A meaningful
farewell, your way.
Choosing cremation gives families flexibility in how they say goodbye. At Wollongong City Funerals, we provide compassionate cremation services for families across Wollongong and the Illawarra, helping you understand your options and arrange a farewell that feels right for your loved one.
Whether you prefer a funeral service before cremation, a private committal or a memorial service afterwards, our experienced funeral directors can take care of the arrangements and explain each step along the way.
Available 24 hours, 7 days. Our team is here whenever you need us.
Cremation gives your family more choice
There is no single right way to farewell someone you love. Cremation opens up a range of service arrangements to suit your family’s wishes, faith, and budget.
Hold a full funeral service at our chapel, a church or another meaningful location before the cremation takes place. This gives family and friends the opportunity to come together, share memories and say goodbye.
A committal service is held at the final place of rest for the cremated remains: a cemetery, a garden of remembrance, the ocean, or a cherished outdoor location. These services can be deeply personal and intimate.
A memorial service can take place after the cremation, with the urn present. This can give families more time to make arrangements and allow loved ones travelling from interstate or overseas to attend.
A simple, unattended cremation with no funeral or memorial service beforehand. This suits families who would rather hold their own farewell later, in their own time and their own way.
Mountain View Crematoria
Wollongong City Funerals works alongside Mountain View Crematorium, a family-owned and operated crematorium in the Illawarra who understand how much this moment matters. They can also offer a viewing, a witness of insertion, a range of vessels and urns, and memorial jewellery and keepsakes.
Cremation: your questions answered
Yes. Choosing cremation does not mean forgoing a meaningful farewell. You can hold a full funeral service at a chapel, church, graveside, or any location that matters to your family, before or after the cremation takes place. Cremation can actually increase your options, giving you more flexibility in timing, venue, and the way you choose to celebrate your loved one’s life.
Yes. We typically work with Mountain View Crematorium, a local family-owned and operated crematorium. Lakeside Memorial Park and Crematorium in Dapto is also available. We can also assist with cremations outside the Illawarra, including at Woronora or Rookwood, should your family require.
In most cases, the cremation takes place within 24 hours of the funeral service. If you wish to guarantee a cremation on the same day as the service, this can usually be arranged, though additional charges may apply. Our funeral directors will discuss the timeline with you clearly and without jargon.
The coffin is placed in the cremator, where carefully controlled high temperatures ensure the process is completed over several hours. The remaining bone fragments, known as cremated remains, are removed, cooled, processed into fine particles, and placed in a temporary container. A strict labelling system is maintained throughout to ensure correct identification at every step.
Virtually everything is cremated. Exceptions include certain metal coffin fittings or items that may be harmful to the environment. We will advise you on any items that should not be placed in the coffin prior to cremation. The nameplate is also removed for identification purposes: it is one of the ways the crematorium ensures ashes are correctly returned to your family.
Yes. Only one person is cremated at a time. Exceptions are made only in very specific circumstances (for example, a mother and baby, or twin children) and always require the consent of the next of kin.
There are a few important things to be aware of. Pacemakers and other battery-powered medical devices must be removed before cremation, as they can be hazardous at high temperatures. We handle this process on your behalf. We also advise returning jewellery and personal mementos to the family before the coffin is transferred to the crematorium, as the coffin cannot be reopened once it has entered the cremation chamber.
There are several options available. The cremated remains can be interred in a cemetery plot, kept by a family member in an urn at home, or scattered at a place that was significant to your loved one, such as the ocean, a bush setting, or private property. We recommend checking local regulations before scattering in a public area. If you are considering scattering at home, keep in mind that once scattered, remains cannot be easily collected if your family moves in the future. Placing or interring remains at a cemetery ensures future generations always have a place to visit.