Planning burial arrangements for your loved one
Cemeteries are meaningful places — peaceful, natural settings where memories live on and families can stay connected. Whether you’re choosing a place for ashes or a burial, our beautiful grounds offer space to reflect, honour, and return to. Our team is here to help you find the perfect position for your loved one.
Cemeteries play an important role in our communities. They offer peaceful, natural surroundings where families can reflect, remember, and feel close to the people they love. Whether you are choosing a place for ashes or a burial, these spaces provide a sense of calm and continuity — a place where memories can be honoured and where future generations can visit with ease.
At Payneham and Dudley Park Cemeteries, we understand how meaningful this choice can be. Our grounds are carefully maintained to create tranquil, welcoming environments, and our team is here to guide you through selecting a position that feels right for you and your family. We’re here to make the process as simple and supportive as possible.
What to do first
Planning a funeral can feel overwhelming, especially when so much is happening at once. To make things a little easier, we’ve outlined the key steps below to help guide you through the process. Our aim is to give you clarity, confidence, and gentle support as you navigate each stage.
Contact a funeral director
The first step is to contact a funeral director. They will guide you through arranging the funeral and take care of the required legal documentation on your behalf. Your funeral director will also liaise directly with our team to organise the burial booking, ensuring everything is coordinated smoothly and respectfully.
Choose a cemetery location
You’re welcome to book a time with us directly — or through your funeral director — to choose a plot. During your appointment, we’ll walk with you through the grounds and show you all available positions, helping you find a place that feels right for your family.
Explore burial and memorial choices
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Complete the arrangements
If you are purchasing a new site, the financials can often be added to your funeral director’s account—subject to the funeral home’s policy—so you only need to manage one bill during an already busy time. From there, we remain your dedicated cemetery contact for all future needs. Our relationship with your family continues well beyond the service, and we’re here to support you and future generations with care, clarity and respect.
Support during this difficult time
Grief is a deeply personal and often overwhelming experience, and it affects everyone differently. Whether you are mourning the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, or simply a way of life, grief can surface emotionally, physically, and mentally. It doesn’t follow a set path or timeline—some days it softens, and other days it may feel as heavy as ever. All of this is a natural part of the journey.
Grief is not one emotion, but a mix of many—sadness, anger, confusion, guilt, or even relief at times. It may also bring physical changes such as tiredness, headaches, or shifts in appetite and sleep. While the five stages of grief offer a helpful framework, not everyone experiences them in order, and many people revisit certain feelings more than once. There is no “right” way to grieve.
One of the most important steps in coping with grief is giving yourself permission to feel whatever arises, without judgement or pressure to “move on.” Healing is not about forgetting your loss. It’s about learning to carry it gently while continuing to live with meaning and purpose.
Grief can feel isolating, but support can make a meaningful difference. Speaking with friends, family, support groups, or a trained counsellor can offer comfort and clarity. Simply sharing your story or having someone listen can help lighten the weight of loss.
Healing doesn’t mean getting over what has happened—it means finding ways to move forward while honouring your memories. Some people find comfort in creative expression, while others lean on spiritual practices, exercise, time in nature, or acts of service. Everyone heals at their own pace.
Reaching out for help is a courageous and important step in caring for yourself. We have included links to local organisations and trusted grief-support partners who may be able to provide guidance, counselling, or a compassionate listening ear.
And if you need immediate support, please remember:
- Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
- Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 (confidential mental health support)
You are not alone. Your grief matters. With time, care, and the right support, you can find your way through it.
What happens after the funeral
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Planning lasting memorialisation
Creating a lasting memorial is an important step in honouring your loved one. All headstones and granite work at our cemeteries must be completed by qualified Stonemasons, and to ensure the highest standards of safety and craftsmanship, they must be members of the Monumental Mason Society of South Australia. If you are choosing a bronze plaque, our team can gently guide you through the design process in our office — including layout, emblems, and inscription details — and we will arrange the installation for you. We also offer refurbishment options should your existing memorial require care over time. We’re here to help you create something beautiful and enduring, crafted with respect and attention to detail.
Understanding tenure periods
Each burial or cremation site is issued with a set tenure period. Lawn and cremation sites are offered with either 25 or 50 years of tenure, while vaults are issued with 50 or 99 years. Over time, any person may extend the tenure on a site in 5-year increments, bringing it back up to a full active 50 years for lawn and cremation sites, or 99 years for vaults. As the expiry date approaches, we will contact the Interment Right Holder — and any nominated contacts — to guide you through the renewal process. To ensure you receive these important reminders, please keep your contact details up to date with us. If you believe your site may be close to expiry, or may have already expired, we encourage you to proceed with the renewal process as soon as possible. Our team is here to assist you gently at every step.
Visiting and remembering
We warmly welcome you to visit our cemeteries at any time to spend quiet moments with your loved ones. Our grounds are open to pedestrians 24 hours a day, offering peaceful spaces for reflection, remembrance, and connection. We encourage all visitors to treat the parks with care and respect, ensuring they remain comforting places for every family. Children and pets are very welcome — we simply ask that dogs remain on a lead and that owners clean up after them to help keep the grounds pleasant for everyone. Whether you come often or only occasionally, our parks are here for you, providing a gentle and respectful environment to honour those you hold close.
Explore our cemeteries
Have a look at our individual cemeteries.
Frequently asked questions
We understand that planning a memorial or making cemetery arrangements can raise many questions. Our Frequently Asked Questions section provides clear, helpful information to guide you through the process — whether you’re planning ahead or arranging a service at the time of need.
Still have a questions?
We're here to support you
Whether you need immediate guidance or simply want to understand your options, our experienced team is ready to support you. We're here to listen and help in whatever way you need.