Funeral directors in Geelong you can trust.

From one family to yours – we understand how important it is to honour your loved one in a way that feels right. With four generations of experience supporting Geelong families, we’re here to guide you with compassion and respect through every detail.

Contact us 5223 3100

Four generations of trusted service.

Genuine care when you need it most.

24/7 support in your time of need.

Upcoming funeral services.

Please find our upcoming funerals below. Looking for another tribute or live stream? View all tributes and live streams here.

Compassionate funeral services for Geelong families.

Whether you’re looking for a cremation, burial, or planning ahead, we’re here to guide you.

Cremation services

Flexible options from simple, dignified cremations to full memorial services.

Cremation options

Burial services

Traditional burials with personal touches, coordinated with all local cemeteries.

Burial options

Prepaid funerals

Lock in today’s prices and remove the burden from your family. Payment plans available.

Prepaid funeral options
Funeral Director Geelong - Jonathan Hepner Funerals

Every life has a story worth celebrating.

Your loved one was unique, and their farewell should be too. We believe that one-size-fits-all services don’t honour the individual lives that made such a difference to those they left behind. Whether it’s incorporating their favourite music, displaying treasured photographs, or choosing a venue that held special meaning, we’ll help you create a service that truly reflects who they were.

From intimate family gatherings to larger celebrations of life, we work with you to design every detail. Because when we get it right, you’ll know – it will feel exactly like them.

Learn more 5223 3100

Celebrating lives, sharing memories.

Every life leaves a lasting impact. These families share the memories and stories that made their loved ones so special.

Frequently asked questions.

You likely have questions about funeral arrangements and costs. We’ve answered the most common ones, but please call (03) 5223 3100 if you need more guidance.

When choosing a funeral director in Geelong, look for experience, local knowledge, and genuine care. Our family has served the Geelong community for four generations, so we understand local customs, work with all area cemeteries and crematoriums, and know how to create services that feel right for our community.

We’re available 24/7, provide transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and handle every detail with the compassion and professionalism your family deserves. From your first call through to ongoing support, you’re speaking with owners, not employees – that’s the difference family care makes.

If the death is expected and your loved one is in a nursing facility or hospital, the staff will contact the doctor and you will be advised to engage the assistance of a funeral director.

We liaise with the hospital or nursing facility and family members to arrange to have your loved one transferred into our mortuary care. Some families choose to spend some time with their loved one if this is convenient to do so, and from our perspective, we will bring your loved one into our care when you feel ready for us to do so.

Depending on the circumstances of the death, the State Coroner’s office may be involved. If the death is the result of an accident or occurs suddenly or unexpectedly at home, the police and coroner will initially be involved and you will be advised to engage the assistance of a funeral director.

We have the experience, care and compassion to support your family throughout this difficult time. We will liaise with the coroner’s office and arrange to bring your loved one into our care as soon as we have permission to do so.

An unexpected death places additional strain on loved ones. We understand it can be confusing and traumatic. It is our pledge as your funeral director to care for you and ensure you are informed each step of the way.

Your first contact should be with your doctor who will attend and assess the circumstances of the death. If your family member has been ill and the doctor is satisfied with the cause of death and is willing to sign a death certificate, you can call us to arrange to bring your loved one into our care.

If the death occurs suddenly or there is no history of illness, the police and state coroner’s office will be advised and involved in the same manner as we have described above.

You will require our funeral services to assist you at this time, and we will care for you throughout this time and liaise with the authorities in the same manner as described above.

Your loved one will be in the care of the State Coroner located in South Melbourne while the circumstances or cause of death are ascertained. This is a necessary requirement and an important process and while it is traumatic for families at the time, it often gives relief later when the coroner advises your family on their findings.

A person is required to be formally identified. This is sometimes done at the place of death by a family member or representative. If it is not possible for identification to occur at the place of death, it will be necessary to attend the coroner’s office to identify your loved one where their staff will care for you.

After contacting Jonathan Hepner Funerals an experienced funeral director will meet with you in the privacy of your home or at a place that is comfortable and convenient to you. We also offer you the use of a private arranging room at our funeral home.

There are two parts to arranging a funeral service.

The first is the gathering of some personal family information about your loved one. i.e. place of birth, history of marriage & children’s names, date of immigration to Australia if appropriate. This is the information required by the Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages and also assists us in our work with you.

The second part of our meeting addresses the Funeral service and the creative elements. You will be offered compassionate support, guidance and a range of choices in a consultative manner to achieve the style of funeral service appropriate to your loved one. We will discuss the location of the service, religious or non-religious beliefs, cultural requirements and your family’s needs and circumstances.

We understand that every life has meaning and each family is unique. We will work on your behalf to achieve a farewell that is dignified and honours your loved one just as you would want.

This is decided in accordance with your wishes and always in consultation with you. We liaise with your clergy or civil celebrant along with your chosen cemetery or crematorium and will do our very best to secure your preferences.

The doctor or coroner provides an initial death certificate which is required by funeral service providers to authorise a cremation or burial. This certificate is often confused with the certified certificate you require for estate purposes.

We are permitted to register the death to Births, Deaths and Marriages on the day the cremation or burial takes place. A certified copy of the death certificate will be issued to the authorised family member or legal representative. The death certificate will take longer to be issued if the coroner has been involved, however, we can apply for an interim death certificate to help you expedite your personal family business matters.

The cost of a funeral service is determined by the choices that are made at the time of arrangement with the funeral director caring for you.

We understand the pressure of grief and the emotion of arranging a funeral service for someone you love. We believe that service should not be compromised by financial worry so we will provide you with choices and costs that are appropriate to your needs so that you will have confidence and clarity about your decisions.
 
Our service provision fee encompasses the many tasks required to deliver a dignified farewell and incorporates some of the more personal aspects of our work such as providing private time for your family to visit our chapel to either view your loved one or spend time of reflection.  We consider this to be an integral part of our service to your family and we hope that by personalising the elements of our service you will feel that you have honoured your loved one in a special way.

If you require a funeral expense estimate please contact us and we will provide a written quotation at any time. You can also view our transparent pricing for cremation services, burial services, and prepaid funeral options.

By meeting with a funeral director and outlining your choices and wishes we can safely keep your funeral arrangements and you can have confidence that your choices are relayed at the time of passing – there is no cost in pre-planning your funeral requirements at Jonathan Hepner Funerals

View all FAQs

Learn more in our Resource Centre.

If you’ve got a question, we have the answer. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with unfamiliar feelings, we’re here to help you through it. Our Resource Centre shows plenty of ways forward.

Visit Our Resource Centre

We’re here when you need us.

Our experienced team understands that every family’s needs are different. When you’re ready to talk, we’re here to listen and guide you with compassion through this difficult time.

1.

Start by filling out a quick form or calling us 24/7 on (03) 5223 3100.

2.

We’ll take care of everything during your time of need.

Get Started