10 Australian customs when someone dies

1. when someone dies their body is usually taken to a funeral home straight away after calling the family doctor
2. a doctor must examine the body and write a medical certificate stating the cause of death
3. funerals usually occur within 7-10 days of the death
4. family, friends and work colleagues usually attend the funeral and at some funerals you may view the body
5. crying is done quietly – screaming and howling are considered excessive
6. black is traditionally worn at funerals (especially by older people)
7. there is a ‘service’ in a church or other religious venue OR in a non-religious venue
8. the service is followed by a burial or cremation at a cemetery
9. If the body is cremated, the family is given the ashes to keep
10. we send flowers and cards to express our sympathy to the family or close friends and deaths notices are placed in the paper by friends, family and colleagues to announce the death or express sympathy

If you found this page useful you might like my page on 10 customs around having a baby in Australia

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   Fremantle Cemetery, Western Australia