Before You Begin

Planning a Beautiful
Farewell

From the first phone call to the final goodbye — what to expect, what it costs, and how to create a farewell that truly honours the person you love.

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01

First Steps: What Happens With Your Loved One

The first step is to ring your chosen funeral home. They will set all the legal processes in motion, take your loved one into their care, and arrange a time to meet with you to discuss the arrangements.

At that meeting you'll be asked to make two main decisions: burial or cremation, and a funeral or a memorial. There is no wrong answer — only what feels right for your family and for the person you're honouring.

Worth knowing

One of the least expensive options is a "direct cremation" — many families choose this, and then hold a celebration of life in the form of a memorial. It's less formal than a funeral, and there is no coffin present. If you're choosing a less formal farewell, Cyrano can help you create an elegant send-off, whatever your needs.

02

What a Funeral Costs

It all adds up, and a typical funeral can cost from $6,000 upwards. The main things to consider are:

The essentials. Venue, coffin, and transportation.

The people. Clergy or celebrant, and the funeral home's professional services.

The touches. Flowers, stationery, multimedia, and music.

This is where your funeral arranger becomes invaluable — they will guide you and offer services that suit your requirements and your budget.

03

Running the Service Yourself? We'll Walk You Through It

If you're planning a memorial or a less formal farewell, the Cyrano Funeral Guide gives you everything an experienced Australian funeral celebrant knows about creating a beautiful service — the same guidance families pay hundreds of dollars for on the day.

The Cyrano Funeral Guide

Everything you need to create a farewell to be proud of

  • The complete Cyrano Funeral Guide — how a beautiful service flows, with the words to say at every step
  • A step-by-step service builder, shaped around the person you're honouring
  • 130+ pieces of funeral music, chosen by a professional celebrant
  • A beautifully printed keepsake booklet for mourners, plus a running sheet for whoever leads the day
$99.95 one-time · everything included · no subscription
Explore the Funeral Guide

Attaches to the eulogy or tribute you're writing, so the whole service is built around them.

First, the Words:
Your Eulogy or Tribute

Cyrano guides you through every step, at your own pace, in your own words.

Begin Writing