Compassionate and obliging to all of our needs. The celebrant, Jenny Tacken, that was recommended was also excellent.

The experience was a first for my family and I. The service I received was impeccable and professionally done. Michael delivered as promised and I am impressed with the service. I will recommend Australian Pensioner Funerals to others.

- Just great value for money
- Fitting tribute to my mother
- Trish Bainbridge was excellent
- Music and photo effect was very good

As far as I'm concerned the whole process was enlightening and very well put together. I commend the thought that was put into place at a very trying time. I would recommend APF.

Very understanding and supportive. Top rate.

Dear Robyn,

I am writing to express our gratitude for the wonderful service you provided for my late father.

From the moment we met you we were impressed with your caring manner. You answered our questions patiently and put us at ease.

We thought the funeral service was beautiful. It was a wonderful tribute to my father. Friends and extended family who attended the service told us afterwards that they were greatly moved by the presentation of the life story of my father.

On behalf of my mother, brothers and extended family, I wish to sincerely thank Australian Pensioner Funerals for their outstanding service.

Sonia

I was very satisfied. I could not fault anything about the quality of service and attention given to us on the day of Mum's funeral.

The role of a funeral director encompasses many and various activities: obtaining the signature of the attending professional who pronounced death and lodging it with the Registrar; transferring the body to their premises; help work out the budget and plans with the deceased's relatives (or executor), including religious or other memorial service and location; arrange with clergy and other officials such as at the cemetery. The director can help select music, compose announcements for the media, clothing, viewing, poems, readings and flowers, making the arrangements with a florist. The director also may supply acknowledgement cards, registers or memorial folders and transportation to and from the service.
I have no idea what quality or value for these services APF provides although their advertised complete packages are at highly competitive rates.

I have to say though that I consider the “Pensioner” part smacks more of clever marketing than anything else. The company advertises extensively in publications for Seniors and retired people. If the deceased was a poor pensioner or you are acting for one in organising a funeral when the estate is not large enough to cover the costs there are other organisations and agencies which will assist, some even supplying a dignified funeral service and cremation that is subsidised.

My circumstances were such that all that was required was for someone to collect the body from the hospital and deliver it to the crematorium with the essential paperwork. At the time I could find no cheaper than APF for a no frills arrangement.
I live 3 hours drive from Melbourne and the person had died in Dandenong, another hour across town. I was at a disadvantage in lots of ways so I appreciated that I could organise everything by telephone and email, and make payment direct into a bank account. The man on the end of the telephone line was immensely supportive and helpful.
I can't say that this arrangement was without hitch. There was a demand for all money upfront before the cremation would take place.I understand if they didn't want to be stuck with an unpaid account from a mysterious person up whoop-whoop yet I can imagine someone else in this situation being very distressed, feeling the deceased was sort of held to ransom.
I had very limited income so the bill was a stretch, especially as the executor involved was obstructive. Despite the requirement that a funeral/disposal has to come out of the estate the executor, who is a solicitor, was slow to reimburse me. (Another story, another Womow one day)
All the same I have to say that APF did accommodate me, and politely, which I can't say for other funeral directors I contacted who seemed miffed that I considered their prices too high for a basic disposal. – a couple of fellows go to the mortuary, put the body in the wagon, drive it to wherever and thence later to the crematorium: how much outlay is in that? In part I remain astonished at the expense however, I know expenses rarely are questioned when people are under stress.
There are options like cardboard coffins being offered by some undertakers. It is worth shopping around. Unfortunately when there has been a death people are not necessarily thinking straight. Grieving relatives often are very vulnerable and few people realise that proper disposal is essentially a health issue and in law there is very little one is required to do because once the person is dead he has no rights.
A person shouldn't be bullied into having to do "what is expected" nor have to pay large sums.
I am happy with the service and respect I got from this 100% Australian company.

Susan Baker was the consultant who visited us at our home to make the funeral arrangements for both my Dad and Auntie. On each occasion, she was caring, friendly, helpful , professional and punctual. She helped and guided us through two very difficult periods and I would recommend her and this company to anyone. Excellent value but still first class.