Pre-planning a farewell
Pre-plan and Prepay
You may choose to pre-plan or prepay your funeral. Doing so allows your family and friends to come together, support one another, and honour your life—without the added burden of making difficult decisions during a deeply emotional time.
Some people already have a clear idea of the kind of farewell they want. Others prefer to explore the options and plan with guidance. Whatever your needs, we are here to help.
Our “My Life, My Farewell” booklet is available from Woolertons’ and has been created through the shared experience of members of the Funeral Directors’ Association of New Zealand.
This practical and thoughtful booklet walks you through the personal information required by the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. Completing these details in advance can greatly assist those arranging your funeral. It also provides space to record your preferences for your funeral service—including anything you specifically don’t want. Helpful prompts guide you through each section, with room at the end for any special notes or instructions.
We encourage you to talk with your family and your Funeral Director now, so together you can create a farewell that will be meaningful for both you and the people you love.
The booklet allows you to:
- Record the personal information required by the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages—saving time and easing stress for those finalising your arrangements.
- List the people, groups, and organisations that should be notified of your passing, such as friends, clubs, associations, service providers, and professionals.
- Note your preferences for your funeral service, including any elements you would prefer not to include. Prompts throughout the booklet help guide your choices, and additional space is provided for special requests or instructions.
FREE PLANNING CONSULTATION
A complimentary pre-planning consultation with one of our experienced funeral directors will guide you through the funeral process. During this discussion, you will be able to explore the range of options available and make informed decisions with the support of our knowledge and advice.
We will record your personal preferences for every aspect of your funeral, and if you wish, we can also provide an estimated budget. A copy of your instructions can be held safely with us, giving you peace of mind that your wishes will be known and respected when the time comes.
Help with pre-planing your funeral:
If you prefer to record your wishes privately, you are welcome to download the forms below, complete them, and return them to us.
You can also contact our office on 07 855 1878 to arrange a time for one of our funeral directors to discuss pre-planning with you.
You may like to consider
- The type and style of funeral you prefer
- Whether you wish to be buried or cremated
- Your preferred casket or urn
- Choices of flowers, music, and readings
- Funeral venue and catering
- Placing of notices in newspaper
PRE-PAID FUNERALS
For many people, pre-planning and pre-paying a funeral naturally go together. When you make arrangements in advance, you also have the option to set aside funds for your funeral. This provides reassurance that the costs are covered and that the financial responsibility will not fall to someone else.
We recommend The Funeral Trust, an independent organisation that securely holds prepaid funeral funds in trust until they are required. Please note that pre-paid funds are not held by Woolertons’ Funeral Home.
At Woolertons’ Funeral Home, we strive to provide a funeral service that reflects the individuality of every person. We also offer ongoing support to families and friends as they navigate their grief. We are here to help—please feel free to call us whenever you need assistance.
Pre-paying all or part of your funeral helps ease the financial burden on your family and loved ones. Additionally, under current government legislation, pre-paid funeral plans up to $10,000 are excluded from asset testing when assessing eligibility for long-term residential care subsidies for the elderly.
The Funeral Trust
To learn more about The Funeral Trust, follow the link below to their website.
If you are ready to apply, you can download The Funeral Trust Verification Checklist to ensure you have the required proof of identity and proof of address. Once you have these documents, please contact us to arrange a time to meet with a funeral director.