the deceased from place of death.
  • Arrange for a family viewing if required.
  • Organise Floral tributes
  • Take charge of the funeral on the day.
  • Finalise all necessary paperwork.

Funeral Costs

The cost of a funeral can vary dramatically based on the choices made by the family at the time of arranging the funeral. Bendigo’s funeral Costs are Generally acknowledged as low in comparison to Regional centers of similar size.

As a general overview funeral prices range from as low as $3,200 (Essential NO SERVICE Cremation) to $15,000 (Burial) (Including GST) plus the cost of a Grave or opening/reopen of an existing Grave or Cremation Fee.

  • ESSENTIAL CREMATION $3,200.00 ( NO ATTENDANCE – NO SERVICE – NO VIEWING )
  • Includes Our Professional Fee, Cremation Shell(coffin), Cremation Fee, Transfer from place of Death to our Funeral Home during Business Hrs., Doctors Cremation Authorization, Registration with BD&M and Full Copy of Death Certificate. (No Allowance for Overtime or Mileage fees)
  • FUNDAMENTAL CREMATION (or BURIAL) $4,200.00 ( NO FORMAL SERVICE – PRIVATE ) Includes Private Gathering or Viewing at our Funeral Home or Gathering at Graveside for up to 15 family. Also includes Cremation Fee, Plain MDF Coffin (Coffin can be upgraded), Doctors Cremation Authorization, Registration with BD&M and Full copy of Death Certificate. All times set at Bendigo Funerals discretion. (Cemetery Fees not Included)(Cremation takes place next business day 9.30am).
  • STANDARD FUNERALS Start from $6,995.00 for a Single Service Funeral at Bendigo Funeral’s Chapel and includes; Our Professional fee $4,450.00 (Single Service) , Weeroona Coffin $1,400.00, Standard Funeral Notice in Bendigo Advertiser $250.00, Standard Clergy/Celebrant Fee $550.00, Doctors Cremation Authorization $100.00, Gov’t Death Certificate $75, Tied Sheath – Casket Flowers $170.00; plus Cremation Fee ($950.00) or Burial Fees (Dependent on various Cemeteries at their Published Fees.) (Prices quoted do not include any provision for Overtime and/or Mileage fees).
  • LISTED ARE APPLICABLE FEES FOR SERVICES AVAILABLE TO OUR CLIENT FAMILIES
  • Our Professional Fees – Single Service Funeral $4,450.00 – Dual Service Funerals $4,800.00
  • Split Dual Service Funeral $5,200.00 (Where there is a Wake/Catering between the Service and the Interment/Committal Service or the Committal is held on the next or a subsequent/previous day.)
  • Caskets as per our Listed Casket Prices (see Casket Page).
  • Clergy/Celebrant Fees as Charged – Generally between $500-$800
  • Newspaper Notices: Bendigo, Melbourne, and/or Other Newspapers. (Prices vary dramatically)
  • Cremation Authorization Fee (Doctors Certificate of Cremation) $100.00
  • Birth, Deaths and Marriages FULL DEATH CERTIFICATE $75.00
  • Flowers – Casket Arrangements as per Florist Prices – Ranging from Sheath at $170 to Full Casket Arrangement at $360 for Standard Arrangements; (Cost could be greater based Client Flower Choices.)
  • Service Booklets 4 Page A5 Set up $50 plus $2 each
  • Service Booklets 8 Page A5 Set up$100 plus $2.25 each
  • Service Booklets 12 Page A5 Set up $150 plus $2.50 each
  • Photo Presentations/Slide Shows $260.00 30 Photo’s and 1 Songs (Clients can create themselves)
  • Venue Hire – Hire Fees may apply if a venue other that our Funeral Home is required for the Service
  • Pre-Paid Funerals attract a $300 Price Guarantee surcharge at the time they are established
  • Transfers of the deceased from place of Death to Our Funeral Home outside normal Business Hours are charged at a flat rate of $550.00 (max. 4 hrs) Plus Mileage fees if applicable.
  • Families wishing to Provide or Construct their own coffin will be charged a $700 Surcharge and the coffin will need to pass inspection and approval by Bendigo Funerals Staff.
  • Services held outside normal Business Hours will attract overtime Fees/Surcharges. (eg. Saturday Funerals $900.00 up to 4 hrs) NOTE; Cemeteries also charge Saturday Surcharges.
  • If Clients require a Coffin larger than a Standard Size Coffin, additional fees may apply, from $275.00
  • NOTE ALL PRICES LISTED INCLUDE GST

Children’s Funerals

There is nothing more devastating than the death of a child. In an effort to ease the pressure on young families who face the loss of a child, Bendigo Funerals has a ‘No Charge Policy’ in relation to Children’s funerals up to the age of 10 years. This policy relates to our professional fee and casket only.

Coroner’s Cases

The Coroner is automatically involved when a death is the result of violence, a motor vehicle accident, sudden or unexpected death or within a specified period after an anesthetic. The coroners powers are specified in the Coroner’s Act 2008 (Vic).

General Information

Items to consider when planning your funeral arrangements.

  • Burial or Cremation
  • Casket
  • Flowers
  • Clergy or Celebrant
  • Private or Public service
  • Church or Chapel Service
  • Newspaper Advertisements
  • Family History (For registration of the death with the government)
  • Photo presentation
  • Music
  • Service booklets