Advance Preparation
Funeral Planning
(Service provided in conjunction with partners)
Our fees
The service is free of charge. Yet, after the client’s death, the funeral coordinator has to organize the funeral through Alongside to ensure the client’s wishes are fulfilled.
Hongkongers generally consider death a taboo subject. Many pass away without having discussed their funeral preferences with family and friends, often leading to grief, disputes, and funeral arrangements that may not align with the deceased’s preferences.
Alongside believes in lifelong autonomy – everyone has the right to make their own decisions at every stage of life, including funeral arrangements. We arrange for clients to meet with LGBTQIA+ friendly ceremonial officers to discuss their funeral wishes, including:
- Makeup and clothing preferences for the funeral (color tones, lipstick)
- Form of funeral service
- Religious ceremonies
- Portrait for the funeral service
- Choice of coffin (material, color, style)
- Method of burial (burial or cremation)
- Burial site
- Tombstone inscription
- Other personalized arrangements, such as background music, small gifts, or ceremonial candies
A funeral, as a final rite of passage, can reflect personal style by incorporating individualized elements. This not only allows our clients to say goodbye to the living in their preferred way but also offers a heartfelt blessing to the bereaved.
Memorial Photograph Shooting
(Service provided in conjunction with partners)
Many people in their later stages of life, due to changes in physical appearance, tend to shy away from being photographed. However, we believe that time does not diminish beauty. Changes in appearance are merely proof of a life lived bearing the marks of time, and are worth capturing.
Alongside can arrange for a photographer to create a personal photo album for our clients, capturing their enduring beauty through the lens. These photographs can be used as memorial portraits at the funeral service or compiled into an album for the living to cherish as a keepsake.
Living Funeral
(Service provided in conjunction with partners)
In the rush of life, people come and go, some leaving a lighter mark, others a heavier one. But for those important to us, some words, for various reasons, may remain unspoken in our hearts.
For the dying, the unsaid becomes a burden, carrying regrets into the final journey.
For the living, no matter how touching the words, they offer little solace if the deceased is already gone.
The ‘Four Acts of Life’, expressing thanks, love, apologies, and goodbyes, encourages seizing the last moments to open one’s heart to those who matter, allowing for a sense of closure and completeness in life.
A living funeral allows everyone to say their goodbyes while the person is still alive, to express unspoken words and sincerely thank each other for being a part of their lives; giving peace to both the living and the dying.
Clients can organize their living funeral through Alongside, with the format decided by the client. It can be a lively party or a solemn and serious event.
Home Death
(Service provided in conjunction with partners)
As life reaches its end, many people wish for a comfortable departure surrounded by loved ones.
In hospitals, numerous practices can disregard patient dignity, such as rigid visiting hours, sharing wards with strangers, physical restraints, and placement in wards that do not respect the patient’s gender identity. These conditions can make the final moments for the dying and their loved ones more distressing and uncomfortable.
Alongside collaborates with GoodGrief, an expert in supporting at-home departures, to fulfil the wish of completing life’s final journey at home. A professional medical team will provide palliative medication to ease physical discomfort. After passing, a funeral director will respectfully perform cleansing, massage, and dressing of the deceased, then discreetly and carefully transport the body and arrange posthumous matters.
Service Flow
- Contact Alongside: We will arrange for a to assess the suitability for at-home end-of-life care.
- Palliative Support: The medical team provides professional advice and palliative medication.
- Post-Death Body Transportation: The funeral director cleanses, massages, and dresses the deceased, and then arranges for the transportation of the body.
- Handling Related Documentation: A doctor visits to issue a death certificate, and we also accompany loved ones to the government office to handle related paperwork.
- Funeral Arrangements: The funeral director discusses funeral matters with the loved ones, arranging the posthumous affairs according to the deceased’s wishes, ensuring a respectful farewell.
Counselling support
Being told that one’s life is coming to an end can naturally lead to feelings of confusion, sadness, and anger.
There might be many things left undone, many words left unsaid, and a lack of understanding as to why this is happening.
There may be aspects of the diverse sexual/gender identity that have never been disclosed to loved ones.
Looking back at own life, it seems full of regrets.
Alongside invites those facing life’s end to seek consultation with our clinical psychologists or counselors for a heart-to-heart talk. Our aim is to help individuals unburden themselves, enabling a peaceful and calm passage through the final journey of life.
Our clinical psychologists and counselors have received professional training in caring for the sexual/gender minority community. We are confident in
Questions?
We are eager to hear from you and provide any assistance you may need. We look forward to connecting with you soon!