Perth Funeral FAQ's

The death of a loved one is one of the most painful experiences one can go through in life. Celebrating a loved ones life and your love for them at this time can seem an unfathomable prospect, however a funeral is often the first important step in the healing process.

Arranging a funeral is a daunting task, that’s why it is important, as you have done to enlist the help of a respected funeral director. Funeral Flowers form an integral part of a funeral, and require the special attention of an experienced florist that can help convey your love, and appreciation for your loved one.

St Anne’s Florist recognises and is experienced in getting things ‘just right’.

The church or service venue Flowers and the Funeral Casket Arrangements are decided by family members. Please discuss with your funeral consultant or with St Anne’s Florist direct for preferred colours or the deceased’s favourite flowers. St Anne’s Florist will arrange the appropriate arrangements for the service, decorate the top of the casket and provide tribute burial flowers or petals.

The below Funeral Flower pricing guide is a guide only. Should you wish to spend more or less, please notify your funeral director/consultant or St Anne’s Florist as we would be more than happy to adjust arrangements accordingly to fit in with your budget.

Commonly Asked Questions about Funeral Flowers

• Can I send food or fruit baskets to the funeral home for the family?

  It is always best to first contact the funeral home and ask if they accept such deliveries. If they do not, send the Gift Basket or Gift Hamper to the home of the bereaved.

• What should be written in a condolence card?

  A condolence card is a personal message to a member of or the entire bereaved family expressing your sincere sympathy on the loss of their family member. If you have a special memory, It is appropriate to share that information if you wish to. The purpose is to offer comfort and support to the bereaved.

• What is an appropriate gesture to send for cremations?

  Cremations are becoming an alternative for many religions that previously opted for burials. Many cremations first hold a standard funeral service in a chapel or church and flowers are appropriate. As cremations are becoming more acceptable in many religions, viewings are often held first and later the cremation occurs following the funeral service. Flowers, especially standing Funeral Wreaths, Funeral Sprays, or even an elegant Upright Sympathy Flower Arrangement are suitable.

• Can you send flowers if there is no funeral service?

  Yes, It is appropriate to send Sympathy Flower Arrangements or Funeral Flowers to a memorial.

• What does "in lieu of flowers" mean?

  It means "in place of or instead of flowers." Depending on religious or personal circumstances, customs or the wishes of the deceased, family and friends may be asked to make a contribution to a specific charity instead of sending Funeral Flowers. Generally this information can be found in the obituary either online our in the West Australian newspaper.

• How do I know what charity to donate to?

  If the bereaved would prefer donations to a charity in lieu of Funeral Flowers generally the information can be found in the obituary or in literature at the funeral parlor. You may also wish to donate to a specific charitable cause on your own and many will send a notification to the bereaved of your donation in the deceased's name.

• When it is considered too late to send an expression of sympathy?

  It is always more appropriate to acknowledge a loss than to ignore it, especially if the person experiencing the loss is a coworker or friend. Send an arrangement of flowers with a heartfelt message, a plant or write a card or letter expressing your deepest sympathy.

Funeral Flowers: What's Appropriate

Often the selections for Sympathy Flowers include larger pieces for the casket or specialty pieces such as Floral Crosses or Funeral Wreaths that are not appropriate to send if you are not member of the immediate family. Here is a general guide on what type of Funeral Flower arrangements are suitable, given your relationship to the deceased and to the family. Please also review our list of religions to determine if flowers are an appropriate gesture for the denomination.

• For Immediate Family Sending to the Funeral Service:

  If the loss is an immediate family member traditional larger pieces such as a heart shaped wreath, large floral spray on a stand, a large standing floral cross, or a casket spray (if you are a spouse or adult child for a parent) is appropriate to choose. Often family members may send one large piece from several siblings or a combination of pieces.

• For Friends Sending to the Funeral Service:

  Friends generally send standing sprays, fireside baskets, standing baskets that are placed on display for the funeral service.

• For Friends Sending a Sympathy Gift to the Home:

  If you are unable to attend the services, it is generally appropriate to send a gesture of sympathy to the surviving family’s home. Before sending any flowers or gifts, it is always best to know if there are religious or cultural concerns. Traditional choices for a sympathy gift to the home are an elegant vase of flowers, basket arrangement or blooming plant fruit baskets, food baskets and gourmet baskets.

• For Co-workers Sending to the Funeral Service:

  Co-workers will generally send the gift as a group. Appropriate floral arrangements for the service would be a standing spray, standing basket, fireside basket.

• For Co-workers Sending a Sympathy Gift to the Home:

  Depending on your relationship, a note or card would be appropriate extending your sympathy. If you work closely together, sending a floral basket arrangement, dish garden or blooming plant is an appropriate gesture. Additional ideas are fruit baskets, food baskets and gourmet baskets.

Family Expressions

Losing a family member is one of the most difficult times in life. Create a lasting tribute that expresses your deep love and respect with elegant fresh floral arrangements.
Whatever your needs, you can choose from among a distinctive variety of flowers that feature premium roses, carnations, hydrangea, freesia, peonies, and much more.

Honour your loved one by selecting from the following choices for the arrangement that best fits your relationship with the deceased:

Casket Spray:
A blanket of mixed flowers or roses that covers the top of the casket. Most often sent by a spouse or immediate family.

Sympathy Floor Arrangement: An arrangement of mixed flowers placed on the floor around the casket or placed on a pedestal. Appropriate for family or friends to send.

Sympathy Etiquette in Different Religions

Protestant, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopalian

About the Service: Most commonly take place at a funeral home. A minister will conduct the service with participation from family members.

What to Do: Visit the funeral home during visitor hours.

What To Send: Sending flowers, cards and charitable donations in the name of the deceased is an appropriate expression of your sympathy.

Roman Catholic

About the Service: A wake or viewing takes place in a funeral home within 48-72 hrs of death. A mass takes place approximately three days later at the church. The body is buried or cremated.

What to Do: Attend the wake and offer condolences. Attend the mass.

What To Send: Sympathy floor arrangements, standing arrangements, standing sprays, crosses, hearts. Food and fruit baskets can be sent to the home but not to the funeral home.

Muslim

About the Service: Burials are performed quickly and a service is conducted in a Mosque.

What to Do: If attending the service remember that men and women sit on separate sides of the Mosque and women have their heads covered.

What To Send: Flowers are not appropriate. Gifts of food are suitable expressions of sympathy.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon)

About the Service: The service includes prayers and music followed by a brief service at the graveside.

What to Do: If you attend the service, wear modest clothing.

What To Send: Flowers and sympathy cards are appropriate gestures to send.

Hindu

About the Service: Is held in either the home or funeral parlor. The body is wrapped in a shroud and flowers are placed at the feet of the deceased. Following the viewing, the body is cremated.

What to Do: Guests may attend the viewing but leave once the cremation takes place.

What To Send: Flowers are not an appropriate sentiment. Fruit is considered the best gift to convey sympathy.

Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform)

About the Service: A rabbi performs the service and the casket is taken to a cemetery and buried within twenty-four hours of death. Only immediate family attends the service.

What to Do: Once the body has been buried, the immediate family sits in mourning or “Shiva” in their home for the next seven days. It is customary for family, friends and coworkers to come by the home and pay their respects to the family. This is known as a Shiva call.

What To Send: Flowers are NOT appropriate for a Shiva call. Sweet fruit, desserts and food are appropriate gifts but check to see if the food is Kosher (i.e., prepared in accordance to Jewish dietary guidelines).

Buddhism

About the Service: There are three services: one held at the family home of the deceased within two days of death and permits the viewing of the deceased; a second is conducted 2-5 days later by monks at the funeral home; a third and final service is held 7 days after burial at the temple.

What to Do: Attend the first service and offer condolences to family. Do not wear red clothing.

What To Send: Flowers are appropriate but instruct the florist to refrain from using red flowers and instead use white, the color of mourning. Food gifts are not considered appropriate.

What about Cremations?

Many cremations have both a viewing and service prior to the cremation and Funeral and Sympathy Flowers are considered an appropriate gesture at either event. If you are unsure what to send, check with either the funeral the funeral home or a member of the immediate family for guidance.

Shiva Call

In the Jewish religion, after the burial of a loved one, family members choose to observe a traditional period of grief and mourning referred to as Sitting Shiva for generally a period of 7 days. Visitors of all religions are expected to observe certain guidelines while paying a Shiva Call.

What to Expect:

• Mirrors may be covered. It is a tradition for men and women to not worry about their appearance during the week of mourning.
• Immediate family members may be wearing a torn black ribbon or a torn piece of clothing. This is done to symbolize their broken hearts.
• Immediate family members may be sitting on low seats or possibly the floor in socks or slippers. This is done to symbolize the emotional reality that they are “brought low” by the grief.
• A tall candle may be burning. This candle burns for 7 days, throughout the period of Shiva, and is a symbol of remembrance of the deceased.

What to Do:

• Find the Right Time to Visit. Check with friends of family for the right times to visit at the end of the funeral service. Avoid visiting on Shabbat (Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown)
• Dress Appropriately. Often people dress as if they were attending a service, but others dress informally depending on location.
• Wash Hands. A pitcher of water, a basin, and towels will be located near the door. It is tradition to wash hands upon entering the house straight from the cemetery.
• Just Walk In. The front door will usually be unlocked. This eliminates the need for the mourners to answer the door and the distractions from the doorbell sounds.
• Provide Food. Arrange for food to be sent to the house. If you bring food, bring it directly to the kitchen (often there is someone there to take it). Often sweets or desserts are brought.
• Find the Mourner. Allow the mourner to initiate conversation. Simply offer a hug, a kiss, a handshake or an arm around the shoulder for comfort.
• Talk to Friends. It is very possible that you will see people you know when paying a Shiva Call and you can feel comfortable to speak to them as well.
• Don’t Overstay Your Visit. Usually the appropriate amount of time to pay a Shiva Call is an hour. Try not to stay too long, it may put undue strain on the mourners.