Funeral Catering
Organising a wake? Take advantage of a little known service.
BY ARTEMIS GOUROS

Every culture has its own funeral and mourning rituals that differ in regard to the type of ceremony, burial method, mourning period and so on. Common to many cultures however is the funeral gathering, an event that will typically involve food and drink. Most ethnic groups follow the practice of hosting a gathering after the funeral for attendees of the service. The purpose of the gathering is to share memories of the deceased, help the family deal with their loss and provide hospitality for those who may have travelled a great distance to be at the funeral. At times, these gatherings can become quite lively although they are not ‘parties’ in the normal sense. They are however, still a social event involving guests and the usual considerations when organising any gathering, for instance numbers and the amount and type of food, still apply.

Anyone that has ever had to arrange a funeral knows that it is a formidable task. Whether the funeral is pre-arranged or organised by a family member of the deceased, there are a number of details to consider. Funerals involve choosing coffins, flowers, music, hearses and arranging the after-funeral gathering for mourners.

Families are compelled to put their grief aside and oversee the funeral and whilst some welcome the distraction and take comfort in actively contributing, others find themselves unable to cope with the task of arranging the funeral details. Funeral directors can, and do, take much of the stress and strain out of arranging a service and provide the family with sorely needed assistance.

However one aspect of a funeral that a family usually undertake themselves is the after-funeral gathering or wake. A quick search on the internet revealed that this doesn’t have to be the case. Many funeral directors, realising that gatherings can be difficult for families to host for any number of reasons, have facilities on their premises suitable for after-funeral gatherings.

They can also assist families to organise gatherings at hotels and clubs. Bunurong Memorial Park for instance, has Condolence Lounges adjacent to their chapel and provides complimentary coffee, tea and biscuits for gatherings with more extensive catering also available. Although after-funeral gatherings do not have to be held at home many families still choose to do so. This should preclude them from assistance in the preparation and hosting of the event. Catering is not just on offer at funeral homes or clubs.

Families can avail themselves of home service and while this may seem unusual to some, the concept of having a wake catered has many advantages. The family can concentrate on the funeral knowing that the wake is taken care of. They can also participate fully in the gathering, which is a time for mourners to come together and remember a life lived. After-funeral catering means discreet and sensitive service at a difficult time. Caterers can simply deliver the food and then return to clean up thus avoiding any intrusion. They can also perform a complete service including preparing the venue, providing linen and utensils, supplying bar staff and servers and basically eliminating any bother for the family. Leftover food is packed up and given to the family.

Another thing to note is that funeral fare does not have to be sandwiches. Caterers can supply a variety of hot and cold food including both traditional and exotic dishes.

Celeste Catering is one such company that offers a funeral catering service. They been serving bereaved families for over ten years and their code of behaviour includes professionalism, discretion, honesty and sensitivity. Although Celeste Catering’s website is informative, Bronwyn and Jodie still find bereaved families like to discuss their catering needs directly.

Celeste are known for being able to give the personalised, individual attention that families require to ensure that every last detail of their function is met. They also have a purpose built facility at Macquarie Park Cemetery where they head up a specialist staff for gatherings in the indoor and outdoor function areas. The function facilities are attractive and elegant, an ideal arena for family and friends to come together over refreshments.

Employing a professional catering service to oversee a funeral gathering, or using the facilities offered by a funeral home, is perfectly acceptable. As times and people change so do customs and the traditional home gathering is no longer the only way to mourn a loss and celebrate a life.