Life Rites Funerals

10/10/2026

As the sun sets on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, Saturday October 10th, we reflect upon all the people being cared for by palliative care nurses, doctors, allied health teams, colleagues, supporters and patient advocates. As end-of-life and mortality doulas, we have built trust, understanding and collaborative relationships with all who care for the dying and those who love them. Today we recognise you all- the dying themsleves, their families, kith and kin, all clinicians as well as the cleaners, the drinks trolley volunteers, the admin teams, ward staff, and more. All the sung and unsung heroes who bring their very best to work every day and provide powerful spaces for person-centered, holistic care. We see you.

09/10/2026

08/10/2026

All Souls Chapel at Rookwood today served up the most spectacular storytelling, full of birdsong, laughter, tears and love for a brilliant man, whose community showed up in great style to send him off. This chapel that supports all faiths, cultures and secular ceremonies is a jewel in Rookwood Necropolis.

02/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Lp5erd439/?mibextid=wwXIfr

01/10/2026

Pack a picnic and come be with your living and your dead 🧡

The Picnic Among Friends was created in 2010 to give people an opportunity to come to a safe, beautiful and natural location to give personal, creative and communal expressions of how we live and love, with loss. How we can create new communal ways to remember those we love. For 10 years, the picnic was hosted by the not-for-profit community association, Living with our Dead, whose mission was to re-integrate death as a significant part of life through community ceremonial events. It is now back in its original location for 2026 and we would love to share the afternoon with you. Please read this blog for key elements you can engage in on the day: https://www.liferites.com.au/blog/picnicamongfriends

You can register for Picnic Among Friends here: https://events.humanitix.com/picnic-among-friends-2026

We would love to share this afternoon with you and your people, living and dead, do join us. Love, the Picnic Among Friends Team x

22/09/2026

As part of the cremation process, families can choose to have a ‘witness insertion’ - in funeral speak, this is being present in the working part of the crematorium and seeing the coffin enter the cremator. In most Sydney crematoriums, you do this from a room with a large window that directly faces the cremators. The concierge meets you, with the funeral director, ushers you into a room with couches, a table and curtains across the window and then explains the process. What will happen and when, what you will see and ask if you hve any questions. They stress that it is quick- that once the coffin arrives in front of the cremator and the door opens, its 20 to 30 seconds of time that you see the coffin enter the cremator before the door closes again. Victoria says that the first time she saw this she was struck by the rich and beautiful orange glow emanating from inside the cremator and it was so comforting and beautiful. Some people take great comfort from bearing witness all the way, for others they find it a strange anti-climax, others are awed by the visceral nature of it. And yet, for others, it’s simply not their thing.
For us at Life RItes, choice and transparency about when you say that final goodbye to the body of your person is an ethical and important consideration.

19/09/2026

Should my kids come to the funeral?
This question is one we are asked often. And, whilst the final decision rests with the family and parents, we unpack the reasons why attending can be a powerful experience of family cohesion and support for the children and the people who love them. Protecting our kids in the face of the deaths of their caregivers and family members is foremost in most people’s minds. It can feel counter intuitive, but often, the safest place for kids is inside the experience rather than outside of it. Meaning, that depending upon their age, the relationship to the person who has died and nature of the death, speaking in simple, direct and plain language and giving them a picture of what happens, before they are in it, lays the best foundation for them staying present and feeling supported. Kids are often very inquisitive, asking questions and wanting to be involved. Finding creative ways for them to express their love is a beautiful thing. Decorating a coffin, drawing a picture, helping distribute flowers after the ceremony, writing a note all give them a sense of being with their family and seeing the tears as well as the togetherness, laughter and often, the quiet joy that emerges.

17/09/2026

Each year, we welcome Master of Social Work students from the University of Sydney as part of their elective exploring death and dying.

We spend time talking about our model of care, the choices available to families, and some of the considerations when supporting people through health, aged care and family systems.

Students also tour our funeral home, giving them a greater understanding of what happens after a person dies and the many different parts of care that continue for both the person who has died and the people around them.

We’re always grateful for the opportunity to share this part of death care with future social workers.

14/09/2026

This wonderful event is on this Thursday at Kirrawee Library.

https://ow.ly/WJ8b50ZLK0N

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS | What should care look like at end of life?

If you have experience of end of life care as a family member, carer, friend, volunteer or health professional your insights are valuable we would to hear from you.

Join us for an open community conversation about what matters most at the end of life. Your insights will help inform future community education, support, partnerships and service planning across South Eastern Sydney.

Register for one of these upcoming sessions:

Kirrawee Library: 16 September, 12:30-3:30PM
https://ow.ly/WJ8b50ZLK0N
Margaret Martin Library: 28 September, 6:30-8:00PM
https://ow.ly/xFGi50ZLK0L

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN, Randwick City Council

11/09/2026

Sunrise departures from our funeral home 🌅🧡