During your first contact with The Wilson Funeral Home, our funeral director will ask you whether the person who has died wished to be buried or cremated.
The choice – burial or cremation – determines which kind of medical certificate we are legally required to obtain.
Cremation
In New Zealand, cremation is a widely accepted alternative to burial. There are a number of crematoriums in the Wellington region. Each crematorium has different levels of facilities and costs vary; we are careful to keep you fully informed of what the standards of each crematorium are.
You may have seen the wording, ‘followed by private cremation’ in funeral notices. This refers to the time when the hearse moves off from the funeral service unaccompanied, or accompanied by family members & close friends. The choice of whether you wish to travel to the crematorium is always up to you.
For more information on selecting an urn – download our urn book
Memorial Options for Cremated Remains
Scattering Cremated Remains
The deceased may have expressed the wish for their cremated remains to be scattered somewhere that has significance for them and their family. Arrangements can be made to have cremated remains scattered as required.
Keeping Cremated Remains
A family may choose to keep the cremated remains for a couple of years. These can be kept in the urn provided or placed into a more decorative container. A wide variety of ceramic, timber and pottery urns are available.
Memorial Jewellery
If you would like to place a small portion of ashes, a lock of hair, or another meaningful keepsake into a piece of memorial jewellery, we offer a thoughtful range of options to help you keep your loved one close. To explore the available styles and customisation choices, please download our Jewellery Brochure.
Placing Cremated Remains in an Existing Grave
Most cemeteries permit the placing of cremated remains into an existing grave. This is done in conjunction with the relevant council cemetery, and the person who owns the grave.
Memorial Gardens
Many cemeteries offer beautiful commemorative areas for the placement of ashes, including rose gardens, native shrub gardens, wall niches, and other peaceful settings. An inscribed plaque marks the memorial position where the cremated remains are placed, providing a lasting tribute. These memorial positions and plaques can be arranged through your preferred cemetery. To learn more, download our ashes placement guide for the Wellington area.