“CityNews” speaks to professionals who can offer peace of mind when it comes to some of life’s most difficult decisions.

ORGANISING a funeral, creating a will or investing in an estate plan can be an uncomfortable reality, but throughout Canberra there are compassionate experts who can help ease the burden.

“CityNews” speaks to professionals who offer peace of mind when it comes to some of life’s most difficult decisions.

Finding a beautiful resting place for loved ones

CANBERRA Memorial Parks offers a wide range of cremation, traditional burial, natural burial and memorialisation options to honour and celebrate community members across three beautiful parks at Woden, Gungahlin and Hall, says CEO Kerry McMurray.

“We also assist those who would like the remains of loved ones to be buried or scattered elsewhere, in a place of personal significance,” he says.

“We strive to help the whole community in planning for their end of life or to honour the life of a loved one in a way that reflects their personal needs and wishes.”

Featuring a private viewing room accommodating up to 25 people, Kerry says the new Gungahlin crematorium incorporates features which meet the diverse needs of Canberra’s communities.

He says the crematorium is ideal for intimate services with a choice of witnessing the cremation and that the Gungahlin cemetery offers natural burials in a beautiful bushland environment which let people’s remains decompose sustainably and return to nature.

“Our team are caring, considerate people who are committed to supporting the Canberra community when they need us most,” he says.

“The services we offer are facilitated by our expertly trained and considerate customer service people, who help you navigate what option best suits your personal needs and wishes or cultural tradition.

“Staff are available to conduct tours of the grounds at Woden, Gungahlin and Hall cemeteries and assist you with finding a beautiful resting place.”

Canberra Memorial Parks, call 6207 0000 or email canberramemorialparks@act.gov.au

Comforting, caring approach to wills

CAPON and Hubert Lawyers and Mediators can help clients update their will as they get older to ensure their wishes are respected, says wills and estate-planning lawyer Ashilpa Khanna.

Ashilpa, who has also recently been made a notary public, says some people don’t have a will, which means their possessions are instead distributed by the “rules of intestacy”.

“This distribution means that someone – your spouse or a family member – will have to apply to the court to be appointed administrator before they can handle your estate,” she says.

This can be costly and time-consuming. Even if they have a will, Ashilpa says it’s important that seniors periodically review it, especially after significant events such as when children get married or the birth of a grandchild.

“At the forefront of people’s minds is making sure their financial and legal affairs are in order so that, in the event of a crisis, their loved ones are secure and can be provided for as intended,” she says.

Capon and Hubert Lawyers and Mediators has been helping people with their legal matters for more than 34 years and can also help seniors with a range of legal issues in areas such as family law, children’s matters, conveyancing, and power of attorney.

“We are focused on giving honest and expert advice at all times,” she says.

“Our staff are experienced in their fields and we take pride in knowing that they will always use common sense, respect, courtesy and good judgement when dealing with clients.”

Capon and Hubert Lawyers and Mediators, first floor, 32-38 Townshend Street, Phillip. Email enquiries@chsol.com.au, call 6152 9203 or visit chsol.com.au

A comforting, caring, family approach to funerals

BILL and Christine Cole, the principals of William Cole Funerals, say they approach arranging funerals with compassion and have organised more than 17,000 services in their 30 years in their Belconnen-based funeral home.

An independent and family-operated funeral home, run by former high-school sweethearts Bill and Christine and their team, which includes daughter Judy and her husband Naithan, son David and more recently, two of their granddaughters, Bill says they offer a caring, personal service.

“People tell us that they feel comforted and that arranging a funeral was less difficult than they had thought it would be,” he says.

“We want them to know that the service they experience exceeds their expectations.”

For Bill, becoming a funeral director was a “calling”, while Christine says she found her passion by helping people in their time of grief, using her talents to provide an organised, calm approach to planning a funeral with the families she met.

As one of only two remaining locally-owned funeral homes in Canberra, Bill says they offer personalised, empathetic and understanding service and choice for families, including all different styles of funerals and farewells for civil services and all faiths.

William Cole Funerals, 60 Nettlefold Street, Belconnen. Call 6253 3655 or visit williamcolefunerals.com.au

Award-winning local florists go the extra mile

ANTHOS Flowers provides floral arrangements and bouquets for all occasions, says owner Drew Daskalakis.

They also offer floral tributes, wreaths, casket covers, and sheaf and sympathy arrangements.

“What makes us ‘us’ is the quality, fresh product, the extra mile we go to make sure our flowers last the longest time possible,” says Drew.

He says the focus on the business has always been making beautiful floral designs for any occasion. 

“We pride ourselves on our good value and outstanding customer service.

“We offer delivery six days a week throughout Canberra and Queanbeyan, the store is open seven days a week,” he says.

Drew has more than 25 years of experience in the floral industry, and opened Anthos Flowers five years ago.

“We’re an award-winning local florist, with affordable and long-lasting quality flowers.”

Anthos Flowers, 46 Hibberson Street, Gungahlin. Call 6241 1249, or visit anthosflowers.com.au