Sometimes someone passes away a long way from home.
A holiday interstate.
A hospital in Brisbane.
Visiting children in Melbourne.
Travelling overseas.
And suddenly the family is dealing with two things at once.
The loss itself.
And the question:
“How do we get them home?”
For families throughout Cairns, Mareeba, Atherton, Mossman, Port Douglas and surrounding Far North Queensland communities, distance can make an already difficult situation feel considerably more complicated.
Community Funerals specifically provides embalming and repatriation services, allowing its team to assist families with this part of funeral care.
What does funeral repatriation mean?
Repatriation is the process of transferring someone who has passed away from one location to another.
That may mean bringing someone back to Far North Queensland from interstate.
It could involve an international transfer.
Or a person may have passed away in Far North Queensland and their family wishes for them to return elsewhere for their funeral or burial.
The exact process depends on where the person is and where they need to go.
What should we do first?
Call the funeral director you would like to care for the person.
Explain:
where they passed away,
where they currently are,
where you would like them brought,
and any information you’ve already received from the hospital, authorities or another funeral provider.
You don’t need to understand the entire transfer process before making the call.
That’s the point of calling.
Why might embalming be involved?
Community Funerals has trained practitioners and provides embalming services. Its guidance explains that embalming may sometimes be legally required and that the team will advise families when this applies.
Whether embalming is required for a particular transfer depends on the circumstances and relevant requirements.
It shouldn’t simply be assumed.
Your funeral director can explain what applies to your situation.
What if the Coroner is involved?
This can affect timing.
Community Funerals explains that where a passing is reported to the Coroner, the legal process must be completed before the person can be released into funeral care.
The team can apply to the Coroner for release, manage required funeral paperwork and keep the family informed about an appropriate timeline.
That means families don’t have to navigate the process alone.
Far North Queensland covers a lot of ground
This is one reason Community Funerals’ footprint matters.
The organisation has locations serving Cairns and Smithfield, Mareeba, Mossman and Port Douglas, and Atherton and the Tablelands.
For families spread across Far North Queensland, “home” might mean a very different place to each person.
It could be Cairns.
A Tablelands community.
Mareeba.
Mossman.
Or somewhere much further away.
The funeral arrangements should begin with where the family needs their loved one to be.
You don’t have to solve the logistics while you’re grieving
This is perhaps the most important part.
When somebody passes away interstate or overseas, families can immediately begin searching:
flights,
transport,
documentation,
authorities,
funeral homes,
certificates.
Before long there are seventeen tabs open and nobody knows which organisation they’re actually supposed to call first.
You don’t need to become an expert in repatriation overnight.
Community Funerals’ role is to help guide the family through what needs to happen.
One step.
Then the next.
Until the person is where they need to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Community Funerals provide repatriation services?
Yes. Community Funerals specifically offers embalming and repatriation services.
Can Community Funerals assist if someone passes away interstate?
Families should contact Community Funerals to discuss the person’s location and the transfer required.
Can someone be brought back to Cairns for their funeral?
Repatriation can involve transferring a person back to their home area. The exact arrangements depend on the individual circumstances.
Does Community Funerals provide embalming?
Yes. Embalming is specifically included among its funeral care services.
Is embalming always required?
No. Community Funerals explains that it will advise families if embalming is legally required in their circumstances.
What happens if the Coroner has the person?
Community Funerals can manage the required funeral paperwork, apply for release into its care and advise the family regarding timing.
Which Far North Queensland areas does Community Funerals serve?
Its locations service Cairns and Smithfield, Mossman and Port Douglas, Mareeba, Atherton and the Tablelands, plus surrounding districts.
Who should we call first if somebody passes away away from home?
You can contact the Community Funerals location closest to where the funeral is to be arranged and explain the circumstances.