Have you ever heard about a Coffin Club? Well, we have one here in Victor Harbor!
What is a Coffin Club?
Stay Tuned…
Grief Journal
We love really great ideas. Here’s a simple gift, to yourself or another person, and you can order direct from the link.
Scatter Tubes
Today I was privileged to deliver this urn to a lady whose husband died suddenly. Loved her choice of Scatter tube. With their beautiful designs, scatter tubes are a functional and respectful way to scatter ashes. Made from heavy cardboard, scatter tubes are specifically designed to securely hold the ashes of your loved one.
These scatter tubes are easy to use and allow for a controlled release of ashes.
To find out more about our range of biodegradable urns or scatter urns contact us on 0438 257 612 or fill out your contact details below and one of our team members will contact you shortly
Vale Dame June Whitfield
Famous people are making their wishes clear too…
Dame June Whitfield star of Absolutely Fabulous laid to rest in a beautiful wicker casket
The Absolutely Fabulous star enjoyed a career stretching back to the 1940s, including roles in some of of the earliest Carry On films in the 1950s. She was best known for her work with comedian Terry Scott, co-starring in sitcoms Terry and June and Happy Ever After, where they played a husband and wife duo.
She was made a dame in the 2017 Birthday Honours for her services to drama and entertainment in a career spanning eight decades.
After the death of co-star Terry Scott in 1994 June went onto play Edina Monsoon’s mother in Absolutely Fabulous, alongside well-loved supporting roles in Last Of The Summer Wine and The Green Green Grass.
She appeared in numerous Radio 4 productions during her career, and played Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple.
Whitfield was awarded an OBE in 1985, followed by a CBE in 1998 and then a Damehood in 2017.
January 19, 2019
“Death Positive” Movement
“Embalm and bury” used to be one of the only way we processed human remains — funeral directors were resistant to cremation (it was much cheaper than burial).
Today, the internet grants us instant access to lots of information and seemingly infinite options.
In general, talking about dying seems less taboo to many, especially with younger generations. They encounter the “death positive” movement online, which aims to make conversations about death normal and routine.
Modern online funeral content is less morbid and instead offers practical information about the choices we can make before we die.
All share a common idea: that Western culture has become too squeamish about talking about death, and that the silence impoverishes the lives leading up to it.
In our latest Blog post, we look at the “death positive” movement!
Tardis personalised coffin
Personalised Coffins are not only trendy they are eco friendly and fit the requirements for a green burial.
A cardboard coffin lends itself to a wide variety of decoration and styles, colours and designs.
Here is the story of Seb Neale, 26, whose friends made a coffin like a Tardis time machine complete with blue flashing light for his out-of-this world send-off….
You can see more of our coffins and ideas on our website www.returninghome.com.au
Feel free to contact us on 0438 257 612 for a friendly chat.
Dr Who lookalike is sent off in a Tardis-style coffin | Daily Mail …www.dailymail.co.uk › news › article-1191224 ›
Losing a beloved pet
We are all about people and pets, so when this article popped up we were keen to share. Today a good friend of mine has had to say goodbye to one of their beloved family members, KK the dog.
Researchers Reveal Losing A Dog Can Be As Hard As Losing A Loved One
If you’ve loved and lost a dog before, you know that it’s an incredibly painful experience. After all, a pet isn’t just an animal you own – it’s someone you consider a member of your family. You share a special bond with them, and they become your best friend and companion. Losing a dog can bring deep sadness.
Many times, dog owners need time to grieve and process the loss of their beloved pets before being able to move on. Those around them who have not experienced this pain may not understand. They might tell a grieving “pet parent” to just get over it since it’s “only a dog.” However, this only serves to worsen the pain.
Now, science has proven that mourning the loss of a much-loved dog is not unusual and is, in fact, a real and valid experience. In fact, this research suggests that overcoming the death of a passed pet may be harder than healing from the passing of a human. Here’s what we’ve learned from this study on why it can be so hard to overcome losing a dog.
5 Reasons Why Losing A Dog Is As Hard As Losing A Loved One
“Sometimes losing a pet is more painful than losing a human because, in the case of the pet, you were not pretending to love it.” – Amy Sedaris
1. Bonding
According to the Official Journal of the Human Behavior and Evolution Study, we forge bonds with our pups that are very comparable to the bonds we form with people. Our brains interpret these bonding activities in the same way. In other words, our bodies produce the exact same hormones when we bond with dogs as when we bond with people.
This is why your pups begin to feel just like family to you The same chemical processes are taking place that would if you were speaking to a family member! In the case of losing a dog, you have to let go of a creature you have deeply bonded with.
2. Grieving
So, we’ve established that you bond with dogs and humans the same way. But when a canine companion passes away, you can’t mourn for them the same way you do for people. When a human you’re close to passes away, you can seek therapy or counseling, have the support of friends, family, and loved ones, and hold or attend a funeral.
But when a dog passes away, you have to move on as quickly as you can because this is what others deem acceptable. You can’t turn down social events or have slower performance at work because, according to Telegraph, others don’t see the loss of a pet as something worth grieving over.
Additionally, attending therapy for such a thing might result in negative social repercussions. This can make it tough for you to reconcile a pet’s passing and find closure so you can move on.
3. Love and Comfort
When your pet dies, you aren’t just losing a dog. You’re losing the feelings you got around them. You’re losing their love, the comfort their presence gave, and the companionship they provided. That’s a lot to lose all in one go, and it can make you feel very empty.
Plus, dogs give their human moms and dads the kind of unconditional love that you can’t really find in people. It’s a love that really, really hurts to lose.
4. Memories and Routines
If you had a dog, they likely lived with you; you spent most of your time at home with them around. When they pass away, your home becomes different.
- Gone are the routines you got so used to – feeding your pup or taking them out on walks.
- You no longer hear them running through the house, or feel them when they jump up on your lap for a cuddle.
- This can make you feel like you’re lost, especially if you’re one of the many pet owners whose daily schedule has always involved their pets.
You might continue to automatically perform tasks or actions that would only apply if your dog was still around. This makes it all the more difficult to move on.
5. Guilt
Sometimes, a decision about your dog’s life is placed in your hands. If they were suffering, you may have had to decide that it was time to put them to sleep. Although you made the best choice for your pup, you may still feel guilty about what happened.
Carrying around that guilt with you can make the goodbye even more difficult. You might feel like you should have done more – even when there was nothing else you could do.
So, What Does This All Mean?
Losing a dog – or any pet – is going to be heartbreaking. Remember that your feelings are absolutely valid and that it is okay to need to grieve them. And if other people don’t understand, tell them that your feelings are backed by science!
“Fearless Folder” – helping loved ones deal with your death
Thanks to UK site Dying Matters for sharing this valuable information. Their mission is to
To support changing knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards death, dying and bereavement, and through this to make ‘living and dying well’ the norm.
We all want to know that our loved ones will be safe, secure and happy after we die – but one woman has taken her preparations one step further. A mother-of-five from Australia has created a clever ‘fearless folder’ so her family will know exactly what to do if she gets seriously injured or dies unexpectedly.
Read more: Fearless Folder
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
DIY – What You Need for a Funeral
Do you need a funeral director?
A direct cremation – meaning no service, no attendance – is the cheapest option after a death.
Throughout most of Australia, you can legally arrange almost all aspects of a funeral without using the services of a funeral director.
Government regulations and industry policies complicate people’s ability to take funeral matters into their own hands.
Most people choose to hire a funeral director to help navigate confusing legal requirements and the logistics involved at a time of grief.
Read more here CHOICE MAGAZINE
Personalised, Environmentally Friendly Coffins
LifeArt, an Australian owned company that specialises in making personalised and environmentally friendly coffins, offers a great way to bid farewell to your loved ones without harming the environment.
They produce sturdy biodegradable coffins made of recycled cardboard and paper. The LifeArt cardboard coffins for cremation or burial adhere to industry standards and have the strength to hold weight just like the traditional timber coffins.
As recycled cardboard and paper offers scope for digital printing, personalising the coffins with images, colours, or designs is possible. These cardboard coffins for cremation or burial have been independently tested and meet all regulatory and funeral industry requirements.
“The specific point of difference of these coffins is the digital printing on the coffins that needs to be mentioned. There are standard designs and custom printing that are available.
Wicker Coffins
Did you know that decorating a wicker coffin with flowers is easier and prettier than a regular coffin? That’s because flowers and messages, ribbons and personal items can be poked into the sides as well as the lid in a random fashion or a formal structured way.
Returning Home, believe funerals and funeral care should be meaningful, authentic, healing and beautiful.
We hear it all the time that every person is unique and the perfect opportunity for us to be able to really showcase that idea is to hold a memorable funeral that reflects this.
Whether looking to plan your own, or a loved one’s funeral make sure you shop around.
Yes that’s right, shop around for a Funeral Home that will provide a range of services which enables you to have a much greater say in how you or a loved one is treated in dying and death.
Voluntary Assisted Dying – what you need to know
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (Vic) comes into effect on June 19, making Victoria the first state in Australia to allow “voluntary assisted dying”.
The legislation was passed in November 2017 following the recommendations of a state parliamentary inquiry into end of life choices, and a subsequent ministerial advisory panel on voluntary assisted dying.
While Victoria is not the first jurisdiction in the world to offer some form of assisted death, the state’s legislation is unique in the way voluntary assisted dying will be regulated.
What is voluntary assisted dying?
Voluntary assisted dying refers to a doctor providing assistance to enable a patient to die. It may offer an additional “end of life” option for those considered eligible, allowing a person to choose to die sooner than otherwise anticipated.
A person may request voluntary assisted dying to avoid suffering that cannot be managed in a way they consider tolerable. It’s also a means to control the time and location of their death.
The Victorian regime primarily sets out a practice of “self-administration”, allowing a person to self-administer a prescribed lethal substance. A doctor doesn’t need to be present, though can be.
If a person is physically unable to self-administer, the legislation also provides for “practitioner administration”, allowing a medical practitioner to administer the substance in a way most appropriate for the patient.
Read more: Want to better understand Victoria’s assisted dying laws? These five articles will help
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to access voluntary assisted dying a person must:
- be aged 18 or over
- have lived in Victoria for at least one year before making a first request for voluntary assisted dying, and be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- have decision-making capacity in relation to voluntary assisted dying, meaning they must be able to understand, retain, and weigh information about voluntary assisted dying, and communicate their decision.
They must be diagnosed with a disease, illness, or medical condition that is assessed to be:
- incurable, advanced, and progressive
- causing suffering that cannot be relieved in a way considered tolerable by the person
- predicted to cause death within no more than six months, or no more than 12 months for those with a neurodegenerative diagnosis.
Victoria is not establishing a “right” to voluntary assisted dying. This means there will not be universal access, and people cannot demand voluntary assisted dying.
Rather, access to voluntary assisted dying will depend on the availability of participating health services and medical practitioners, and the approval of the state.
How does someone access voluntary assisted dying?
The legislation outlines a formal procedure for accessing voluntary assisted dying, with specific requirements for making a request, assessment of eligibility, and processes for applying for a voluntary assisted dying permit.
In brief, the first step is a request, made directly by the person to a medical practitioner. This is followed by an initial assessment to determine eligibility, conducted by a “coordinating medical practitioner”.
Next, another doctor, called a “consulting medical practitioner” will conduct a second assessment to confirm the person’s eligibility. The patient will also need to make a second request, in the form of a written declaration, signed in the presence of two witnesses and the coordinating medical practitioner.
Read more: From ‘right to die’ to ‘right to choose the way you die’ – the shifting euthanasia debate
The patient will then need to make a third and final request to the coordinating medical practitioner at least nine days after the first request (unless death is likely to occur before).
Lastly, the coordinating medical practitioner will conduct a final review to certify the request and assessment process. They will then apply for a permit, either for self-administration or practitioner administration.
Either or both the coordinating or consulting medical practitioner may refer the patient to another specialist to assess aspects of the eligibility criteria if needed.
Importantly, at any stage of the process, a person who has requested access to voluntary assisted dying may change their mind and decide not to proceed.
What safeguards are in place?
The ministerial advisory panel on voluntary assisted dying detail 68 “safeguards”, considering aspects of eligibility and access, medication management and storage, protections for practitioners, and reporting and oversight.
Safeguards for members of the community include the required “voluntariness” for accessing voluntary assisted dying.
A person requesting voluntary assisted dying must have decision-making capacity at the time of the request. It’s not possible to make a request for voluntary assisted dying in an advance care directive.
A discussion about voluntary assisted dying must be initiated by the person directly, and cannot be initiated by a health practitioner.
Read more: In places where it’s legal, how many people are ending their lives using euthanasia?
Safeguards for health practitioners include provisions for conscientious objection. This means doctors can refuse to participate in any processes related to voluntary assisted dying, including providing information, assessing eligibility, and prescribing or administering drugs.
Medical practitioners participating in voluntary assisted dying must hold certain registrations as relevant to their speciality, and must complete online or face-to-face training on voluntary assisted dying.
A Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board has been established to monitor and report on the operation of voluntary assisted dying.
Wider implications
The state’s introduction of voluntary assisted dying represents a historic transformation of health law in Victoria.
The task now for the state is to operationalise the legislation in health policy and clinical care. A Voluntary Assisted Dying Implementation Taskforce has been established to prepare for and oversee practical implementation of voluntary assisted dying.
Navigating the complex legislation will be a new challenge for health services, health practitioners, and patients. It remains to be seen how Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying regime will work in practice.
Whether or not one supports assisted death, Victoria’s approach to voluntary assisted dying raises a number of important questions; about the power of medicine and the role of medical practitioners, about medical treatment decision-making and end of life choices, and about dying and the value of death.
With other jurisdictions in Australia exploring the legalisation of some form of assisted death, the implementation of voluntary assisted dying in Victoria is under close scrutiny, both within the state and beyond.
from The Conversation
Our Logo
This is the logo for the inspiring idea behind “Returning Home,” which takes the form of a suitcase tag. Find out the story behind this logo, and why it is made up of these two elements.
Grieve with Praise
“Grief is praise of those we have lost. Our own souls who have loved and are now heartbroken would turn to stone and hate us if we did not show such praise when we lose someone whom we love.
To not grieve is a violence to the Divine and our own hearts and especially to the dead. If we do not grieve what we miss, we are not praising what we love. We are not praising the life we have been given in order to love. If we do not praise whom we miss, we are ourselves in some way dead.
So grief and praise make us alive.“
Excerpted from The Smell of Rain on Dust by Martín Prechtel. (c) 2015, North Atlantic Books.
Photo: Oriana Rose saying goodbye to her dad at his home funeral, Sacred Crossings 2016
Bios Urn
After relocating from Mildura in Victoria to Victor Harbor SA we can now recommence to offer the world renowned Bios Urn direct to the public. Why Bios Urn?
The innovative design is 100% Eco-friendly and Biodegradable and is the perfect choice for those who want to memorialize their loved one’s ashes in the form of a memorial tree.
Simple, affordable and beautiful.
Retailing at just $189.00 AUD call us for a free demonstration or a chat today 0438 257 612
‘Adagio’ Cork Urn
The unique Adagio Urn, is harvested from the Quercus Suber, commonly called the Cork Oak. Recyclable and biodegradable, cork can be harvested from the bark without felling or harming the tree in any way.
Best known for its application as wine corks, bulletin boards and, increasingly, showpiece flooring, the warm material is finding its way into furnishings, lighting and accessories and NOW into the funeral world in the shape of urns!
This urn is designed to return 100% of the ashes back to nature. It is made of cardboard with a sustainably sourced cork layer.
Returning Home is proud to provide 100% eco friendly and biodegradable urns for people and pets.
Botanique
The “BOTANIQUE Collection”
The BOTANIQUE Collection of handmade Urns is inspired of course, by nature. The BOTANIQUE Collection is a range of limited edition Urns adorned with premium floral leaves, bulbs and seeds.
This special collection of Urns contains colour co-ordinated eco friendly dried flora to represent the favoured colours of your loved one.
The “BOTANIQUE Collection” is available in Blue & Purple, Shades of Green, Natural Earth and Powder Pinks.
Priced for the budget conscious, hand made for those who appreciate the honest touch, 100% Bio-degradable and Eco Friendly for lovers of Nature and the Earth.
We’ll keep you posted as the new colours are released, so if you are thinking about a beautiful urn with a reverent nod to nature be quick to get in and make your order.
The love of a dog
Do you or someone you know have a service dog?
What do you think of this sweet photo?
IN NEWS • ON MONDAY 3RD DEC, 2018
‘Mission complete’: George H. W. Bush’s service dog Sully keeps vigil by his master’s coffin.
Photos of former President George H.W. Bush welcomed a new family member as he shared a photo of his new service dog, Sully.
What to do with Cremains
Cremains in your cupboard? Don’t know what to do with them? Feel at a loose end? Not sure? Have some ideas?
Ok then, we can help you decide what to do because we are able to offer a selection of urns suitable for water commemoration, earth burial, scattering or for memorization a loved one to create an everlasting memorial garden to turn cremains into a tree for generations to come.
It’s easier than you think and did you know that we can also help with a (small or large) memorial service for the loved one you have have been undecided about until now?
Just give us a call and our staff will talk to you about your options. We also offer a sea burial with a local provider. Even though we have an obligation free policy we are here just to see how we can help and offer some ideas that just might be the perfect solution for you!
Call our friendly team on 0438 257 612
Biodegradable Pillow Urn
This pillow shaped biodegradable urn is white in colour and is ideal for families seeking alternative products to celebrate the life of a loved one. It has been hand-crafted from sustainably produced and biodegradable mulberry paper with an embossed tactile rose print. It has a matching white paper band to secure the urn.
When placed in water it will float briefly and sink to the bottom, where it will break down naturally over time.
For more info call our friendly team on 0438 257 612