IT can be an uncomfortable reality, but planning funeral arrangements is an important part of life.

Pre-planning can give you and your loved ones peace of mind and in this special feature “CityNews” showcases compassionate professionals who can help arrange the details and minimise the burden to help make these difficult decisions easier.

Tranquil site for ceremonies

NORWOOD Park Crematorium has been providing a beautiful and tranquil setting for memorials and ceremonies since 1966, says its managing director Stephen Beer.

“We’ve done a lot of development over the past 10 years with pathways and various types of memorials, which are set in the beautiful bush setting,” he says.
Norwood Park has a chapel on site, memorial gardens and, Stephen says, Canberra’s only crematorium.

“The actual cremation and service is organised between the funeral director and the family, but the memorials are done through our staff,” he says.

“The families can then organise a plaque through us. We’ll get that made and then they can come and proof it and sign off on it before going forward.

“We also have about 50 different plaques on hand that people can come and choose from and a range of beautiful urns if you wish to keep your loved one close.

“Customers are welcome to visit our display room with examples of traditional and contemporary urns.”

It can be an emotional time when the staff at Norwood Park have to interact with customers, which is why Stephen says they always treat them with great respect.

Norwood Park Crematorium, 65 Sandford Street, Mitchell. Call 6241 3177, email info@norwoodpark.com.au, or visit norwoodpark.com.au

Memorial experts keen to listen

WHEN it comes to gravestones and memorials, Avalon Memorials listens to the needs of its customers to design the appropriate memorial for their loved ones, says director Tony Larobina.

“We’re able to design something to people’s personal needs, at a fair price,” he says.

Tony says Avalon Memorials is backed by experienced professionals such as their sales manager Carmine Ciccarone, who has more than 20 years’ experience when it comes to crafting memorials such as full memorials, lawn memorials, and ornaments and accessories.

“And we understand that things change so we go out of our way to give people a headstone that’s modern,” he says.

“Normally people ring and make an appointment to see us or they might already have a design in mind.

“We also have a website with some of the work we have done, which people can get ideas from.

“We’re fairly diverse in our range of products and we’re also capable of restoring old monuments.”

What really sets Avalon Memorials apart, according to Tony, is the time they spend getting to know the customer and, through their stories, getting to know the deceased.

“We try to listen rather than dictate,” he says.

“Ninety-nine per cent of our customers walk away very happy with the service and the product they get.”

Avalon Memorials, 11A Shropshire Street, Queanbeyan. Call Tony on 0427 180776, Carmine on 0481 053248, email sales@avalonmemorials.com.au or visit avalonmemorials.com.au

Kayla’s growing passion for all-things-flowers

WITH a love for nature and creating artworks out of different flowers, the owner of Miss

Muffet’s Flower Boutique, Kayla Patterson, is passionate about sharing these designs with the world.

Since she was little she always loved planting flowers with her dad, so when she started her floristry apprenticeship she was in absolute awe with what she could put together.

“I was so excited that I could create something so beautiful with a part of nature,” she says.

Named after her daughter’s nickname, “Miss Muffet”, she opened Miss Muffet’s Flower Boutique almost three years ago.

Kayla provides arrangements for events such as weddings, funerals, award nights, birthdays and parties, and while she says her style is different from other florists, her main focus is her customers.

“Have you ever had a pretty ordinary day and you go to the shops and the person that serves you is incredibly nice and helpful, and because of that experience it has put a little boost in your day?” she says.

“That is what we aim for.”

Kayla says there’s a lot of options available, and while no flower in particular is “popular” she says her customers love bright and happy flowers.

“Our most common complaint is that they don’t know which one to pick as they are all so beautiful,” she says.

Miss Muffet’s Flower Boutique, Heard Street, Mawson. Call 6286 6195, email missmuffets@outlook.com or visit @missmuffetsflowerboutique on Facebook