Tree of Life Services - End of Life & Funeral Services

12/11/2025

I am thrilled to announce that I have been gifted a Cooling Plate!

This will be a valuable resource for the people of the Eurobodalla Shire.

A Cooling Plate is a portable refrigerated unit which is slipped under the body of a deceased person so they can stay in their own home after death.

In NSW, we can keep a deceased person at home for up to 5 days, and with the help of myself as a Funeral Director and End of Life Doula, we can also place them in their coffin at home and organise all the paperwork, and a funeral, without the need for the person's body to be taken to a mortuary.**

This is particularly suitable for a burial at Walawaani Way Conservation Burial in Bodalla.

Holding a Vigil with friends and family can be a beautiful way to start saying your farewells to someone you love who has died. It is a gentle and kind way to start your grieving process. An End of Life Doula can help you make this happen. Perhaps you'd like music, candles, prayers, whatever you'd like, together we can design this deeply personal and meaningful time to honour your person.

I am making this plate available to the wider community and other End of Life Doulas / Workers such as Shanna Provost in Tilba, Kerryn Davey, also in Tilba, and Deepika Mistry in Batemans Bay.

**Of course, not all funerals can be arranged within a 5 day period and some people may only want to keep their person at home for a day or two, but we will make every effort to accommodate whatever you need.

For more information, please see Tree of Life Funerals at https://lnkd.in/gpX6EV2K, www.treeoflifefunerals.com.au or email: treeoflifefunerals@outlook.com

22/09/2025

Rituals in deathcare.

As the amazing Dr Sarah Kerr of the Centre for sacred deathcare says, “when someone you love dies, it’s natural to focus on the funeral as the central moment. However, the time between a death and the funeral is just as important.

This part of the journey that often gets missed, but it’s the time that can deeply shape how you experience both the funeral and your grief.

It’s tender, it’s powerful, and it can make all the difference.
The time between death and the funeral can be a time of really integrating, coming to terms with the fact that they are gone.
We don’t want them to be gone, we wish they weren’t gone, but, they are.”

The work that we do ritually along that timeline is what allows at the funeral for us to fully say farewell, to send them along their journey, and to let them go.

With all our love and all our grief, we send them on their way.
Even if you don’t hold a formal funeral, and organise a no-service cremation or burial, you can still have your own rituals in between the time of death and the cremation.

You can then hold a Memorial Service at a time that better suits family and friends so you can all come together to say your farewells.

Ritual in our lives are very important. Rituals keep us grounded in the familiar and through that, provide comfort.

Whether it’s the simple ritual of lighting a candle, or praying, or the ritual of a church service, or of holding a funeral or memorial service, all such practices bring us together and provide comfort.

If you have spiritual beliefs, it’s comforting to know that the soul of your person has crossed over and that they know you are honouring them with your grief and the rituals you engage in.

It’s never “too late” to hold your rituals, your ceremonies, as they always make a positive difference.

We at Tree of Life Funerals are experienced in end of life work, ceremony and ritual, and will guide and support you through the hugely difficult time of having someone you love die.

We can help you decide the best way for you to say goodbye.
Contact us for all your end of life and funeral needs on
0493-276-554 or see:

Locally and privately owned and operated, the experienced team at Tree of Life Funerals are here for you at your time of need, providing personal, caring, and individual attention.We create authentic, personalised, heart-felt funeral services which really reflect the individual. To provide you with....

18/08/2025

Save the date!

For our September bi-monthly Bermagui Death Conversations Cafe, we are pleased to welcome a representative from the Southern NSW Local Health District Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) team.

Our guest will share the eligibility requirements for Voluntary Assisted Dying, related legislation information and will be available to answer any questions you have about Voluntary Assisted Dying in NSW.

This is a space for people from all walks of life to come together, share, listen, and connect in a non-judgmental and supportive environment.

What to Expect:

- an opportunity to learn about VAD, ask questions, and engage with experts and community members in a supportive environment

- Thought-provoking discussions on what VAD is, what it isn’t

- A welcoming, confidential environment where you can speak freely

We hope to create an atmosphere where you can ask the tough questions and listen to others’ stories.

Please note:

1. this is not a grief support group or a therapy session but a unique opportunity to talk openly and honestly about mortality and VAD

2. the fee goes towards venue hire and light refreshments

3. doors open from 1:45pm to allow time to grab a cuppa, a plate of food (light refreshments) and a seat before 2pm kick off.

Date: Sunday, 21st September 2025
Time: 2pm - 4pm (doors open 1:45pm)
Location: Malua Bay Community Centre (just next to the Malua Bay Tennis Courts)

Ticket Link in Bio

13/08/2025

Navigating the Care of Elderly Parents as We Age Ourselves
Balancing Compassion, Practicality, and Self-Care in the Later Chapters of Life

As the years pass, many of us find ourselves in a unique juncture: both we and our parents are aging, sometimes simultaneously entering stages of life that require increased attention, care, and adaptation.

The experience of managing the needs of older parents when we ourselves are no longer young introduces an array of emotional, physical, and logistical challenges that demand thoughtful consideration. This document explores strategies, insights, and reflections to help navigate this intricate journey.

For the full article, please see my Blog:

As the years pass, many of us find ourselves in a unique juncture: both we and our parents are aging, sometimes simultaneously entering stages of life that require increased attention, care, and adaptation. The experience of managing the needs of older parents when we ourselves are no longer young i...

28/07/2025

A person who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.

Knowing more about death – or ‘death literacy’ – can actually help quell fears of dying. An excerpt from an article in The Guardian.

Death is not a mystery. It is not a medical disaster. It is a bodily process, like giving birth or like going to the bathroom or coughing, your body knows what to do.

To some extent, each death is unique because it depends on a person’s age, health status and reason for dying, says Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse and online educator in Los Angeles, California. But for those unaffected by a traumatic event, such as a car accident, most people will experience certain stages and symptoms.

Months before death, the transition phase begins, says McFadden. This entails spending more time in bed, eating and drinking less, and needing more help with daily tasks such as getting dressed and going to the bathroom. During this time, it can be hard to keep up with conversations and sleep will take up most of the day.

Due to a lower food and beverage intake, at this point it’s possible to enter ketosis, a state in which the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose. Some people may experience pain relief or euphoria as a result, but it’s not entirely clear why. Some research suggests the neurotransmitter Gaba increases during ketosis, which makes you feel calm, while cortisol, the stress hormone, decreases.

Above all, “we are built for death just like we’re built for birth”, says McFadden. “The more we understand that, the better we will live – and the more peaceful we will die.”

To see this whole article from The Guardian, see:

Experts say knowing more about death – or ‘death literacy’ – can actually help quell fears of dying