HOSANNA BEREAVEMENT SERVICES PTE LTD
(A Subsidiary of Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd)

In December 2000, we established a wholly owned subsidiary, Hosanna Bereavement Services Pte Ltd, which provides one-stop bereavement and funeral related services to Christian families. The principal activity of Hosanna Bereavement Services is to provide a one-stop centre for services such as transportation, embalming, casket supply, and other related funeral services e.g. food, drink, tentage, mobile toilet, press announcements, photography, etc as well as other ancillary services like arrangements for the supply of urns and niches after cremation.

Introduction

Death is part and parcel of life and sorrow is unavoidable as long as we have loving relationships with one another - the more we love, the greater our grief when we lose a loved one. We are therefore called to comfort one another (Isaiah 40:1).

Hosanna Bereavement Services seeks, therefore, not only to provide funeral services but also to help bereaved in their mourning so that they may be led out of their grief into a new phase of their lives. We seek to help the bereaved to draw close to God in their time of loss so that they may experience God's love and remember that "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Psalm 116:15).

Our ministry to the bereaved is grounded in our hope in Christ who has given us the victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).

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Our Mission

Hosanna Bereavement Services (HBS) is in the ministry of helping bereaved Christian families to come to terms with their loss and grief by providing a healing space through our bereavement services of care and love.

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Objectives

• To provide professional advice and personal service to Christian bereaved families in all aspects of bereavement matters.
• To help bereaved families make prudent decisions with regards to expenditure on bereavement services.

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Service Fees

• HBS ensures highest quality of services provided and reasonable fees set by all its sub-contractors.
• Hosanna will deal with sloppy services or over-charging complaints against its sub-contractors.
• HBS fees depend on the type of coffin chosen, cremation or burial, day or night handling cases.
• Sub-contractor service fees depend on number of wake-days. E.g. 3, 5 or 7 days.
• Sub-contractor service fees also vary depending on the services or items requested by the bereaved family.
• HBS handling fees range from $1,500 to $4,500, which includes a coffin, transportation of deceased body, pallbearers' services and hearse.
• Sub-contractor service fees range from $2,500 to $5,000; services provided are embalming, photo enlargement, tent age, tables and chairs, lighting supply and telephone connection, catering, mobile toilets, funeral parlor, obituary, etc.

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What To Do When There Is A Death In The Family

1. Getting the death certificate
   1. For death at home
      Contact your family doctor to obtain the Certification of Cause of Death (CCOD). If you cannot get a doctor to certify the cause of death, report the death to the nearest police post. The police will send an Inspecting Officer to certify the cause of death if the report is made during office hours. If the death occurs in the middle of the night, you can wait till the morning to report the death to the police.
      
      If it is not possible get a certificate to the cause of death, the police will arrange for the deceased to be sent to the mortuary and a certificate of the cause of death will be issued by the Coroner with or without a post mortem depending on the findings of the Coroner. Discharged cards, OPD cards and memos from doctors would help the inspector of death or coroner to issue a certificate of the cause of death without having to have a post mortem.
      
      The certificate of the cause of death must then be submitted together with the deceased identity card to any police station or police post in exchange for the certificate of death and a burial or cremation permit.
      
      
   2. For death in the hospital
      The hospital doctor will issue the certificate of the cause of death and this can be exchanged for the certificate of death as well as the burial or cremation permit at the branches of the Registry of death in the hospital.
      
      
   3. For death outside Singapore
      Obtain Death Certificate from the country where the death occurs and repatriation document from the Singapore Embassy/Representative Office in that country. A Funeral Director in that country will make the repatriation arrangements as required. Contact 24-hour hotline +65-63527797 and appoint Hosanna Bereavement Services to receive the deceased.
   
   
2. Making Arrangements For the Funeral Wake
   1. Contact Hosanna Bereavement Services - we will help and advise you on the following:
      • How much to spend on the casket and funeral services
      • What kind of casket and the services that will be needed
      • Cremation or burial and the type of cemeteries e.g. lawn or tombstones
      • The location for the funeral wake - parlour, own compound, void deck or open space at flat or at church
      • Embalming or otherwise
      • Date and time to wake and funeral
      
      
   2. Inform the church pastor - he/she will make the necessary arrangements for the services during the funeral wake and the funeral.

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Coming To Terms With The Loss of A Loved One

The most difficult time for the bereaved may come after the funeral. It is at this time when those are mourning feel the greatest impact of the death of their loved one. Hosanna Bereavement Services will work with the pastors to find a support group for those who are struggling with their grief and also to recommend referral to the appropriate health professional, if necessary.

As a part of our ministry to bereaved families, the Hosanna Bereavement Services holds monthly meetings on the first Sunday of each month at the Garden of Remembrance, 920 Old Choa Chu Kang Road, Singapore 699815 from 4 pm to 5 pm.

It has been said that "To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die ..." In our time of bereavement, we need to stand on the promise of God, "I am making everything new!" (Revelations 21:5)

We would like to invite you to join us in a time of prayer and fellowship to remember our loved ones who are now with our Lord.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who should make the funeral arrangement?
   
   The executor of the will, the next of kin or anyone who can be responsible for making the funeral arrangements can make the funeral arrangements e.g. immediate relatives or the church pastor.
   
   
2. Can I leave all the necessary arrangements with Hosanna Bereavement Services?
   
   Yes. We will help you to make all the necessary arrangements. You may contact our Hot-line at 63527797 which operates 24 hours a day or come to our office personally. We need the following information:
   
   • Your name
   • The church that you are attending
   • The name of the deceased
   • The location of the deceased
   • Your telephone number and address
   • The location of the funeral wake. etc.
   
   
3. What are the services provided by Hosanna Bereavement Services?
   
   We can provide the following:
   
   • Free advice on matters pertaining to funeral arrangements and the costs involved. We will also provide labour and transportation for the deceased from the mortuary or home for embalming, dressing the deceased and sending him/her with the coffin to the home, or parlour or church, and burial/cremation site on the day of the funeral.
   • Apply for permits from the respective authorities for holding the funeral wake. If the wake is to be held at your own premises or a funeral parlour, no permit is needed. However, if the funeral wake is to be held on a public road, a permit has to be obtained from PWD or URA. If the wake is to be held at the void deck of HDB flats, a permit is needed from HDB area office.
   • Assist in applying for the certificate of death and burial/cremation permit.
   • We also provide other services such as:
     • tent age
     • florists
     • snacks (nuts, sweet & melon seeds), drinks and catering services
     • mobile toilets
     • buses
     • photography
     • wake companion, etc.
   
   
4. Why should the deceased be embalmed?
   
   Embalming is necessary because decomposition sets in the moment a person dies. Unembalmed cases have been known to smell, ooze or drip after about 24 hours in the local climate. Embalming is also intended to delay decomposition and to make the deceased look natural and presentable for viewing and give a good lasting impression. In cases where the next of kin is out of town, the deceased should be embalmed as the waiting period could be long.
   
   
5. Where can the body be cremated?
   
   At Mandai Crematorium. The next of kin must sign the consent form for cremation at the time of booking of the cremation date and time at the Mandai Crematorium office. A death certificate or release paper from the hospital has to be produced at the time of booking. If the next of kin is not available, a letter of authorization should be given to Hosanna Bereavement Services to act on behalf of the family.
   
   
6. Why should we hold wake and funeral services?
   
   Wake and funeral services are ways of expressing farewell and respect to our loved ones who have died. They are also times of rejoicing and celebrating of a new phase of life because we as Christians have grounded our hope in Christ who has given us the victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).
   
   
7. Where can wake and funeral services be held?
   
   There are few areas for holding wake and funeral services:
   • Bras Basah
   • Hougang
   • Geylang
   • Upper Aljunied
   • Sin Ming Drive
   
   
8. What to do at the wake and funeral services?
   
   
   • Once the church is informed of the death of a loved one, arrangements will be made for the night wake and related funeral services.
   • The number of night wakes, time and venue of the funeral services must be decided upon.
   • You may suggest favourite hymns, songs or Bible verses of the deceased to the pastor. Tributes or eulogies could also be included to cherish the memory of the deceased.
   • For cremation, a prayer is said before the coffin is closed as the cortege prepares to leave for the church or crematorium.
   • For burials, the funeral service is carried out before leaving for the burial grounds.
   
   
9. Where can the ashes be stored?
   
   The ashes can be kept in one of the following places:
   • Garden of Remembrance at Chua Chu Kang
   • All Saints Memorial Chapel at Poh Huat Road
   • Mandai Government Columbarium
   • Chua Chu Kang Government Columbarium
   
   
10. Can you arrange for the repatriation of a deceased overseas?
    
    Yes, Hosanna Bereavement Services will make the necessary repatriation arrangements. The service include embalming, transportation (lorry, sea or air), and all the other necessary documents.

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Enquiry and Contact

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Disclaimer

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