This is a question we have been asked many, many times over the last 15 years and the answer is, lots of places you may not immediately think of. Of course, churches, funeral home and crematorium chapels and gravesites are all purpose built for services. So are many town halls, surf clubs, events and signature venues, restaurants, botanic gardens, parks and even, your own backyard.

Although many services still take place in these locations today, there has been a move to hold funeral services in locations that were significant to the person who’s life is being celebrated and to their community.

Many years ago, Victoria met with a representative from the City of Sydney Council and discussed the vital role that Town Halls and others community spaces play in the health and well being of our community, and that allowing funerals (with a coffin present) in these locations was a vital service. They agreed and this ushered in a new era of site specific funerals in many of these iconic and much loved buildings. Other LGA’s and venues followed.

We have since worked with Redfern Town Hall, Marrickville Town Hall and many other Town Halls, all of which support site specific funeral ceremonies by allowing community members to gather in places that literally support integrating death as a part of life.

Often these grand old buildings seem the right scale and fit for the enormity of loss. They can also provide intimate and private gathering opportunities.

On the Central Coast we work alongside Towoon Bay Surf Life Saving Club and many others. The culture of Surf and RSL Clubs truly understand how to care for community and we love them for this.

Grief and grieving come to most of us in the course of our lives. The value of being able to stay farewell in a place that reflects people’s lives and their values is beyond compare, Add to this that many of these spaces are by the ocean or in a location that is full of beauty and nature is a well known balm for the shock and pain of loss.

Audley Dance Hall, just south of Sydney in the Royal National Park is another location that serves community by providing their original dance hall venue, a great menu and an amazing location for a ceremony and catered wake.

There are so many more places in which we can celebrate and honour the lives of people we love. Whist a community and site specific funeral is not for everyone, the very fact that there is a growing understanding and willingness for town halls, surf clubs, signature venues and local councils to embrace a community funeral speaks to changing attitudes to death in our society and culture. It also speaks to a nuanced understanding of what a funeral service can and needs to provide, so as to lay the foundation for healthy grieving and a sense of authenticity and pride for those whose lives continue. Knowing that all involved created and experienced the farewell for their person in a way and a place that truly honours and reflects them; this is what our funeral rites need to give us so we can all navigate love, loss and grief as a part of life.

Where would you like to have your funeral?