Funeral Homes in Kingaroy: A Family Guide to Choosing a Funeral Director
A plain-English guide for South Burnett families: what a Kingaroy funeral home does, your options, what a funeral really costs, and what to ask before you choose.
When someone you love dies, one of the first calls you make is to a funeral home. If you live in Kingaroy or anywhere in the South Burnett, you may never have had to choose one before, and it can be hard to know where to start. This guide explains, in plain English, what a funeral home in Kingaroy does, what your options are, what a funeral really costs, and what to look for when choosing who will care for your family.
We're the Killicks, a Kingaroy family who run Killick Family Funerals from our chapel on Alford Street. We've written this the way we'd explain it to a neighbour over a cup of tea. No pressure, and no jargon.
What does a funeral home in Kingaroy do?
A funeral home (or funeral director) takes care of your loved one and looks after everything that needs to happen between the first phone call and the farewell, so that your family can focus on each other. In practice, that usually means:
- Bringing your loved one into care, at any hour, from home, hospital, a nursing home or wherever they are.
- Handling the paperwork, including the permits and certificates needed for a burial or cremation, and registering the death.
- Caring for your loved one with mortuary care and refrigeration, and arranging a viewing if your family would like one.
- Planning the farewell with you, from the celebrant, music and flowers to the order of service and live streaming.
- Coordinating with cemeteries, crematoria, churches and venues so the day runs smoothly.
- Returning ashes to your family after a cremation, or helping arrange a headstone after a burial.
A good funeral director also takes the time to explain your choices and lets you decide at your own pace.
Choosing a funeral home in Kingaroy: what matters most
Every family is different, but these are the things families tell us matter most when they're choosing a funeral home in Kingaroy.
Local and family-owned
A local, family-owned funeral home knows the South Burnett: the churches, halls and cemeteries, the clergy and celebrants, and often the families themselves. When you ring Killick Family Funerals, you speak to Jason, his wife or one of their kids. Never a call centre, and never a salesperson on commission.
Available 24 hours a day
Death doesn't keep office hours. Make sure the funeral home you choose answers the phone day and night and can come to you quickly. We're based in Kingaroy, so we can usually be with you within the hour anywhere in the South Burnett.
Clear prices, in writing
You should be able to see what a funeral costs before you pick up the phone, and receive an itemised quote in writing before anything goes ahead. We publish our prices on our pricing page for exactly that reason.
Time and patience
Many decisions can wait a day or two. A good funeral director will never rush you. We're happy to sit at your kitchen table, put the kettle on, and wait while you talk things through with your family.
Your funeral options in Kingaroy
There's no right or wrong way to say goodbye, only what feels right for your family and for the person who has died. These are the main choices.
Direct cremation
A simple, private cremation with no service beforehand. It's the most affordable option, and many families choose it and then hold their own gathering later. Learn more about direct cremation.
Cremation service
A personal farewell in our Alford Street chapel or a place that mattered to your loved one, followed by cremation. Ashes are returned to your family afterwards. See our cremation service.
Burial service
A traditional service followed by burial, giving your family a place to visit for generations. We work with councils and cemeteries right across the South Burnett and South East Queensland. Read about our burial service.
Water cremation (The Gentle Way)
Water cremation uses warm water and natural minerals instead of flame. It has a much smaller environmental footprint, and your loved one's ashes are returned to you just as with a traditional cremation. Learn about The Gentle Way.
Memorial service
A celebration of life held without the body present, whenever your family is ready. It often follows a direct cremation, or waits until family from far away can travel. See our memorial service.
How much does a funeral cost in Kingaroy?
Funeral costs vary with the type of farewell you choose. As a guide, these are our current prices at Killick Family Funerals:
| Starting price | What's included | |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cremation | $2,950 | All-inclusive: transfer into care, paperwork, standard coffin, cremation, ashes returned in a travel urn |
| Water cremation (The Gentle Way) | from $3,200 | Transfer and care, paperwork, the water cremation, ashes returned in a travel urn |
| Cremation service | $7,640 | A personalised chapel service with a celebrant, printed order of service, flowers and music, then cremation |
| Burial service | from $6,540 | Professional fees, coffin, chapel service and funeral direction (cemetery costs are charged separately) |
| Memorial service | from $6,900 | Venue, celebrant, photo tribute, printed order of service and live stream |
All of our prices include GST, and every quote is itemised in writing before anything begins, with no compulsory add-ons hidden in the small print. Payment plans are available. You'll find the full details on our pricing page.
Where funerals are held in Kingaroy
You can hold a farewell almost anywhere that feels right. In Kingaroy, families often choose:
- Our chapel on Alford Street, a warm space designed to feel more like a living room than a hotel lobby
- A local church, such as St Mary's Catholic Church or Kingaroy Uniting Church
- Kingaroy Town Hall, for larger gatherings
- A graveside service, at your closest or chosen cemetery.
- Somewhere personal, such as a family property, a park or a favourite spot
We'll help you work out what's possible and make the arrangements with the venue.
What to do when someone dies in Kingaroy
If someone dies unexpectedly, call 000 first. If the death was expected, for example at home under palliative care, contact their doctor or palliative care team, who will confirm the death.
Then, whenever you're ready, call us on 41625290 or 1800 607 880, day or night. We'll come to you, explain the next steps, and take as much as we can off your hands. There's no need to make every decision straight away.
If your loved one died in a hospital or nursing home, you are free to choose any funeral director you like. Simply let the staff know that you'd like Killick Family Funerals to care for them, and we'll arrange everything from there.
Questions to ask any funeral director
Whoever you choose, these questions will help you compare funeral homes and avoid surprises:
- Is the business locally owned, and who will we actually be dealing with?
- Can you give us an itemised quote in writing?
- What exactly is included in the price, and what costs extra?
- Are there third-party costs, such as cemetery fees, that will be added on?
- Where will our loved one be cared for?
- Can we see them before the funeral?
- Can the service be live streamed for family who can't be there?
- Do you offer payment plans?
Caring for families across the South Burnett
Although our home is in Kingaroy, we care for families right across the region, including Nanango, Murgon, Wondai, Cherbourg, Blackbutt, Yarraman and Proston, and we travel to Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba and Gympie. Find out more about funerals in Kingaroy.
Common questions about Kingaroy funeral homes
How quickly does a funeral need to happen?
There's usually no rush. Most funerals take place within one to two weeks, but you can take the time your family needs, for example to let relatives travel home.
Can we have a simple, affordable funeral and still say goodbye properly?
Yes. Many families choose a direct cremation and then hold a gathering of their own, or a memorial service later on. Simple doesn't have to mean impersonal.
Can I plan my own funeral in advance?
Yes. Planning ahead means your family knows exactly what you want, and if you choose to pre-pay, you can lock in today's prices. Read more about how to plan ahead.
Where can I find recent funeral notices in Kingaroy?
You'll find current funeral notices and service details on our tributes page, where you can also leave a condolence message or order flowers for the family.
Talk to us, any time
Choosing a funeral home is a big decision, and you don't have to make it alone. If you have a question, or someone you love has just died, call the Killick family on 1800 607 880, day or night, or request a free, no-obligation quote. A real person will always answer, and there is never any pressure.