For Peace of Mind: Volume 8 - Possibilities…

Life Art

The Art of Remembering Well

When a family chooses a LifeArt coffin, we find it creates a different atmosphere at the funeral service. We see more people approach the coffin or touch it as a way of saying good-bye.

Family and friends say that the images and words make it easier to reflect on the kind of life the person lived. “It brought Jack’s presence into the room,” said a friend at the funeral service of an eighty one year old business owner. “It reminded me of the vibrancy of the man rather than the frailty of his old age”. Others commented, “I could just hear the way he used to say those words,” and “seeing his nickname on the coffin was just so touching.” We find that during the time families take to choose the image, they talk about what the person was and what they meant to them. That reflection is just so helpful in a time of loss. Often someone just says something, and everyone says, yes, those are the words to write on the coffin. LifeArt make coffins individually for every funeral.

The family chooses a design from the range that reflects the life of the loved one. The design is then personalised with a name, initials or nickname, and often some words describing the loved one, or one of their favourite sayings. The finished coffin is then made and delivered in the normal time it takes to arrange a funeral service.

Funeral homes in NSW, WA, QLD and VIC are now offering this increasingly popular addition to a funeral service. There are currently 6 ranges – Natural, Value, Colours, Australian Wood, the LifeArt range, and Customised.

Enviroboard: the new choice

Enviroboard caskets are environmentally friendly caskets that meet the standards required by the Funeral Industry for use in the funeral service, cremation or burial. They perform just like a traditional coffin. Caskets used to be made of timber, but most coffins in Australia are made of the cheaper Craftwood, which is made from wood fibres compressed into a solid sheet. The Craftwood is veneered to give a wood like finish. Enviroboard coffins use wood fibre sourced mostly from recycled paper and cardboard and compressed into alternate solid and fluted layers. The exterior is finished with a printed surface to give the widest range of finishes: from simple colours, lifelike wood grains and expressive LifeArt.

Acceptance of the new casket technology

The funeral industry accepts the Enviroboard cardboard caskets asthey are the first and only cardboard casket to date to meet the regulatory requirements governing the funeral industry in Australia.

YOUR ENVIROBOARD CHOICES

Natural Enviroboard Natural Enviroboard is a natural finish of smooth, high quality board. It is a popular choice among people who prefer unassuming, yet dignified funeral services, or with those who wish to cover the coffin with a flag, quilt or pall.

Choice of Colour

There are a wide range of colours to select from such as Greens, Reds, Yellow, Purple, Blues and Metallic. Your funeral directors can assist with colour choices.

Australian Wood range Enviroboard

The Wood print range will be available mid 2006. The print designs will be selected from our favourite Australia woods such as Jarrah, River Red Gum, Rosewood etc

LifeArt designs

Select a LifeArt design from the growing range at www.lifeart.com.au LifeArt coffins can be personalised with a name and personal words.

Creating a unique memory for all ages

LifeArt has a full range – from DIY Canvas to a range of designs and colours. Additionally, you may choose to personalise the casket with a name, life dates, favourite sayings, or a few simple words.

Can we decorate a casket ourselves?

LifeArt have created the DIY Canvas caskets so that family and friends can decorate the casket with a variety of art media such as charcoal, crayons, pastels, pencils, oil or acrylic paints. The Natural Enviroboard is also suitable for decoration with felt pens, crayons and acrylic paints. We suggest that you use paints recommended by LifeArt. The Enviroboard can also be decorated by covering the casket with a flag, pall, quilt or similar items.

LifeArt Canvas

LifeArt Canvas is covered with a high grade synthetic white paper suitable for a wide range of art media such as charcoal, pastels, oil or acrylic paints.

LifeArt Sport themes

Team colours, favourite team number, team song or any specific words

Questions About Enviroboard.

How much do they cost? Because Enviroboard coffins offer so many finishes, the final cost depends on the finish you select, and if you choose to personalise the coffin. Your funeral director will assist you with the prices of various types of Enviroboard coffins.

Can Enviroboard caskets be used for all aspects of a service and in either burials or cremations?

Enviroboard caskets are suitable all for aspects of a funeral service and for either burials and cremations. They have passed all the industry standards for burial and cremation. It is interesting to note, how cardboard is now used in many other industries in ways not considered possible previously. Furniture for the Sydney Olympics, walls in housing, shipping of precious goods etc are but a few examples. It is a welcome step for cardboard to be the new technology and environmental choice within the funeral industry.

Can it handle all weather conditions?

Yes. In the event of rain, the Natural Casket may show water droplets for a minimal time. However these droplet marks will disappear within a few minutes.

Australian innovation and ownership

Who created the Enviroboard casket designs?Enviroboard caskets are an Australian invention designed and developed by a group of inventors, designers and business people who formed the company LifeArt Australia Pty Ltd. The company is 100% Australian owned and manufactures caskets locally.

Are cardboard caskets manufactured and / or used in other countries? What makes Enviroboard environmentally friendly? Enviroboard uses some of the 1.6 million tonnes of cardboard and paper that are recycled, within our community each year, to make its caskets. The Enviroboard casket taps into a renewable resource, reducing waste in our landfills and the unnecessary destruction of our forests and trees. An Enviroboard casket uses about one tenth the new timber resources of a regular casket.

What will other people think about us choosing an Enviroboard? The wide range of finishes has made Enviroboard a well liked coffin choice in funeral services across Australia. Here is what families and funeral directors say about LifeArt and Enviroboard.“The coffin reminded me of the vibrancy of their life” “It changes the way my families feel while making the arrangements. In choosing a design, they begin to talk about the full life the person lived, rather than just the sadness of their passing”

A product for all ages

Enviroboard appears to be the product of the younger and baby boomer generations as it is seen as the new technology and a step away from more traditional products However, with most Australians living well into their late 70s and 80s our product’s greatest use is with our respected elder generation. Our surveys of this “Grey Power” generation have told us they have “always moved with the times”, “have seen and accepted just as much change in their lives” and see value in this new product. Many of this generation surveyed, like the simple and wood grain casket approach as well as designs.

Arranging your purchase

How do I purchase an Enviroboard casket? Enviroboard caskets can be purchased directly from your funeral director as part of your funeral arrangements. The funeral director will assist you in selecting a coffin choice and making it personal and memorable. Your funeral director will be able to provide you with information about costs, or you may wish to visit our website to view the list of funeral homes who already supply Enviroboard caskets in your area.

Can I purchase an Enviroboard casket as part of a prepaid funeral? Yes you can. Your Funeral Director will be happy to include any choice of caskets as part of your funeral package.

• Tel: +61 2 9403 7774
• Fax: +61 2 9403 7776
• Email: info@forpeaceofmind.com.au