What makes us different?

  1. Prices are transparent

  2. Locally owned and operated

  3. Simple business model

  4. No chapel

  5. Less formality

  6. If it’s legal, let’s do it

Here’s six things that we do differently

A view of one of the many beaches at Noosa National Park with a sandy shoreline and turquoise water, surrounded by green hills and a hiking trail with people walking on it.

Prices are transparent

One of the things that bothers me about most funeral businesses is the lack of transparency on prices. No one makes the smartest decisions when they’re emotional and occasionally families will spend more they expected, thinking the more they spend, the more the guest of honour was loved.

This is simply not true.

Our prices are on display for anyone to see. If you want to add something to the service or the cremation you’re welcome to. If that increases the cost you’ll told about it immediately.

There’s no surprises when you get the invoice.

There’s no regret following the service.

Sunrise at Kings beach in Caloundra with rocky shoreline, sandy area, and a deck with white umbrellas and lounge chairs.

Locally owned and operated

Sunshine Coast Funerals is a family owned and operated business. We are not part of an enormous conglomerate creating wealth for shareholders. We are very proud to be local.

We surf the same breaks, eat at at the same resturants and enjoy a beer at the same surf clubs and pubs as the locals we serve.

We believe this makes us more personal. We have a good understanding of the available places for services and council regulations.

In a world of ever increasing global businesses we are happy to swim in the opposite direction. We answer to the families we serve, not a boardroom. Decisions are made for what’s best for them, not what’s best for the bottom line.

Obviously making a profit is one of the responsibilities for any business, but it’s not our only responsibility. Serving local families with caring, personal and meaningful farewell services at a reasonable price is the first priority.

View from a wooden balcony at Alexandra Headland overlooking a sandy beach with rocks, the ocean with small waves, and a cloudy sky with the sun partially visible through clouds.

Simple business model

There’s no fancy office to meet in. We come to your house or meet at a cafe to discuss arrangements and complete paperwork. It’s more personal and more convenient for our families. It also means we’re not paying rent (which is an expense ultimately paid for by you).

We don’t have beautifully manicured gardens for the same reason. If you’d like to have a farewell service in a beautiful garden there’s plenty of free options or we can rent the space on a temporary basis. This keeps your options open and keeps our prices reasonable.

We don’t have a large team of full time staff. We engage professionals when we need them. When you call us, chances are Anthony the owner will be the one who answers the phone.

.

Sunshine Coast sunset over a calm river with reflections of the colorful sky and suburban houses along the shoreline, with scattered clouds in the sky.

No Chapel

We believe the location of your farewell service is crucially important.

If you’re a regular church-goer then your church is the ideal place for your farewell service.

If not, you may consider having the service at your Third Place.

Your Third Place is generally not your work or your home. It’s the place you visit to relax, to recharge your batteries, to feel at peace. That may be your home or work, but it might also be the beach, the park, your favourite surf club, local pub or waterfall in the hinterland.

The location you choose should reflect your personality (or the personality of the guest-of-honour). Additionally, we need to consider access, car parking, available facilities and a back up plan if your outdoor venue gets washed out.

We are spoilt for options on the Sunshine Coast. There’s an ideal location for every local.

.

A marina with several sailboats and yachts docked near Pier 33 in calm water under a cloudy sky, with residential buildings in the background and a palm tree branch in the upper right corner.

Less formality

We don’t wear suits and ties.

That’s not to say we wouldn’t! If you want the team to wear a suit, we’ll put one on. But most Sunshine Coast locals rarely wear a suit.

Dressing a certain way does not mean you respect anyone more or less. It doesn’t reflect the amount of love you have for someone. It doesn’t mean you are grieving any more or less.

Being comfortable in our sub-tropical environment makes sense.

Being comfortable while we’re celebrating someones life is important.

.

Beautiful Moffatt Beach with golden sand, clear blue water, and people relaxing. There is a grassy area with picnic tables and a large tree on the right side.

If it’s legal, let’s do it.

Making a service personal means thinking outside the square. Doing things a little differently is fine with us. Within that, we live in community with others. We understand there’s some legal restrictions on outdoor services which we must legally abide by. The Viking funeral with the flaming arrow shot into a floating pyre is not allowed.

There’s also some social norms to be considered. Showing respect to others when conducting services in spaces we share with other people is reasonable and appropriate. Respecting others doesn’t detract from the occasion. If anything, it enhances it. Scattering ashes off the side of the Coast Guard boat is a wonderful way to say ‘goodbye’. Scattering ashes between the red and yellow flags is not cool.