Centennial Park - Frequent questions and their answers

When our clients come to enquire about the many services available at Centennial Park, there are often many unknowns, questions can be difficult to ask and sometimes it is not clear what questions need to be asked.

Our many years of experience have taught us that questions about burial and cremation require direct answers. You will find them here.

Please download the brochure below or view the list of Frequent Questions below.

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Questions & Answers Brochure (1789kb)

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Q.	How soon should a funeral be arranged and how is this organised?
	Arrangements through a Funeral Director will need to be organized. Discuss with them how soon you wish the service to take place, whom you wish to officiate at the service and the type of service you wish to have. Your Funeral Director will make these arrangements on your behalf. For more information on funeral directors click on the following link - Funeral Directors Page

What is the procedure in the chapel on the day?

The coffin is usually brought into the chapel and placed on the catafalque at the front of the chapel before the family and friends enter for the service. Alternatively arrangements can be made to have the coffin carried in to the chapels as part of the service. At the appropriate time during the service, the coffin is removed from view by being lowered or if you prefer may remain on the catafalque until the family and friends have left the chapel.

Q.	Can the chapels be used for a burial service?
	Yes, both the chapel and lounge facilities may be used in conjunction with a burial interment.

Q.	How is the grave dug?
	Centennial Park is designed to allow for complete mechanical digging of rectangular graves using a zero swing excavator and front end loader to fill.

Q.	What happens when Centennial Park runs out of space?
	Our re-use of graves policy and constant planning together with management of the available resources ensures that Centennial Park will always provide burial and cremation memorials and renewal tenure in South Australia.

What happens to a grave if the tenure is expired and there are no family members?

Our re-use of graves policy allows for a period of 2 years after the licence tenure has expired. If the position is required by another family and the expiry date is over 2 years, Management and the Board of Centennial Park can authorise that the burial remains be placed at a lower level in the grave. The headstone is photographed (which is placed on our records) and then taken from the park and destroyed. All re-use of expired graves is at the discretion of the Board and Management of Centennial Park.

What happens to a memorial position if the tenure is expired and ther are no other family members?

Our expired sites policy allows for a period of 2 years after the licence tenure has expired. If the position is required by another family and the expiry date is over 2 years, Management and the Board of Centennial Park can authorise that the cremated remains be placed into an unmarked location within the grounds at Centennial Park and the plaque is donated to the Educational Trust Fund. All re-use of expired sites is at the discretion of the Board and Management of Centennial Park.

Q.	Can personal mementos be buried or cremated with the deceased?
	Yes, although you should discuss this with your Funeral Director to ensure the item(s) will not be a potential hazard. Although it is common to leave a wedding ring on, most items of value are passed on as heirlooms.

Q.	What music is available for the service?
	Suitable music is provided in the chapels as a background to the proceedings. Equipment is available whereby your own music may be played. There is also an organ available in each chapel for your use.

Q.	Does the cremation take place immediately after the service?
	The cremation will follow as soon as possible, almost within 24 hours.

Q.	Can the service be recorded?
	A professional video recording of the service may be arranged.

Q.	With cremation what happens to the coffin after the service, and how is the identity of the cremated remains maintained?
	The coffin is transferred to the crematorium where the nameplate on the coffin is checked with cremation process until the cremated remains are safely stored in a labelled container.

Q.	Is the coffin cremated with the body?
	Yes

Q.	Are there religious groups which prohibit cremation for their members?
	Cremation is prohibited by Orthodox Jews, Muslims and some other religions. Most Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church, allow cremations. Cremations are the preferred option for Sikhs, Hindus, Parsees and Buddhists.

Q.	Does cremation interfere with any religious rite?
	Where cremation is accepted, all religious rites and ceremonies are respected. The chapels are available for use whether it be for a civil or religious ceremony.

Q.	How many people are cremated in South Australia each year?
	As a result of the approximately 12,000 deaths in South Australia each year there are 6,500 cremations. This represents an overall average for South Australia for 54%. In Adelaide, where cremation facilities are more readily available, the rate approaches 70%.

Q.	If I wanted to know more about cremation, and perhaps inspect the crematorium, how should I go about it?
	Contact Centennial Park and we shall be pleased to discuss the matter and answer your questions. A tour of the chapel and Crematorium facilities can also be arranged. For more information on funeral directors click on the following link - Tours Information

Q.	Who has the authority to direct the method of disposal of the cremated remains?
	Instructions regarding the disposal of cremated remains will be accepted only from the person who applies for cremation. This must be a signed, written instruction and is completed with the funeral director at the time the funeral is arranged. The applicant may make a written transfer of this right to another person whose written instructions will thereupon be accepted.

Q.	How can I ensure that I am cremated when I die?
	Clear instructions in writing should be given to the person responsible for your funeral. These instructions however, are not binding in law unless written in your Will. A Will is not by itself sufficient to ensure cremation as a funeral may take place before the contents of the Will are known.

Q.	Is more than one coffin cremated at one time?
	The size of the cremator does not permit more than one coffin to be cremated at any given time.

Q.	What happens at the end of cremation?
	The remains are removed from the cremator and placed in a cooling container. When cool, any metal objects such as nails, screws or artificial joints are removed while the remains are reduced to a granular state.

Q.	Are there facilities available at the chapel to meet after the service?
	Each chapel at Centennial Park has lounge facilities where tea, coffee and biscuits are served. Other catering arrangements can be made, in consultation with your Funeral Director.

Q.	What happens with the handles and other fittings?
	Most fittings are plastic and are cremated with the coffin. Metal fittings are removed as they can damage the cremator. These metal fittings are not re-used, but buried within the cemetery grounds.

Q.	How many people can be buried in a grave?
	More than one burial may be effected in each grave. Advance arrangements are often made where families wish to be placed together. While initially up to three burials can be accommodated in each grave, additional burials may be affected if required. For details please refer to the brochure “Ongoing Use of Graves”.

Q.	What happens to cremated remains?
	A range of memorial options are available at Centennial Park for your consideration. For more information on funeral directors click on the following link - Memorial Options

Q.	What memorials are available?
	Memorials are offered in niche walls, rose gardens, garden borders, under trees and on garden seats. The minimum tenure for a cremation memorial is 30 years and may be renewed periodically. For more information on funeral directors click on the following link - Memorial Options

Q.	Can relatives witness the committal of the coffin to the cremator?
	People who wish to view the coffin being placed into the cremator are able to do so in a special room adjacent to the cremator. Advance notice is required as special arrangements for timing may need to be made.

Q.	Is cremation cheaper than burial?
	This depends upon your choice of memorial and other factors.

Q.	Can the casket be open during a service in the Chapel?
	Yes, this can be arranged in conjunction with your Funeral Director.

Q.	Is it necessary to place a death or funeral notice in a newspaper?
	This is a personal choice.

Q.	What happens to the coffin at the completion of the cremation committal service?
	The coffin is lowered to the chapel service area, where the nameplate is checked. Then the coffin is transported by the Park’s staff to the crematorium, which is a separate building 200 meters from the Chapel Complex.

Q.	Is it true that pacemakers or radioactive implants must be removed before cremation?
	Yes, these implants can explode at high temperatures, not only causing damage to the cremator, but also placing crematorium staff at some physical risk.

At Centennial Park we are committed to showing dignity and respect for mourners. Should you have any questions that are not answered on this page or require more information about certain areas, please ask our staff – you will find a caring and sensitive approach to your needs.