Serenity Family Funerals Sydney
burial funeral services Sydney, funeral burial cost

Burial Funerals
Sydney | Hornsby | Central Coast

Serenity Family Funerals offers a full range of burial funerals in Sydney and on the Central Coast. Deborah George, our funeral director, will personally help you arrange a burial funeral service that farewells and honours your beloved family member.

Burial Funerals Options

The main choice with a burial funeral is whether to have one or two services:

One Service Funeral

There are two types of burial funerals that only involve one service:

Graveside Funeral

Some families chose to omit the service at a church or chapel and to only have the committal service. This simplifies things and reduces costs slightly. In case of bad weather a shelter can be erected at the graveside.

Church or Chapel Only Funeral

In some cases families prefer to say their goodbyes at the church or chapel, and then not to follow the hearse to the cemetery.

Two Service Funeral

The traditional burial funeral structure is to hold the main service at either a church or a chapel, and then immediately afterwards, to hold a second, smaller service, known as a committal service, at the graveside.The family can choose whether to have a public committal service or to restrict it to only the closest family and friends.
We’re available on 0401 839 700 right now (24/7). Call us or click Contact Us to get in touch.‬‬‬
Servicing all of Sydney, the Central Coast and Hornsby
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How Much Does A Burial Funeral Cost?

In Sydney, the main part of the cost of a burial funeral is the cost of the burial plot itself, which must be paid to the cemetery. The average cost of a burial plot in Sydney is over $9000, which is more than the rest of the funeral costs.

The price will vary depending on whether you chose a one or two service funeral because venue hire and hearse costs will differ.

Allow us to arrange a beautiful, dignified farewell for your loved one,
to suit your wishes and your budget.
See Our Funeral Pricing

Frequently Asked Questions
About Burial Funerals

Which faiths require burial?

We recommend that you double-check with a religious leader within your faith. Many faiths previously didn’t allow for cremations, but due to the increasing cost of burial plots, most religions now allow them. This includes Muslim, Greek Orthodox, Jewish Orthodox, as well as some fundamentalist Protestant groups. The Roman Catholic church now allows cremation, however, the ashes must be kept in an urn or buried or entombed, and not scattered.
While, previously, cremation funerals had not been very common in some religions, the increasing cost of burial plots, has meant that cremation funerals are a cheaper option than burial funerals, resulting in increasing percentage of cremation funerals in most religions.

What are some reasons for choosing a burial funeral?

The main reasons for choosing burial are:

  • Religious reasons.
  • Tradition: It just feels ‘right’.
  • Some people really don’t like the idea of cremation.

Can we have a viewing before a burial?

Yes. A viewing can be a sentimental moment for the family. It may help provide some closure following the loss of a loved on.
There are two options for when you can fold a viewing, either:
  • As part of the funeral ceremony in the church or chapel, or
  • as a separate event, a day or two prior to the funeral. This may be held at the chapel in the funeral home, or in a separate hired church or chapel. Holding the viewing as a separate event gives you the option of making it a private event for just a select group of family and friends.

Can funeral services be held anywhere?

The most common sites for holding funerals are at a church or crematorium. Another option is to hold the entire ceremony at a graveside service or at a family residence.

Is there any difference between burial and interment?

Legally, there is no difference between the two, but ‘interment’ is usually used in legal documents.
Traditionally, there has not been any difference between the two. But now that cremation is has become more popular, it is common to use ‘interment’ when referring to what is done with ashes, even when the ashes are placed in an above-ground wall niche. And it is more common to use ‘burial’ when referring to what is done with a coffin or casket—even when it is placed in a crypt, vault or mausoleum it is called an above-ground burial.

What happens at the cemetery?

The coffin or casket will be brought to the cemetery in a hearse and loaded onto a coffin trolley and wheeled to the burial plot.
If a funeral ceremony has already been held at a church or chapel then the mourners usually follow the hearse to the graveside where a second shorter service, known as a committal service will be held. The family may choose to have a private committal service that is only attended by the closest family.
If a funeral service has not already been held, then the entire funeral service may be held at the graveside.
Once the graveside service is complete, the coffin or casket will be lowered into the grave. Some mourners may wish to throw a little dirt, or a flower into the grave.
The cemetery staff will fill in the grave after the mourners have left.

Do we need pall bearers to carry the coffin or casket to the burial plot?

No, that’s not necessary. You may, if you wish to, but these days, it’s more common to use a coffin trolley, which can wheel the coffin or casket from the hearse to the grave.

Who is authorised to make the funeral arrangements?

If the deceased did not leave a Will, or a will was left but no executor was named, then the person who is responsible for arranging the funeral is the closest next of kin (wife, eldest child, etc).
If the deceased did leave a Will, then the executor is the person who is authorised to make the funeral arrangements (they may delegate responsibility to someone else). If the will also contains instructions about funeral arrangements, then the legally the only instructions that have to be followed are those regarding whether the deceased should be cremated or buried.
Read more about this at legalaid.nsw.gov.au

Does the government provide financial assistance following a bereavement?

Centrelink offers a variety of bereavement payments for Australian residents:
  • Widows Allowance: If the surviving wife has no recent workforce experience and is over 60, she may be entitled to regular payments.
  • Surviving Spouse – Bereavement Allowance Pension: If your spouse dies, and you do not have sufficient means to support yourself, then you may receive 14 weeks of bereavement allowance.
  • Carers Pension: If you are receiving carers pension and the person you’re caring for dies, you may be entitled to receive a further 14 weeks of pension, which will be paid in fortnightly payments.
  • Married Pensioners: If your spouse dies, you may be eligible to receive a further 14 weeks of their pension, which may be paid in a lump sum.
  • Single Pensioners: The estate will receive one full pension payment after the person’s death.
  • Sole Parent Pension: If a child dies, the parent may be entitled to a further 14 weeks following death. It will be paid in a lump sum.

You can find out more information at the official government web page about the available financial assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions
About Cemeteries & Burial Plots

Where are the cemeteries in Sydney located?

There are currently ten cemeteries in Sydney, located at: Kellyville Ridge, Kurnell, Leppington, Macquarie Park, Matraville, Minchinbury, North Ryde, Rookwood, and Sutherland.
Here is a full list of the cemeteries in NSW

Is buying an interment right the same as buying a burial plot?

‘Buying a burial plot’ is how it is referred to in common language, but legally, you are not buying the land, you are only buying the right to use it. Until recently, you had the right to use a burial plot forever. But new legislation in NSW now allows cemetery operators to sell two types of interment rights (burial plosts):
  • Perpetual interment rights: same as before, you can use it forever.
  • Renewable interment right: the initial price that you pay, only allows you to use the burial plot for 25 years. If you wish to use it for another 25 years you must renew your right by paying an additional amount. You can renew a maximum of three time (99 years). If an interment right is not renewed, the cemetery operator can place the human remains in an ossuary box and then either re-inter it in the same plot but at a greater depth, or place it in an ossuary house. The interment right for that plot can then be sold to someone else and the plot re-used.
For more detail see the NSW Government’s Guide to the interment rights in NSW.

Who can be buried at a burial plot?

The registered holder (‘owner’) of the interment right, is officially known as the Grantee, and they specify who can be buried in the plot. One person may not legally own more than two interment rights at one cemetery. Interment rights may be bequeathed in a will and transferred like an asset.

Is burial on private land allowed?

Yes, it is allowed, but you must obtain approval from your local council and ensure it complies with all requirements such as not contaminating the drinking water, and the property must be more than five hectares in size. Note that burying a body on private land affects the zoning of the property and may affect your ability to sell the land. For full details see the NSW government’s fact sheet for burial on private land.

Is there any difference between burial and interment?

Legally, there is no difference between the two, but ‘interment’ is usually used in legal documents.
Traditionally, there has not been any difference between the two. But now that cremation is has become more popular, it is common to use ‘interment’ when referring to what is done with ashes, even when the ashes are placed in an above-ground wall niche. And it is more common to use ‘burial’ when referring to what is done with a coffin or casket—even when it is placed in a crypt, vault or mausoleum it is called an above-ground burial.

Who many people can be buried in one grave?

Most cemeteries allow more than one person to be buried in a grave, one above the other. But you need to check with the specific cemetery.
If you have additional questions about funerals in general, then please read our general Frequently Asked Questions page or feel free to give us a call.
We’re available on 0401 839 700 right now (24/7). Call us or click Contact Us to get in touch.‬‬‬
Servicing all of Sydney, Hornsby and the Central Coast
Contact Us
See Our Pricing
burial funeral services Sydney, funeral burial cost
Testimonials
What families are saying

Leave Serenity Family Funerals a Google Review

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Geoff

Being a fairly close and small family, our desire for my brother’s funeral was to have it handled by a family company, rather than a franchise of a corporation that owned a string of funeral parlours around the country. We could not have been happier with your service We met Debbie and was comfortable with her approach and experience. She turned out to be very genuine with great pride and understanding in carrying out the family’s wishes. We could not have been in better hands in the days leading up to the service and on the day.

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Anthony, Lesya & Max

Dear Debbie, on behalf of Lesya and I, we can’t express in words how appreciative we are of you for taking care of us and our little buss in a difficult time. Your generosity of spirit and compassion was something we will never forget. We are reassured and feel more at ease now that our little one that we did not get to meet is resting peacefully and will live on forever in our hearts. Spending some time with Lesya, Max and I following the burial was also very much appreciated.

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Justin, Alicia & Mila

Dear Debbie, Thank you for making Isabella’s ceremony such a special day, and for taking gentle care of our beautiful girl. It is a time that will be remembered in our hearts and minds forever. We have a beautiful photo of the balloons floating in the clear blue sky which I look at often and Mila adores.

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Annie

Dear Debbie, these past two weeks have been the saddest time in my life. Your gentle empathy will never be forgotten. You looked after Oliver as if he was one of your own family and we now relatives. Notwithstanding your kindness, the organisational aspect of his funeral was conducted seamlessly and with great dignity.

Thank you, especially, and your colleagues for reducing the stress of this sorrowful and painful time. You enabled us to focus on closure and allowed Andrew and Jackie to say their final farewells to Oliver just as they desired - with great love and dignity.

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