--- title: "Funerals & celebrations of life | Best Ceremonies" description: "Funeral and celebration of life celebrant, $750, or $450 for a committal. No weekend loading, and usually arranged within a few days." url: "https://bestceremonies.com.au/funerals/" --- Funerals & celebrations of life · Tweed, Byron & Gold Coast # Funerals & celebrations of life A farewell that celebrates the life they lived. A funeral or celebration of life with Felicity Best, a funeral celebrant based in Murwillumbah, is $750\. That includes a family meeting, writing the ceremony and eulogy, help bringing together the words and memories you want to share, liaison with your funeral director, and conducting the ceremony on the day. There is no set notice period, and Felicity does not charge extra for short notice or weekends. Call, any day [0400 110 959](tel:+61400110959) Most days, 9am to 7pm. If I miss your call, please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Or email [felicity@bestceremonies.com.au](mailto:felicity@bestceremonies.com.au). What's included ## Funeral or celebration of life. The first of the tiers below, and what is inside it. - A personal meeting with family or loved ones - A personalised eulogy and complete ceremony - Help with readings, music, tributes and other personal touches - Helping family and friends prepare if they would like to speak - Liaison with your funeral director - Conducting and guiding the complete ceremony - Chapel, graveside or another agreed location - PA and wireless microphone - The final committal ## What it costs | What you get | Mon–Thu | Fri–Sun | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | | **Funeral or celebration of life**: A personal meeting with family or loved ones; a personalised eulogy and complete ceremony; help with readings, music, tributes and other personal touches; helping family and friends prepare if they would like to speak; liaison with your funeral director; conducting and guiding the complete ceremony; chapel, graveside or another agreed location; PA and wireless microphone; the final committal. | $750 | same | | **Graveside or ashes committal**: A simple, personal committal of around 30 minutes, written and led by me. It can be held on its own or as a separate farewell following a funeral or cremation. | $450 | same | | **Living funeral**: A celebration held while someone is still here, planned with the person being celebrated: a chance to gather the people they love, share stories, memories and music, and say the things people so often leave unsaid. | $750 | same | Australian dollars, no GST. Travel within 80 km or an hour and a half of Murwillumbah is included, whichever gets you there; beyond both it is $1 per kilometre, round trip. Booking fee $250, which comes off the total. Council permits for beach and park ceremonies are booked and paid for directly with the council, and are not included. What happens when you call ## Four steps, at your pace. Call whenever you are ready. There is no notice period to work to. 1. ### First, a call You can call me yourself, or your funeral director can contact me on your behalf. Sometimes there are only a few days to organise a funeral, and that's okay. You don't need to have everything worked out before you call. 2. ### Then a meeting Usually, I'll sit down with you and your family at home or wherever feels comfortable. I'll listen, ask questions and gather the stories that make this person more than a list of dates and achievements. There is no formula for this conversation. Sometimes there is laughter. Sometimes there are tears. Often there is both. 3. ### Then the writing I'll turn what you've shared with me into a ceremony that sounds like them and reflects the life they lived. I'll send you the draft before the service so you can read it, make changes and tell me if there's anything you'd like added or removed. It's your farewell, and it needs to feel right to you. 4. ### On the day I'll conduct the ceremony from beginning to end, guiding everyone through the farewell and making sure it feels natural and unhurried. If family or friends would like to be involved, I'll help weave their contributions into the ceremony. They might want to deliver a eulogy, share a favourite story, read something meaningful, talk about a special memory or simply say a few words. And if someone becomes emotional or finds the words difficult, that's okay. I'll be there to gently guide them through. I'll also conduct the final committal, whether that's at the graveside, at the crematorium or at another place chosen by the family. The committal is the final part of the farewell: a few words, a moment of reflection and a final goodbye before the coffin or ashes are committed. Music, readings, photographs and other personal touches can also be included. There is no set formula. I'll create a ceremony with you that reflects the person and the way your family wants to remember them. Or ## Graveside or ashes committal. A simple, personal committal of around 30 minutes, written and led by me. It can be held on its own or as a separate farewell following a funeral or cremation. Or ## Living funeral. A celebration held while someone is still here, planned with the person being celebrated: a chance to gather the people they love, share stories, memories and music, and say the things people so often leave unsaid. ## Every life has a story The people they loved, the things that made them laugh, the places that mattered, the little things that made them who they were. My job is to listen to those stories and bring them together into a farewell that feels genuine, personal and true to the person you are remembering. I understand that when someone dies, there is often very little time to organise everything, and I'll do my best to be there when you need me. ## Working with your funeral director I work alongside your funeral director rather than adding another layer of work for your family. They will usually take care of things such as the venue, timing, music, slideshow and order of service. I'll liaise with them about the ceremony and make sure everything comes together on the day. If there is no funeral director, for example with a later celebration of life or an ashes committal, you and I can work together directly and I'll bring the PA. ## What happens after a death There is no set timeframe for a funeral with me. Sometimes there is a week or more; sometimes there are only a few days. I don't require a set notice period and I don't charge extra for short notice or weekends. You can take it one step at a time, and I'll be with you for each one. My job is to listen, to help you find the words when you might not have them yourself, and to create a farewell that feels like the person you're saying goodbye to. ## Where I conduct funerals, celebrations of life and farewells across the Tweed, Byron and Gold Coast areas. Services can be held at funeral homes and chapels, gravesides, private properties or other suitable locations. If you're unsure whether I'm able to travel to your chosen location, please give me a call. [Every area covered from Murwillumbah](https://bestceremonies.com.au/areas/). Questions ## Questions people ask How much does a funeral celebrant cost? A full funeral or celebration of life is $750\. A graveside or ashes committal on its own is $450, and a living funeral is $750\. There is no weekend loading and no additional charge for short notice. How quickly can a funeral be arranged? Often within a few days. I don't require a set notice period, and a same-day call is not unusual. What is the difference between a funeral and a celebration of life? Often, it's simply about the timing and the way the family wants to say goodbye. A funeral is usually held soon after someone dies and may take place with the person present. A celebration of life may be held later, sometimes after a cremation, and can be a more relaxed gathering centred around stories, memories and the things that made that person who they were. There is no right or wrong way to say goodbye. There is only your way. Can family and friends be involved in the ceremony? Absolutely. Some people may want to deliver a eulogy, while others might prefer to share a story, read something, talk about a special memory or simply say a few words. I'll help guide everyone through their contribution and weave those moments naturally into the ceremony. Do you work with our funeral director? Yes. I'll liaise directly with your funeral director so your family doesn't have to coordinate everything themselves. What is a committal? The committal is the final part of the farewell. It is a short, personal moment when the coffin or ashes are committed, followed by words of goodbye, reflection or remembrance. I conduct the committal as part of the funeral service, or it can be arranged as a separate graveside or ashes committal. What is a living funeral? A living funeral is a celebration held while someone is still here. It's an opportunity to gather the people who matter, share stories, express love and say the things people often wish they'd had the chance to say. It is planned with the person being celebrated, making it a deeply personal way to acknowledge their life while they are able to hear those words themselves. What if we don't know what to say? That's okay. You don't need to arrive with a finished eulogy or know exactly what you want the ceremony to look like. I'll ask questions, listen to your stories and help you find the words, and you and I will work it out together. Get in touch ## Send a message For after hours, or if a call is hard right now. Say who the service is for, roughly when it might be, and how to reach you, and I will call you back. [0400 110 959](tel:+61400110959) [felicity@bestceremonies.com.au](mailto:felicity@bestceremonies.com.au) Most days, 9am to 7pm. --- This is the Markdown copy of https://bestceremonies.com.au/funerals/. 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