Planning burial arrangements for your loved one

Cemeteries are meaningful places — peaceful, natural settings where memories live on and families can stay connected. Whether you’re choosing a place for ashes or a burial, our beautiful grounds offer space to reflect, honour, and return to. Our team is here to help you find the perfect position for your loved one.

Planning burial arrangements for your loved one

Whether you already have a plot with us or are just beginning to explore your options, please know that you are in caring and capable hands. Our compassionate team is here to guide and support you through every step of the process, at whatever pace feels right for you.

What to do first

Planning a funeral can feel overwhelming, especially when so much is happening at once. To make things a little easier, we’ve outlined the key steps below to help guide you through the process. Our aim is to give you clarity, confidence, and gentle support as you navigate each stage.

Contact a funeral director

The first step is to contact a funeral director. They will guide you through arranging the funeral and take care of the required legal documentation on your behalf. Your funeral director will also liaise directly with our team to organise the burial booking, ensuring everything is coordinated smoothly and respectfully.

Choose a location

If you do not already have a location, you’re welcome to book a time with us directly — or through your funeral director — to choose a plot. During your appointment, we’ll walk with you through the grounds and show you all available positions, helping you find a place that feels right for your family.

Explore tenure options

During your site selection, we will walk you through all tenure options and the beautiful memorialisation possibilities available for your chosen site. If you already own a site with us, we are also here to help with any extensions or transfers that may be needed, ensuring your family's needs are always met.

Complete the arrangements

If you are purchasing a new site, the financials can often be added to your funeral director’s account—subject to the funeral home’s policy—so you only need to manage one bill during an already busy time. From there, we remain your dedicated cemetery contact for all future needs. Our relationship with your family continues well beyond the service.

Support during this difficult time

Grief is a profoundly personal and often overwhelming experience that affects each individual differently. Whether you are mourning the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, or even a way of life, grief manifests in many ways—emotionally, physically, and mentally. It is not a linear process, nor does it follow a set timeline. Instead, it ebbs and flows, sometimes catching you off guard and other times settling into the background as you move forward.

The Many Faces of Grief

Grief is not a single emotion but a complex combination of feelings, including sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, and even relief in some cases. It can also bring about physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, or changes in appetite and sleep patterns. While the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—offer a framework for understanding the process, not everyone experiences them in the same order, and some may revisit certain stages multiple times.

The Importance of Acknowledging Your Feelings

One of the most crucial aspects of coping with grief is allowing yourself to feel and process your emotions without judgment. Society often places expectations on how and when we should "move on," but healing is not about forgetting or suppressing your pain—it’s about learning to carry it in a way that allows you to continue living with meaning and purpose.

Seeking Support: You Are Not Alone

Grief can be isolating, but you do not have to navigate it alone. Connecting with others—whether through friends, family, support groups, or professional counseling—can provide comfort and reassurance. Talking about your loss with someone who understands or simply having a space to express your emotions can make a significant difference.

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Healing at Your Own Pace

Healing from grief does not mean "getting over it"—it means learning to integrate the loss into your life in a way that allows you to move forward while still honoring the memory of what was lost. Some find solace in creative expression, such as writing or art, while others turn to spiritual practices, exercise, or volunteer work as a means of healing. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, only what works best for you.

A Reminder: Seeking Help Is a Sign of Strength

Reaching out for help does not mean you are weak—it means you recognize the importance of self-care and healing. Whether you are just beginning your grief journey or have been carrying the weight of loss for some time, know that support is available whenever you need it. We have attached links to local support who may be able to help you through this time.

If you find yourself needing additional support, there are many organizations and resources dedicated to helping individuals cope with loss. Whether through therapy, online communities, or helplines, there are trusted support partners available to provide guidance, care, and a listening ear when you need it most.

You are not alone. Your grief matters. And with time, compassion, and the right support, you can find your way through it.

What happens after the funeral

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Planning lasting memorialisation

Planning lasting memorialisation

Creating a lasting memorial is an important step in honouring your loved one. All headstones and granite work at our cemeteries must be completed by qualified Stonemasons, and to ensure the highest standards of safety and craftsmanship, they must be members of the Monumental Mason Society of South Australia. If you are choosing a bronze plaque, our team can gently guide you through the design process in our office — including layout, emblems, and inscription details — and we will arrange the installation for you. We also offer refurbishment options should your existing memorial require care over time. We’re here to help you create something beautiful and enduring, crafted with respect and attention to detail.

Understanding tenure periods

Understanding tenure periods

Each burial or cremation site is issued with a set tenure period. Lawn and cremation sites are offered with either 25 or 50 years of tenure, while vaults are issued with 50 or 99 years. Over time, any person may extend the tenure on a site in 5-year increments, bringing it back up to a full active 50 years for lawn and cremation sites, or 99 years for vaults. As the expiry date approaches, we will contact the Interment Right Holder — and any nominated contacts — to guide you through the renewal process. To ensure you receive these important reminders, please keep your contact details up to date with us. If you believe your site may be close to expiry, or may have already expired, we encourage you to proceed with the renewal process as soon as possible. Our team is here to assist you gently at every step.

Visiting and remembering

Visiting and remembering

We warmly welcome you to visit our cemeteries at any time to spend quiet moments with your loved ones. Our grounds are open to pedestrians 24 hours a day, offering peaceful spaces for reflection, remembrance, and connection. We encourage all visitors to treat the parks with care and respect, ensuring they remain comforting places for every family. Children and pets are very welcome — we simply ask that dogs remain on a lead and that owners clean up after them to help keep the grounds pleasant for everyone. Whether you come often or only occasionally, our parks are here for you, providing a gentle and respectful environment to honour those you hold close.

Frequently asked questions

We understand that planning a memorial or making cemetery arrangements can raise many questions. Our Frequently Asked Questions section provides clear, helpful information to guide you through the process — whether you’re planning ahead or arranging a service at the time of need.

Still have a questions?

We're here to support you

Whether you need immediate guidance or simply want to understand your options, our experienced team is ready to support you. We're here to listen and help in whatever way you need.

Arrange a Funeral | Burial & Memorial Guidance Adelaide | Payneham & Dudley Park Cemeteries