Know About Burial | Arranging a Funeral: Thom Kight & Co

HELPFUL INFORMATION

Funeral Checklists

Our aim is to make the funeral experience less distressing through our professionalism and support.

The Chapel of Rest at our premises in Vrededorp can comfortably accommodate 100 people and can be adapted for any type of service.

About Us

Thom Kight & Company is a family business with a personal touch. We assist bereaved families with arranging and overseeing burials, cremations, funerals, repatriations (national and international), and memorial services.

We belong to industry associations world-wide that underlines our commitment to delivering the highest standards in funeral services.

Professionalism goes hand in hand with our personal touch.

What you Need to Know About Burial

To create a place of remembrance, a burial at the local or selected cemetery is appropriate. This includes the purchase of a casket, a graveside, paying a burial fee and a headstone.

THE FINAL RESTING PLACE

It is up to the family to decide about the final resting place in case no wishes were expressed by the deceased.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

If the deceased had purchased a burial plot, we will need proof of this to arrange the burial.

If the deceased did not have a burial plot, we will liaise with the local cemetery on your behalf to obtain one.

Thom Kight & Company also has a number of above-earth burial units in a mausoleum at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg available for purchase.

THE BURIAL PROCEDURE

You may have a service at the graveside in addition to, or instead of, a memorial service. If you have a separate memorial service, this will be held a day or two before the cremation takes place.

The deceased is buried in a coffin or casket made of wood or other, perishable material. It is permissible to bury two bodies in the same grave. In this case, they must be in separate coffins, or in separate body bags in the same coffin.

Thom Kight & Company can assist in making the necessary preparations with the cemetery on behalf of the family. We are also able to arrange masonry (tombstones, headstones and gravestones) with suppliers across the country.

DOCUMENTS YOU WILL NEED

You will need to provide the following documents before the body can be buried:

Document	Who Issues This	Where You Get It
Declaration of Death	Ambulance services	We will obtain this for you from the ambulance service
Notice of Death Form DHA 1663	For death as a result of natural causes, the medical attendant (doctor or pathologist) who confirms the death issues the notice. In other cases, the state pathologist issues the notice The Notice of Death includes the personal details and thumbprints of both the deceased and the informant (usually a relative). It is taken to the Department of Home Affairs, which then issues the death certificate	We will obtain this for you from the doctor, hospital or state
Death certificate	Department of Home Affairs	We will go to Home Affairs for you to register the death and obtain the death certificate
Affidavit	This gives the cemetery permission to reopen the grave	We will draw up the affidavit for you to sign and we will give it to the cemetery
Notice of interment/burial order	The cemetery issues this notice to give us permission to bury the deceased in the grave	We will get this from the cemetery

Family Values and Contemporary Choices

OUR SERVICES

The Highest Standards

GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS

We provide high-quality services in line with the Industry's code
of practice standards and professional ethics.

Quality and standards are what bereaved families assume, want, and expect from funeral directors. We are a member of the World Organisation of Funeral Operatives (FIAT–IFTA) and a founding member of the Independent Funeral Directors Association of Southern Africa (IFDA). To maintain high standards, our staff undertakes continued training and reviews professional practice standards.

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