We understand that it can be confusing knowing what type of memorial is right for your loved one, especially when you are dealing with grief and loss. It's also an unfamiliar experience for most people.
We've listed below some questions that people often ask us about memorials.
Our staff are available to help guide you through the process of creating a memorial. For advice, or to ask us a question that's not answered below, please call us on (02) 4227 7780 or see our Contact Us page for other ways to get in touch.
A memorial is an object used to remember, or commemorate, a person who has died.
Memorials are often created where a person's remains, such as their ashes, are placed, but they can also be created without remains.
A memorial acknowledges a life, provides a focal point and place for families and friends to grieve and reflect, and creates a permanent record for future generations and genealogy.
At Wollongong Memorial Gardens, we offer the following types of memorials:
- Walls where ashes can be placed in a container with a plaque
- Gardens where ashes can be placed in a container with a plaque
- Gardens where ashes can be scattered, and a plaque placed
- Sites where plaques can be placed with no remains.
Memorial options that can be used now, or purchased in advance for future use, can be found on our Sites for Memorials page.
If you have any questions about memorials, please call us on (02) 4227 7780.
Every situation is unique, but there are a few main steps that are usually involved in creating a memorial:
- Choosing a type of memorial and a memorial location
- Deciding on the words to go on the plaque
- Holding a ceremony to remember the person who has died.
We can guide you through the process of creating a memorial and answer any questions you have.
You can plan for the future and make arrangements now for your future memorial. This can give you and your family peace of mind, and make sure your wishes will be followed when you pass away.
"In perpetuity" means lasting forever.
Many people don't realise that burial and memorial sites purchased through commercial providers will often only be guaranteed for a limited number of years.
At Wollongong Memorial Gardens, all of our memorial and burial sites are provided in perpetuity. This means they will be permanent, and our dedicated team will continue to care for your site for future generations, with no ongoing costs.
Please contact us to check availability next to an existing memorial. We will try to help family members stay together where possible.
To help make sure family members' memorials can be placed together, we recommend you consider pre-purchasing a family memorial site. See our list of Sites for Memorials for available options.
Purchasing a family plot can give you peace of mind, and ease the burden on family members left behind.
The placement of plaques, and placement or scattering of ashes at any of our locations must be done by Wollongong Memorial Gardens staff. However, family members can request to be present at these events.
Fees apply to scatter ashes. There is an additional cost for family members to be present during the placement or scattering of ashes. Current fees are shown below.
If you have a question, or want to be present when a plaque or ashes are placed, please call us on (02) 4227 7780.
Fees for scattering ashes
Fees for family attendance
If ashes are to be placed in one of our memorial walls or gardens, you do not need to buy a special, or decorative urn. Ashes placed in walls or gardens will generally be provided in a container designed to fit the site.
Our range of decorative urns are for people who wish to keep the ashes of their loved one at home.
You can also choose a miniature or keepsake urn to keep a small amount of ashes, then scatter or place the remainder at a memorial site.
You may be able to relocate a memorial and move family members together.
Conditions will apply to the relocation of memorials. Please call us on (02) 4227 7780 to discuss details.
Yes. You do not have to be in possession of a person's remains to make a memorial.
You're welcome to place fresh flowers using the vases provided at our sites. However, we ask that you do not place other items, like toys, photographs or mementos.
Our staff regularly maintain memorial and burial sites, and reserve the right to remove any unauthorised items.
Please note that some grave monuments may be designed to include a candle holder.
You cannot plant trees or flowers at our memorial sites.
Our skilled team of gardeners work hard to make sure the gardens at our sites are planted appropriately and well maintained to provide a peaceful setting for everyone.
We keep a register of all burials and memorials created at our various locations.
Some of this information is made publicly available at no cost to people who search our records.
This information can be helpful for people researching their family history, or who want to find the final resting place of their loved ones.
Information from our records that we share publicly includes:
- The name of the deceased person
- The date of their death
- A short description of the memorial location.
You may be able to inter ashes at the existing grave of a family member or partner. This can be a meaningful way to keep loved ones together.
There are laws that apply, please call us on (02) 4227 7780 for more details.