Kapiti Coast Funeral Home

06/08/2026

Key considerations for a DIY approach include:

Cost and Therapeutic Value:
** DIY is not always a cost-saving measure. For example, building a casket can be more expensive than purchasing a simple one from a funeral home, though it may provide therapeutic benefits for those with relevant skills like building or joinery.

Empowerment through Participation:
** DIY efforts are often about personal empowerment. Families might find it meaningful to handle tasks they enjoy, such as creating a photo presentation, which also saves the funeral director's professional time and associated fees.

The Importance of Communication:
** It is essential to discuss plans with a funeral director to determine what is practical and cost-effective. For instance, while families might handle the design of a service brochure, outsourcing the printing to a local provider can sometimes be more expensive than utilizing the funeral home’s in-house, at-cost printing services.

Identifying Strengths:
** Families should choose tasks that align with their strengths and provide an emotional boost. Tedious tasks, such as handling paperwork or registering a death, may be best left to the funeral director if they do not suit the family’s skills. Funeral directors can support families in these areas, and there is no need to charge for administrative tasks that the family handles themselves.

Ultimately, the goal is to save money without increasing stress. The speaker notes that their funeral home uses a scaling system to maintain affordability and encourages interested individuals to consult their website's resources for more information.

05/08/2026

04/08/2026

02/08/2026

Want to know about DIY funerals

02/08/2026

beautiful

27/07/2026

When someone says "no fuss" and you need a casket to match.

Meet the casket for the family who never wanted high gloss mahogany, traditional or fuss. Rough-sawn, untreated pine, because sanding it smooth would kind of miss the point. It's got a rail handle, not a fancy fitting. It doesn't dress up. It just is.

The DIYer. The tinkerer. The rule-breaker. The one who was always halfway through building something in the shed and the one who'd wave off any fuss with a grin and say "just put me in a pine box, nothing fancy." Turns out, we have exactly that.

Massive thanks to Morrisons Funerals for sharing this photo of the Woodstock casket on their Harley-Davidson. Rough-sawn pine and the open road. Honestly? We couldn't have dreamed up a better send-off ourselves.

If you've got a family whose loved one lived a bit differently, we've got the casket to match.

Ask for the Woodstock Casket from Return to Sender Caskets

24/07/2026

Seminar Announcement:

The funeral home is hosting a free seminar on DIY (Do-It-Yourself) funerals on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.. Registration is not required; attendees can simply turn up.

1 Purpose: The seminar aims to empower and advise families on how they can handle parts or all of a funeral themselves, or pick and choose which aspects to take on.

2 Support Offered: Andrew emphasizes that families do not have to handle the process completely alone, as DIY funerals can become emotionally and practically challenging. The funeral home can provide everything, nothing, or just advice along the way.

3 Cost and Caskets: While DIY steps can save money, some tasks (like building a casket without carpentry skills) can be difficult and costly. The funeral home also offers fully prepared, eco-friendly pine ply or pine wood caskets for $799 including GST, which families can choose to buy and then decorate themselves.

Remote Access & Resources: The seminar will be recorded, and those who want to watch it online can contact the funeral home for notes or video footage.

Additional videos and information on DIY funerals are available on our blog.