Funeral & Burial Support

Funeral & Burial Planning

(Service provided in conjunction with partners)

Our fees

Fees vary depending on the funeral arrangements

In Hong Kong, funeral and burial rituals still often carry a strong gender bias and do not consider the needs of the sexual/gender minority community. For example:

Funeral wreaths always follow the paternal family surname.
Gender elements are prevalent in wreaths, epitaphs, etc.
Rituals like carrying the funeral banner and fetching water are traditionally performed by sons.
Paper offerings often depict servants as female and sedan chair bearers as male.

Alongside is committed to being the first organization in Hong Kong to arrange funeral matters for the sexual/gender minority community. Our funeral team is highly aware of gender issues, respecting the gender identities of the deceased, loved ones, and guests to avoid awkward situations. Additionally, conventional funeral services often feel traditional and restrictive, with families simply following a series of commands issued by the funeral director, rather than being comfort-focused and comforting the bereaved. Therefore, Alongside’s features include:

Creating a gender-friendly atmosphere, comfortable for people at different stages of coming out.
Personalized funeral wreaths, obituaries, and hall banners.
Providing diverse options for funeral services.
Reducing complicated procedures, considering the perspective of comforting the living.
Arranging for services in churches as mainstream Christian churches may not welcome the sexual/gender minority community.

Beyond basic funeral support, Alongside also provides logistical support in various areas according to family needs, allowing them to focus on their grief. This support includes assistance with filling out forms for probate application and helping families inspect the deceased’s safe deposit box before a probate is granted.

Service Flow

Contact Alongside: We explain to the clients what needs to be done after the death of their loved ones.
Documentary Assistance: We accompany clients to relevant government departments to obtain a death certificate.
Funeral Arrangements: Meeting with the funeral director to plan the ceremony and details.
Body Reception: We accompany clients to receive the body, and the funeral team dresses and prepares the deceased.
Funeral and Procession
Ash Placement or Scattering: If cremation is chosen, we assist clients with related documentation.

Green Burial

(Service provided in conjunction with partners)

With increasing public awareness of environmental protection, we start to realise that traditional funeral ceremonies may use many consumables, thereby burdening the environment. Green burials have therefore become increasingly popular in recent years. Many people wish to simplify these ceremonies to reduce the environmental impact.

Measures to reduce the environmental impact of funeral ceremonies include:

Using eco-friendly coffins to reduce carbon emissions.
Creating eco-friendly memorial wreaths and forgoing fresh flowers.
Eliminating one-time-use items like ceremonial garments, quilts, and mourning attire.
Opting for ash scattering in gardens or at sea.

Garden burials and sea burials are common methods for returning the ashes of the deceased to nature.

Garden Burial

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has established 13 memorial gardens for the public to scatter ashes, allowing the ashes of the deceased to return to the earth and nourish new life.

Sea Burial

Currently, there are 3 designated sea areas in Hong Kong where ashes can be scattered. Clients can either use the ferries provided by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department or the private boats to return the ashes of the deceased to the sea. This method is particularly suitable for the deceased who preferred a free and unbound lifestyle.

If you wish to incorporate elements of green burial into the funeral and burial ceremony, feel free to inform us during the consultation process.

Scattering ashes at sea

(Service provided in conjunction with partners)

Apart from garden burial, sea burial is another common method of green burial, particularly suitable for those who preferred freedom and an unbounded lifestyle.

Hong Kong has 3 designated sea areas for scattering ashes. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department offers free ferry services to transport our loved ones to those areas for ash scattering. The ferry also facilitates simple rituals like incense offering. It should however be noted that there may be more than one group on board, and the number of attendees in each group is limited.

Alongside can collaborate with our service providers to arrange private boat services to take loved ones to these sea areas for ash scattering. Features of this service include:

High privacy, avoiding the need to share the ferry with strangers.
Meals provided
Flexible control over the format and duration of the ceremony

Questions?

We are eager to hear from you and provide any assistance you may need. We look forward to connecting with you soon!