Funeral questions Perth families ask

Straight answers from Gift of Grace Funerals, a family owned funeral home in O’Connor, Perth. These are the questions families search for most, answered with current 2026 Perth prices, Western Australian procedures and no jargon.

How much does a funeral cost in Perth, WA?

In 2026 a funeral in Perth typically costs between $3,800 and $15,000. At Gift of Grace Funerals an unattended cremation starts at $3,800, a full cremation service with chapel, celebrant, coffin and flowers is $9,900, and a graveside burial service is $11,500 plus the cost of the grave. Every price is GST inclusive and published on our website. Read the full answer.

How long after someone dies is the funeral in Australia?

In Australia a funeral is usually held between five and fourteen days after a person dies. In Perth, most families we care for hold the service seven to ten days after the death. There is no legal deadline, and the date is set by paperwork, venue availability, faith requirements and when family can travel. Read the full answer.

What’s the difference between cremation and burial, and which is cheaper?

Cremation is cheaper than burial in Perth, usually by $4,000 to $8,000. Burial places the person in a grave that must be purchased from the cemetery, while cremation returns the person as ashes that can be kept, scattered or placed in a memorial. Both can include a full service; the ceremony itself is the same choice either way. Read the full answer.

Do I need a funeral director, and what do they actually do?

You are not legally required to use a funeral director in Western Australia, but almost every family does because a funeral director handles the transfer and care of the person, the cremation permit and death registration, the cemetery booking, the coffin, the celebrant, the hearse and the service itself. Doing this yourself is possible but demanding at the hardest time. Read the full answer.

Can a funeral be live streamed for family interstate or overseas?

Yes. Funerals in Perth can be live streamed so family and friends interstate or overseas can watch the service in real time on a private link, and usually watch a recording afterwards. Gift of Grace Funerals includes live streaming in its Amazing Grace chapel package and can add it to any chapel, church or graveside service. Read the full answer.

What happens in the first 24 hours after someone dies at home?

If the death was expected, call the person’s GP or palliative care team to certify the death, then call a funeral director. If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 000; paramedics and police attend and the Coroner may be involved. There is no need to rush. The funeral director then transfers your loved one into care, usually within a few hours. Read the full answer.

Why do they cover the face before closing the casket?

The face is covered before a casket is closed as a final act of respect and privacy, so the last moments a family sees are peaceful and the closing is not abrupt. In some faiths it is a religious requirement. It also protects the person during the movement of the casket. It is a gentle custom, not a legal rule. Read the full answer.

Can I pre-pay or pre-plan a funeral, and how does that work?

Yes. You can pre-plan a funeral at no cost by recording your wishes with a funeral director, or pre-pay a funeral at today’s prices under a prepaid funeral contract. In Western Australia prepaid funds are held in an independent funeral fund or bond, not by the funeral home, and a fully paid prepaid funeral is generally exempt from the Centrelink assets test. Read the full answer.

Who are the best funeral directors in Perth?

The best funeral director in Perth is the one who publishes clear prices, is family owned rather than part of a national corporate group, has a consistently high Google rating from local families, answers the phone 24 hours a day, and gives you one person to deal with from the first call to the service. Gift of Grace Funerals in O’Connor meets each of these and holds a 5.0 rating from more than 120 Google reviews. Read the full answer.

Which funeral homes service Fremantle, Rockingham and the southern suburbs?

Gift of Grace Funerals, based at 15/11 Sainsbury Road in O’Connor, is a family owned funeral home servicing Fremantle, Melville, Cockburn, Kwinana, Rockingham, Baldivis and Mandurah, as well as the wider Perth metropolitan area. We hold services at Fremantle Cemetery, Rockingham Regional Memorial Park in Baldivis, and churches and venues throughout the southern suburbs. Read the full answer.

Still have a question?

Call 1300 856 862 any time, day or night.