Burial in Melbourne Done Beautifully Better

We had the privilege of having Kate as our funeral director for my dad’s funeral. Kate was an incredible mentor and guide for our family during this time. From our first meeting with Kate she made us feel incredibly comfortable and was able to help us and assist us in giving our dad the send off we wanted to. Kate listened to all of our ideas and was able to put all of them together in a way that seemed fitting for the event. Kate’s work ethic and professionalism are second to none and her ability engage with the audience and deliver the story of dad’s life is something we are truly grateful for. Kate made dad’s service and we were truly very honored to have her. I would highly recommend Kate.

In what was an extremely emotional and heartbreaking time in organizing my mother’s funeral, Katheryn was empathetic, caring and incredibly thoughtful throughout the entire process. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.

Kathryn assisted me and my siblings after our mother died suddenly. During such a difficult time, Kathryn gave us kindness, empathy, respect and guidance to arrange a beautiful funeral for our Mum. At the service, Kathryn's direction, words, tone and manner were all perfect. Highly recommended.

From the beginning Olivia was very attentive and thorough with arranging my mother’s funeral. Couldn’t expect more than what she has done for us. Thank you so much

Dear ShellyI’m writing to express our deepest gratitude for the exceptional care and compassion you provided during our brother George’s funeral. Your professionalism and kindness made an incredibly difficult time more bearable for our family. From the moment we first contacted you, your empathy and understanding were evident. You took the time to listen to our needs and guided us through every step of the process with patience and respect. Your attention to detail ensured that George’s funeral was a beautiful and fitting tribute to his life. Your ability to blend sensitivity with efficiency was remarkable. The way you handled all the arrangements, from the service to the burial, allowed us to focus on remembering George and supporting each other. Your support and reassurance were invaluable, and we felt truly cared for throughout. George was a musical, caring, and humorous person, and your efforts helped us honor his memory in a way that reflected his spirit. The personal touches you suggested and implemented were deeply appreciated by all who attended. Thank you once again for your outstanding service and for being a source of comfort during this challenging time. We will always remember your kindness and professionalism. With heartfelt thanks, Camille & Michael

Shelly was recommended to me, we used her services for my husband’s service. Shelly’s genuine compassion, calm kindness, knowledge of the industry and organisation skills made for a seamless process which was so welcome at such a difficult time.

Andrea from Picaluna stepped in at very short notice to take reigns on a funeral that had many moving pieces and a grieving family that had trouble making decisions.Andrea was kind, patient, professional and personable. She felt like one of the family as she guided us through the process.Her recommendations on unique, yet tailored options for the funeral elevated the day to a place beyond our imagination.Highly recommend.

Dearest KathrynOn behalf of the family, please accept our heartfelt thanks for the care, kindness and compassion you provided in our time of need and sorrow.We appreciated the time you gave us to discuss options presented. You guided us with grace and dignity in providing a fitting tribute to honour and celebrate our beloved Garry. Thank you for the attention to every detail on the day, the floral tribute was so deeply touching. There were many, many tears that day, but the day flowed as we hoped, thanks to your great skill. We have had so many wonderful comments on how truly beautiful the service was.We could never this done this without you and feel so blessed to have been referred to you, your gentle demeanor and kind words helped us through the tough days. May every family be treated with such great care as you have given to us.Sincerely, Jo

We cannot express enough how grateful our family is for the exceptional care and support we received following our father’s passing. Anne provided us with an incredibly compassionate and professional service, guiding us through every step of the process with empathy and grace.Our family wanted to arrange something distinctive and beyond the scope of a conventional service, and from the outset, Anne made a challenging and emotional time significantly easier with her genuine kindness and dedication. Her expertise, proactive attitude and creative approach to finding solutions make her an invaluable resource for families seeking not just professional guidance, but also a compassionate and understanding partner through their time of need. She was always available to answer our questions, address our concerns, and ensure that every detail was handled with the utmost respect and care.We highly recommend Anne - It was clear that Anne is deeply committed to her work and to supporting families during such difficult times.Thank you, Anne, for everything you did for us. Your support made an incredible difference, and we are deeply appreciative.Helen, Fotini & Electra Manikakis

Our brother passed away unexpectedly a few weeks ago. He was in another state when it happened. I contacted Picaluna for some guidance about bringing him home and from the first moment I spoke to them, I knew we would use them for his funeral. Rachel looked after the arrangements with such empathy and kindness. We could not have done it without her and Claire. It was a beautiful farewell. Would highly recommend them.

Jaqi visited our home for a first consultation and was very helpful explaining all the options. We subsequently had a second visit and completed all the planning. Jaqi was very knowledgeable and understanding. On the day Jaqi ran the funeral and things could not have gone better. thank you and well done.

We were so blessed by having Jaqi as our funeral director and celebrant for the funeral of our dear father. Her attention to detail and sensitive ways of walking with us and making suggestions of how we could celebrate his long life made the day a beautiful one for all of us. We all felt she genuinely cared for us and our family. She helped create a beautiful space, and took care of many details for us so we could be fully present. Her co-workers and vendors were also exemplary - we felt she handpicked them all for us. We wholeheartedly recommend her professional and heartfelt services.

It has been so nice to work together with Olivia Andrews to get a beautiful service together for my wife. Olivia has been so patient through the whole process and guided us to something that we were really happy with. The compassion Olivia showed us just made things easier in a difficult time. My highest recommendation

My father passed away recently in his 90th year. As a family we engaged Jaqi Coan of Picaluna Beautiful Funerals, in the role of Funeral Director & Celebrant.We are so pleased we made this decision. Jaqi listened carefully to the family throughout the planning process, with compassion and empathy. In so doing, Jaqi was able to create a personal, meaningful and heartfelt tribute to my father.As my health prevented me from being present for the service, a very important part of the day for me was the multi-camera livestream coverage. Without putting too fine a point on it, this aspect was breathtaking! The crowning glory being, drone footage of the hearse elegantly gliding through the rural landscape, adjacent to the Twin Creeks Golf & Country Club where the ceremony was held.The standard of service provided by Jaqi, her colleagues at Picaluna Beautiful Funerals and every one of their suppliers, could only be described as exceptional. I have no hesitation in giving Jaqi a 5 star rating!

What can I say…… I made the right decision to ask Sarah to guide mums funeral. She made the whole journey not enjoyable but bearable, Beautiful. Sarah’s suggestion every inch of the way was so helpful From being with mum when she left her body, bathing mum after she went, bringing the cardboard casket home to decorate with the great grand kids and the layout of the service. The whole event went perfect.I have had nothing but praise from friends and relatives including those who watched it being live cast. I highly recommend using Sarah and Picaluna to give the best service for your love one!

The Picaluna team are amazing. We were so thrilled to have Candice not only as the funeral director but also the celebrant at mums funeral. She took care of everything!! She was always available to answer questions, thought outside the box, organised, super lovely/awesome, empathetic, the list goes on. How she wrote and spoke about mum, captured mums life brilliantly. What I love about the company is that they are transparent with the financial side of things, their contribution to charity and also having the option of eco-friendly coffins. I can't thank Picaluna and Candice enough for mums send off, would 110% recommend them.

My gorgeous Dad died suddenly in my home last month and we needed to act swiftly to find a service that honoured the gentle, soulful and Earth conscious person that he was. My husband found Picaluna and as soon as I read the company statement and the foundation of the 🌛special🌜 name and services offered I knew Picaluna was the right choice. Despite the tight time frame Picaluna were immediately responsive, kind and available. Dad and our family were handled with the upmost respect and can do attitude for our wishes. His send off from our home was joyous, gentle and exactly what we needed in our shock and grief.Maureen was appointed to take care of us and she was exactly the person Dad and I needed in this sad time of earthly goodbyes. She answered my queries out of hours and organised all my requests behind the scenes in a timely manner and alleviated all anxiety. I was so happy with everything Maureen organised & endorsed on my behalf. She drove a long way to come to my house and meet me, advise me of options, hear about Dad and look at pictures. Before she left she visited Dad and talked to him in his colourful bedroom, and met all of my ideas with a resounding YES. Thank you Maureen & Picaluna for your kindness, empathy and enthusiasm for facilitating this joyous and gentle send off to best honour my gorgeous Dad.With glowing thanks. ❤️💫🌹🏵️🌼Amber, Richard and family.

A five star review doesn’t do justice to the support and service that Andrea and Picaluna gave us when our Dad suddenly passed away recently. From the minute I called Andrea she was such an amazing support and I honestly can’t imagine how we would have endured the whole experience without her. She put up with our loving (but intense) attempts to capture our beautiful, complex Dad in a service that was fitting for the amazing life he lived. No request was too complicated and she replied to every question and worry, no matter the time of day or night. During the service Andrea brought such joy and warmth and helped to make Dad’s funeral something we are all so proud of. So many people remarked to me that it was the most beautiful and personal funeral they had ever been to. Though we don’t wish this sadness on anyone else, we hope that every family across Sydney has the chance to be supported by Andrea and Picaluna when the time comes to farewell someone they love.

Alexandra was warm and easy to deal with. Great communication . Wonderful service .

Jaqi and Picaluna did a wonderful job at proving the funeral and care that our family needed.

Andrea and the Picaluna team are amazing. I witnessed them lead two poignant services over the course of a few weeks. Andrea is a tender, thoughtful, heartfelt death celebrant who led the ceremonies with grace, compassion, extreme care and poise. I felt so safe with her to both sob and laugh, and I felt the dearly departed and their loved ones were lovingly cared for by Andrea and the Picaluna team. So highly recommend this gifted team.

We used Picaluna Funerals (with Candice and her staff) for our mother’s funeral. From the first contact to the last, Picaluna were fantastic. Easy to deal with, always happy to answer questions, friendly and empathic and always professional. Our family would highly recommend them.

A more beautiful and personal farewell could not have been possible .

Our family recently had Andrea from Picaluna support and oversee the funeral arrangements for my father. From the very first day amid shock and sadness Andrea walked us through it. She took the time to learn about the man who was our father and husband and she honoured him as if he was a dear friend. Every detail was meticulously delivered as we wished and Andrea guided us when we were unsure. She Helped us create a funeral that perfectly expressed the love we all had and the life and legacy my father left. We will be forever grateful for Andrea’s intuitive and gentle support.

Very caring, professional and thorough. Thank you guys for all you did.

Jaqi was so compassionate in the way she guided us to organise a beautiful day to celebrate the life of my precious Dad. She showed so much empathy and respect both to us as family members and to my beautiful Dad. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and such a fitting way to honour my Dad. I am so grateful that we were blessed to have Jaqi journey with us as we farewelled our wonderful Dad. She showed all of us kindness and love.Thank you so much Jaqi

I would highly recommend Picaluna funerals to any families in their time of need. JC Storace our Funeral Director and her team were highly respectful, compassionate and transparent through the whole process. Unlike most funeral companies, Picaluna tailor exactly to your needs without charging the world, the difference in costing was huge from my previous experiences and the quality of the service supplied really great. Myself and my family thank Picaluna Funerals for making our experience that bit less stressful and beautiful at the same time.Gavin Griffin

Going through our dad's end of life care and funeral was a very difficult time. We had the most amazing help from Anne Lee, Funeral Director, Picaluna Beautiful Funerals. The care, respect, service and professionalism was 110%. With Anne's help our family put on a loving and personally tailored service for our dad. I would definitely recommend Anne.

I would highly recommend Anne, as she helped us through the most difficult time of losing our mother. Anne was professional, nothing was too much trouble and Anne was caring and considerate at all times. Anne explained everything with clarity and showed the upmost respect to my mother and our family. It made such stressful time easier on all of us.

Anne Lee and the team did a wonderful job. Anne was helpful and compassionate even in the days following the funeral. The flowers were commented on by several friends as they were so beautiful. Also the photo montage was professional and fitted perfectly to the music we had chosen

A funeral or as I prefer, a “Celebration of Life”, is never easy. There’s so much to do. Cheryl was both professional & extremely kind. Cheryl guided our family through the process which resulted in a beautiful Celebration for my wife, Libby.

Saying goodbye to your loved ones is never an easy thing to do. Picaluna - Beautiful Funerals were amazing, they made the process effortless. Anne Lee our Funeral Director was amazing. We wanted a very simple funeral as we had personal reasons for this and Ann made sure everything was done the way my mum wanted it done. We highly recommend Picaluna Funerals. They care and listen to want you want.

I rang Picaluna Funeral at 4 am on a Saturday morning of the 25Th May this year, and spoke to Sarah. I had told her our Mum had past away and I was looking at Funeral Directors with in our area to come and see what they do for us, Sarah said she would get back to me in a couple of hours. She arranged for their Funeral Director, Kathryn Booth to come and meet us at 12.30 that afternoon. Kathryn and Olivia came and we had a meeting, with my whole family. we all found Kathryn and Olivia VERY CARING people. From the onset of our meeting, we engaged the services of Picaluna, which we are VERY grateful for their cpmpassion, and listening to what we wanted. Communication was fantastic, the service they did for Mum, was unforgetable, not only by my family, but for all that attended Mums funeral. Everybody was moved by the service. I even had a cousin come to me, and say that was the first funeral he had cried at ( he had lost his mum and brother within 12 months of each other) When they came to pick Mum up ( as she lied in wake on her bed at home), they showed the upmost respect for her, from knocking on her bedroom door and even introduced themselves to Mum. I would recommend Piculuna Funerals and ALL their staffwithout hesitation. Ive even told my family that I would like them to u=se this service, when it is my time to go. Great work, Olivia, Kathryn and Sarah. The most important thing also is that this is a fully run company that is AUSTRALIAN, not kike the others, that is run by overseas corporation. Well done Picaluna, you have made our Mums send off GREAT! We as a family can not thank you enough

Sarah, we are deeply grateful for your loving care in organizing and conducting a simple yet heartwarming funeral for our mum. It was everything we wanted it to be – simple, honest, and beautifully focused on celebrating the life of our mum rather than her passing. Your attention to detail and compassionate approach truly made a difficult time a little easier for us. Thank you, Sarah, for your exceptional service.

Dear Sarah, I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the compassionate care and professionalism you provided during this difficult time. Your attention to detail and the support you offered made a challenging process much more bearable for our family. Your kindness and understanding were evident in every step of the arrangements, and we deeply appreciate the respect and dignity you showed to our mum. Your guidance and support were invaluable, and we are truly grateful for your dedication and compassion. Thank you for your unwavering support and for making such a difficult time a little easier to navigate. We are forever grateful for your help and the comfort you provided. With sincere appreciation, Dona Mihut

Could not have been happier with the caring and attentive service we received from Picaluna funeral services and Kathryn Booth. Despite our dear Dad passing away on Christmas Day, Greg from Picaluna took care of everything for us, and thus followed the most caring and comforting organisation of every aspect of his funeral service. It was a lovely tribute to our dear Dad and we were very grateful and would always recommend Picaluna.

I couldn't have asked for a more thoughtful Funeral Director in Sarah Tolmie. Thank you for the support, care and guidance you gave us it was beyond my expectations and truly sincere. I would absolutely recommend Sarah, and Picaluna Funerals.

Highest recommendation. Very personalised service. Kind, thoughtful and well-organised.

Hi JC, Sorry I didn't get to talk to you at the reception. If I did, I would have said that Picaluna has done a wonderful job in helping us celebrate my sister Margie's life. Your team worked together so well it was incredible. All of us here don't really get involved in too much funeral planning but Mother Jo is obviously a different case. My feelings about the funeral were confirmed when I met her in the street later on that day. She said that Picaluna were among the best she has dealt with and gave you a 10/10. Thanks so much for all you have done for us.

I can thoroughly recommend Sarah Tolmie and End of life services - this is my second tome of entrusting my loved ones to Sarah's care - and she is beautiful, calm and professional on every front - she makes everything special and easy at such difficult times. Thanks Sarah for everything. Margie

Sarah was so caring and helpful who attended our home clearly explained what was required and what options were available to us at this emotional time. Sarah offered us a package well within our financial budget in comparison to other expensive quotes that other funeral services offered and on line and no personal assistance. Talking to Sarah assisted my Aunt in understanding the process and answered all her questions and mine and has kept us informed and welcomed any questions my Aunt needed answering, Sarah listened, her service was excellent and she is lovely to talk to can only give her the highest praise and thanks for all her assistance. Carol and Barbara

Kindness, empathy, mindfulness, love, reflection, just some of the words to describe our experience with Jacqueline Coan and Picaluna, on the passing of our dear mum. Not only were all arrangements organised seamlessly, the thoughts and generousness of Jaqi made this a much easier experience. Jaqi even wore my mother’s favourite colour, red, at all our meetings and this made for the perfect closure. So many heartfelt thanks.

Faced with the prospect of handling our son, Patrick’s funeral remotely from the UK, we were very fortunate to have chosen Picaluna and blessed to have Alexandra appointed to assist us. For almost a year she supported us with kindness, compassion and patience. She helped us with all the aspects of the funeral, registering the death, and eventually organising the scattering of his ashes at Bathurst. Not only that, Alexandra also gave us many pieces of sound advice that helped us overcome several hurdles in remotely managing his estate. In short, Alexandra went far beyond what anyone could expect from a funeral director. We were delighted to have her work with us at what was a very difficult time.

From the first call with Jodie to the last moments of my father's funeral with Julie. Picaluna and staff were calming and understanding to our needs. I would highly recommend Picaluna to anyone

Empathy, caring assistance at a very difficult time in my life when I had not experienced having to organise a funeral before

As I reflect on the recent passing of a close friend , I am compelled to express my utmost gratitude for the extraordinary service provided by Sarah Tolmie(Funerals Director). From the initial consultation to the final farewell, every aspect of the funeral procedure was executed with profound sensitivity. professionalism of Sarah Tolmie was truly remarkable. From the elegant arrangement of floral tributes to the meticulous coordination of logistical details, every aspect of the funeral service was flawlessly executed. Her commitment to excellence ensured that every aspect of the ceremony was a heartfelt tribute to the life and legacy of our cherished friend.In conclusion, I cannot recommend Sarah Tolmie(Funerals Director) highly enough. Her unwavering dedication to providing exceptional service during a time of profound loss is a testament to her commitment to serving families with integrity and compassion. Thank you, Sarah for helping us navigate this difficult journey with grace and dignity.Z. Gamarnik

Julie was empathetic and helpful during the most difficult time. She took the time to get to know our loved one and the effect her sudden passing had on all of us. She was kind, patient and understanding.

I have had two dealings with Cheryl. Very honest and caring lady. Highly recommend.

Julie was excellent at the difficult time of organising my sister in law's funeral. We were under time pressure and Julie was able to secure a funeral service spot for us in a very timely manner. She spent a bit over 2 hours with the family planning the service and picked up on the needs of each individual and built those in. The outcome was a fantastic service, which attendees and video link viewers all commented positively on. Julie helped us prepare & deliver a memorable send off for my sister in law. I highly recommend Julie.

Alex was a great choice for us in looking after the arrangements when we recently lost a family friend.What a great support it was to have a calm and level head, combined with someone who clearly cares about how she supports her clients through a challenging time.Not only was the process seamless from our point of view, (which of course is really important at a time like this) but some thoughtful research brought wonderful personal insights to the commemorative service.Alex is thoroughly organised and is a lovely gentle and calming person. Thank you for being a steady hand just when one is needed.

Sarah officiated recently at my brothers farewell ceremony. My brother was a bit of an unconventional character, and Sarah’s presentation style captured his spirit perfectly. It also helped many of his colourful friends to feel much more in-tune with the service than they would have felt had the service taken place in a church. Her guidance throughout the planning process of the event was invaluable and her patience and support were exactly what we all needed. Thank you! We were also very impressed with the way Sarah reached out to everyone in attendance and asked them to look after themselves, look after each other, take deep breaths, stay hydrated (on such a hot day) and give themselves the time and permission to grieve in their own way. These are such obvious things to say, and yet so often they go completely unsaid at funerals where it’s all about the person who has already moved beyond feeling any pain. Nobody looks forward to these sorts of events, but we all thought that Sarah was absolutely central in helping us to generate an atmosphere of mutual love and connectedness among everyone in attendance, which certainly helped to turn a painful day into a beautiful celebration of my brothers life and legacy.

It is with great pleasure to thank Shelly for her warm and professional way of guiding our large family through a tough time when we lost mum's ‘love of her life, after 66 years’,’ and ‘our larger than life’, dad! From the very first call to Picaluna’s main number, we were made to feel at ease. We were reassured by Shelly from that first call that we were going to be able to trust her expertise and natural ability to blend with us as if we had known her for years! To be that voice of reason as the 'wise one' of the family when needed. Shelly took time to not only get to know us and the special man our dad was, but also what we all wanted for dads funeral. At times this was challenging as differing opinions were handled so well by Shelly who was calm, confident and inclusive of everyone’s thoughts and wishes. Shelly was able to steer the conversation back on track and quite quickly seemed to pick up our vision of what would be suitable for our dads send off! After a few hours of being with us Shelly was available to meet with us and the priest only a few hours later the same day without any hesitation, and continued to be available to answer our calls, change a few things here and there, and to ensure that dads send off was going to be a tribute to the special man our dad was. The day of dad’s funeral was just perfect, Shelly looked after us and especially mum, and every little detail was outstanding. The attached pictures can only show a small part of how special Shelly made dads send off, but mum and the rest of the family will remember her warmhearted, attentive, considerate and thoughtful presence. This included collecting our dads ashes and holding onto them until mum felt able to receive them. I would recommend Picaluna Funerals and Shelly, to be entrusted to be the angel to create a loving and memorable goodbye! Thank you from our family to Shelly and Picaluna Funerals.Cara-Lyn K

Thank you Sarah for your support and professionalism during a difficult time. The ceremony you delivered for my brother's farewell was beautiful.Thank you for working with our family and taking the time getting to know my brother. I believe this certainly helped to make his ceremony unique.

If there was a silver lining to the loss of my Mum, it was how she passed and how the team at Picaluna, especially Jaqi, made my family and I feel throughout the entire experience. They were extremely understanding, patient, supportive and informative. Everything that we needed. I can’t recommend them enough. Thank you for making it that much easier 💜

We found our Picaluna Funeral Director to be flexible, efficient and personable. She understood what we wanted and directed proceedings in a very professional yet empathetic way. 10/10.

Our Picaluna Funeral Director, Alex, was flexible, efficient and personable. She understood what we wanted and directed proceedings in a very professional yet empathetic way. 10/10.

When my beautiful Mother, June Harrison, passed away suddenly three weeks before Christmas my family were not only grieving but unexpectantly having to organise her funeral arrangements. As is the case with most families we really didn't know where to start. After doing some online research and talking to various Funeral Directors including Rachel Bracken from Picaluna Beautiful Funerals, as a family we all agreed wholeheartedly that we would be in good hands with Rachel. From the start Rachel was very professional, knowledgeable, compassionate, friendly and caring. Even though almost all arrangements were long distance, Rachel guided us through the planning process and other necessary arrangements explaining all the options and listening to our requests over many long phone conversations, she made herself available at all times and nothing was too much trouble. As well as all required arrangements, at our request Rachel organised Live Streaming, flowers and light luncheon refreshments at a beautiful Memorial Gardens location that our family had chosen, everything was perfect. Our Mother's funeral was a beautiful celebration of her life and we cannot thank Rachel and her lovely colleagues enough for their respectful, professional and caring guidance on the day. If any of my friends or family were to find themselves in the unexpected situation of having to plan a funeral, I would have no hesitation in recommending Picaluna Funerals. Thank you again Rachel, we will never forget your help, you are a beautiful caring person. Lyn.

I cannot rate Kerri high enough. She went above and beyond to make things happen smoothly. The care, compassion and consideration Kerri puts into her work made the whole process so special. I received many compliments on how well Kerri and her team worked together to create a truly beautiful service.

In the worst of times, Jacqueline and her team from Picaluna maid everything little bit easier. Every small detail was taken care of, Jacqueline was very respectful of our culture and religion. The care and compassion our family received was excellent, the team are simply beautiful and caring bunch of people.Very grateful for the service, so thank you! Highly recommended.

Shelly was an absolute angel in disguise! From the get go right through to the end of farewelling our loved one. She is one of the most gentle and caring people I have ever met and really went above and beyond in comforting us throughout the whole daunting journey. Heartfelt thank you Shelly!

Shelly has been great to work with through a difficult time. We found her to be friendly, welcoming and easy to to deal with throughout the process. Highly recommend.

Rachel Bracken was amazing. She went above & beyond with so much heartfelt sympathy & empathy for the family for my Mother in laws' funeral. Nothing was any trouble for her. She is so easy to talk to, it feels like we had known her for ages. I would thoroughly recommend her for any event.

I could not have asked for anyone better than Alexandra Kirk and Picaluna to arrange the Farewell to my wife. I had great hopes of the setting and the format of the ceremony, both of which were challenging. My hopes were realised and expectations exceeded. We live streamed the event for the benefit of family and friends in the UK. This was very successful. Alexandra brought a sympathetic, understanding and comforting personality to her role as celebrant which was appreciated by all in attendance. My words are insufficient to express my gratitude. Thank you Alexandra.

Kate brought warmth, compassion and a personal touch to the recent celebration of my mum’s life. I was so grateful for her guidance, thank you Kate.

Melissa and Picaluna arranged the cremation of our loved one and guided us through the process with great care, patience and compassion, especially as we had no experience beforehand. We are very grateful for their help and support.

So grateful to have met Vivienne and discovered Picaluna at the hardest times of my life. Thank you Vivienne for taking care of arrangements for both my parents. Your professionalism, your warmth, empathy and compassion is simply amazing! Thank you for keeping me updated on the journey and for seamlessly addressing the issue with the registration. Picaluna focus on respectfully organising and helping you celebrate a life well lived for your loved one. A truly touching experience...

PICALUNA'S AND KATE CUTTER'S PROFESSIONAL HANDLING OF MY WIFE JENNY'S FUNERAL WAS DONE WITH SENSITIVITY AND COMPASSION.DEEP GRATITUDE.STEVE CROSS.

We couldn’t have hoped for a better suited person to help us farewell our beautiful Nan. Kate’s patience, compassion and understanding was exactly what we needed in an extremely difficult time. Her flexibility with arrangements and intimate knowledge of the process helped remove any anxiety we had about being able to say goodbye to Nan the way she would’ve wanted. Thank you Kate

Kate officiated at both my mum and my dad’s funeral and I couldn’t have hoped for a better person in that role. She is genuinely interested in the life of the deceased and is extremely caring, helpful and professional in her approach. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.

We wanted a 'non-Feneral' celebratory send-off for my wife who had requested nothing religious and no cremtorium, herse, etc..Alexandra Kirk @ Picaluna guided us through the options available and together we created a magic day of 'celebration of life' exactly as my wife would have wanted.

I was so blessed to meet Vivienne from Picaluna Funerals, this was my first experience and I had no idea where to start. I can’t thank her enough for making my husband's farewell so special and running smoothly in the difficult situation of bringing him of home. We were all so impressed by Vivienne's professionalism but still remaining sensitive and caring. Her warm personality made everyone feel at ease, just like a trusted friend. A friend in England who watched the video said 'I am not sure if it’s the right thing to say - but we so enjoyed watching today - I felt that we were there with you’.

A big shout out to say thanks to everyone at Picaluna Funerals! After the sudden and unexpected death of my mother, Funeral Director and Celebrant Shelly Bennett, walked us through some options for Mum’s farewell. We are a large family and despite the many different opinions in the room, Shelly helped us to create a unique ‘one of a kind’ send off that was both fitting for Mum, but also respectful of our brother who has special needs. Shelly was considerate, organised and went out of her way to ensure that the venue was beautifully presented and that all the little flourishes we had in mind were thoughtfully executed. I simply can’t recommend Shelly and the team at Picaluna Funerals highly enough.

Very accommodating and efficient. Jacqueline was more than helpful and a pleasure to deal with in a difficult time. Would recommend. Thank you Picaluna and Jacqueline

Sarah took care of our family as we lost our mum this year. She is compassionate and brings a wonderful perspective to the end of life journey, as well as a sense of humour. Sarah was indispensable for us and is partnered with a lovely team of specialists who can support with all needs during this time. We are so grateful and will call on Sarah again in the future.

Julie was so empathetic -she gently guided us through the process when our mum passed away. She helped us work out how we said goodbye but listened to our stories about mum and captured the essence of her in the service. The family all came away with a feeling we did her proud. Thank you Julie - you really did make it special.

Our experience with Picaluna and the team at Picaluna was exceptional. Details were attended to, matters graciously handled and we could not have asked for anything to be done differently. 10 out of 10.

Sarah Tolmie recently helped to organise and was the celebrant at the memorial for my husband. She was very understanding & kind, ready to listen to what my husband had requested & I wanted for his memorial but she also had good suggestions that made the memorial even more special. Sarah wasn't pushy & was easy to talk to & empathetic to our feelings. A number of people mentioned to me afterwards about how Sarah beautifully conducted the service, & my family & myself were very pleased with how it went. Thank you Sarah & I have no hesitation in recommending her.

Sarah steered us through a very sad and stressful time with compassion and kindness. I recommend Sarah's services to anyone experiencing the loss of a loved one.

My family and I were so very grateful for all the support and guidance given by Sarah. She helped to make our celebration of my husband's life so very special and personal. Even the youngest children were catered for and were busy adding their touch to the coffin. From the bottom of my heart, I thank Sarah for all care and helping us through our challenging time.

Jonelle at PicaLuna could not have been more helpful and obliging in the attentive service she offered my family during a very difficult time. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and she was always proactive in pursuing our ideas and suggestions. We were especially touched by her and Lauren turning up to the service wearing red-and-yellow scarves in keeping with the Spanish theme of our father’s funeral. It was a lovely gesture that was very much appreciated by all. Thank you, Jonelle, for your no-fuss, calming, respectful and sensitive organisation of our event. We have no hesitation in recommending you and PicaLuna without reservation.

Thank you Sarah for the beautiful gift of ceremony you gave for our beloved Ludwig and the personal integrity in honouring him as we believed he would have desired. Your kindness and support during this time will not be forgotten either.....Peter

Our mother passed away in April of this year after being diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukemia 2 months prior. Having found Kate via Picaluna, Kate availed herself to come and spend sometime with mum, my siblings and me prior to mum passing. Kates kindness, compassion, understanding coupled with such a beautiful nature put us all at ease with the process that was shortly to follow. Upon mums passing, in a time where emotions were running in overwhelm, Kate assisted in making the process transparent and seamless with wonderful communication and generally going above and beyond in the organisation of the funeral. On the day, Kate acting as the celebrant, portrayed mum in the light that she deserved with a detailed and heart felt eulogy that resonated with all present on the day. With Kates caring and committed assistance we were able to achieve the most perfect farewell for our mother for which we are so grateful for. With eternal appreciation, David, Denise, Stephen.

Kate was absolutely wonderful as well as the rest of the team. Thanks for looking after Aunty Nell and Aunty Ann we couldn't have done it without you. William, Annette and Dennice

Sarah’s level of care, compassion and integrity was exceptional and most importantly authentic. She is able to have the perfect balance of respect and openness and listens to your needs but will also provide well thought through suggestions at a time when it’s hard to know what you might want and need. Sarah takes the time to get to know people and their families to understand what might be the best fit for them. Highly recommend Sarah — she loves what she does and that comes through in all aspects of her work.

Sarah Tolmie, so much more than a celebrant.Sarah managed my husband Bob’s funeral in 2009. I say managed as it would not have been the beautiful service it was had it not been for Sarah.Sarah was thorough, compassionate, organised and had the attention to detail required for such an event. Sarah knew exactly what she needed to know and who she needed to speak to so that when she spoke of Bob, she sounded as though she had known him all her life.It was a large service with many people attending, and it was Sarah who helped and guided me to ensure nothing was left to chance.It’s been 14 years since Sarah gave this amazing eulogy. I will never forget how she captured Bob so accurately and so beautifully. Missing none of the characteristics that make us unique and ensures celebrations of life, are great celebrations of life. This is where Sarah excels.Deb Merkenhof, Sydney.

We used Sarah as our marriage celebrant and she was amazing .. she supported us in creating the most magical ceremony , weaving in layers of meaning , love and family. We were reluctant to have a ceremony but Sarah’s insight and experience meant we never looked back . Our times with Sarah helped us to build a our relationship. Thank you for helping us to form a stronger bond and special memories.

Anne looked after our family following the passing of my sister Cathy. Her care and attention helped to make a very emotional and distressing time a little bit easier to manage. All of our family appreciated the support and knowledge that Anne provided. Thanks Anne

Sarah is by far, the loveliest and most compassionate funeral director I have ever met. We had a no service/cremation for my loved one. He was taken into care by Picaluna and Sarah not only organised the appropriate paperwork but also helped me with 'next steps' including the notification to Centrelink. Most importantly, I felt heard and understood by her in terms of my relationship with Ron and that really helped my grieving process. I highly recommend Sarah Tolmie as a Funeral Director and Celebrant and too, the Picaluna team.

It is really hard to put into words what Kate did for our family. She was everything we needed and more. She went above and beyond to make my dad's farewell a loving experience for all in attendance. It was the finer details, the care and compassion and her professionalism that set Kate apart. We knew from the first meeting that she was exactly who we would trust to help us through this process. We will be forever grateful to her.

Sarah’s kind, and gentle wholistic approach was so well suited to our farewell to Mum. She took the time to understand our needs and respectfully made space for us to reflect in a manner that brought peace, love and understanding for all. Thank you Sarah. Kind regards, Omar Abidin

Shelly from Picaluna was incredible, we lost our little girl and thanks to Shelly we were able to create a beautiful memorial that we will always treasure. Shelly was organised, sensitive, personal and professional. Nothing was ever too much, and her communication was always outstanding. We were so thankful to be introduced to Shelly, she really made the hardest situation that little bit easier. Thank you Shelly 💛💛

Our first meeting with Anne Lee @ Picaluna was a telephone conversation. She was warm, compassionate and re-assuring, and we immediately felt at ease with her. She took care of the logistical/procedural matters as required, but it was her ability to step into our home and immediately not only feel like an old friend but also be able to offer us suggestions (and alternatives) for my father’s farewell service so that it was tailored to suit him rather than follow a set ‘programme’ that really impressed us. The result was what my family and I felt was a beautiful & fitting farewell, tweaked to suit an almost 102 year old gentleman who had lived and seen much over his long life. We consider ourselves so very fortunate and cannot recommend Anne & Picalua highly enough to anyone needing to organise a farewell.

Shelley was fabulous and helpful for our mum's unique funeral. She helped make the day truly special for me and my sisters with no regrets a year later!

Recommend Amanda and the service she offers

Based on my personal experience I have so much respect for Greg Inglis and his team at Picaluna. My family has used Picaluna three times. The first was a quiet personal family gathering for the passing of my father organised by Scott. When my mother passed recently she had a simple cremation which was handled perfectly by Vivienne. When my brother passed unexpectedly Vivienne again stood tall and organised a formal service which brough together a large number of his friends, family and colleagues for a wonderful commemoration of his life. Thank you to the whole team at Picaluna.

Anne was the most beautiful and wonderful Celebrant and Funeral Director I could have asked for. She was so lovely, warm, gentle and guided me through such a difficult and challenging time after losing my Mother. The service was everything I could have wished for and more, I put a lot of trust and faith in Anne and she made a difficult day such a beautiful one which I’ll never forget. So many family and friends told me that it was like Ann had known my Mother for many years and this is what made the service so personal, so relatable and so comforting. Thank you also to Jodie and the wonderful team at Picaluna, I can’t thank you enough for all the care and love you put into the service. Anne, I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful and caring soul than you to be the Celebrant and Funeral Director, thank you so, so much… I know my Mum would have been so happy and proud… ❤️❤️

I'd never had to organise a funeral before and when my mum passed away, I was heartbroken, grieving and dreading the process of saying goodbye. I researched a few funeral Directors in my local area, and I was drawn to Picaluna for its philosophy of creating genuine, personal funerals, helping family, friends and the community to honour, mourn, celebrate, heal and rejuvenate. When I called Anne Lee, I was nervous but within minutes I felt calm and knew I was in good hands. Anne made the process easy; I wasn't rushed to make any decisions, not once did I feel she was giving me a sales pitch, she genuinely wanted to help organise the most fitting of funerals for my mum. The funeral itself was perfect, the flowers, the music, the slideshow, everything. In fact, all the attendees said it was the most beautiful and amazing funeral they had ever attended. My mum looked beautiful in the coffin which for me was life changing, from that moment I wasn't scared of death anymore. I 100% recommend Anne Lee and Picaluna funerals if you are looking for that personal service and ensuring you give your loved one the sendoff they deserve.

I would highly recommend Picaluna Funerals ! Shelly made such a difficult time much more bearable and easier from the first phone call I felt I had reached out to an amazing group of funeral directors . Shelly is second to none when it comes to arranging a beautiful personalised service showing nothing but love respect and compassion . I could not have wished for a more special personal and loving goodbye for my mum Picaluna cared about all the circumstances including financial and made it so easy to afford such a memorable day to hour our very special mum , thank you Shelly thank you Picaluna

With the greatest pleasure and gratitude, I'll express mine and my families highest recommendation for Picaluna - Beautiful Funerals. And specifically the thoughtfulness, care, compassion and empathy, for Shelly Bennett our Funeral Director & Celebrant. From our first contact of inquiry and all the way through this difficult time, Shelly's guidance and deliberation, her care and consideration. Shelly's time and availability at any time for me and my family. With an added unexpected last minuet change in our arranged and booked church funeral, As some of our family got covid. Shelly with ease altered and arranged everything for us within hours, and our service remained spectacular and beautiful for our deceased loved one and our family, to a completely new venue, out doors.I cannot thank Picaluna enough for the choices of caskets. We chose a beautiful White Whicker basket for my Aunt and the spectacular array of flowers, driven in an antique Mercedes Benz.My family and I say again, thank you for sending us Shelly for guiding us through this difficult time. We couldn't have wished for a nicer, warmer person to help us through.Thank You to everyone at Picaluna and Shelly. Anne Colquhoun and Family

From the moment we met Shelly and she said "Lets all have a cup of tea" we knew that she had been sent to us for a reason. After our initial meeting, it felt as though an old trusted friend was taking care of everything for us. Shelly ensured that the day was everything we wanted and needed it to be. Thank you x

Picaluna is an excellent funeral service. You will be allocated a celebrant, we had Anne Lee who was just terrific. Caring. Professional. Just the right tone always. They will tailor a program that suits your wishes. Manage everything so you don't have to worry when you are already managing your grief. They are independent too which for us was important. With Picaluna you are not just a number but a person. They care.

Anne is an amazing women. Does the best job with so much love and care.

Hi Vivienne, Thank you so much for your wonderful support. We are eternally grateful that you came into our lives at this difficult time. Lots of love from Paula and Sienna. ❤️🙏❤️

Wonderful, cannot give them enough praise. We were treated with the utmost respect. We didn't have a funeral and the arrangements were made easily and quickly. The Funeral Director came to our home, organised everything, was courteous, friendly and very easy to deal with. She even came to our house to pass on my father's ashes. Not forgetting to note that the price was much less than I expected. Hopefully we won't need to use them again any time soon but I would highly recommend them to anyone needing the services of a Funeral Director.

When my mum passed suddenly, I didnt know where to go. After many phone calls to different funeral homes, a friend recommended Jonelle. Jonelle was lovely and helped me through the whole thing. She came over, listened to stories of my mum and gave me some ideas on things to do for her funeral. Despite feeling lost, she really helped guide me. On the day, she was amazing and many of the guests stated that it was better than many of the other funerals they had been to. It was very personalised and Jonelle even offered to read some bible versus I had picked out. I feel like my mum would have been happy with her funeral and I am very thankful to Jonelle for helping me through it all.

Jonelle was wonderful to deal with - the perfect combination of supportive, sensitive and highly professional. The whole process was completely smooth and she guided us expertly during a very difficult time. We're very grateful.

Choosing a funeral director or celebrant for a precious loved one at the end of their life’s journey is a bit like choosing an obstetrician to deliver your precious baby at the beginning of theirs. You want to find the best practitioner who is an absolute expert at their job - supremely professional, caring, calm, empathic, kind, reassuring, and has a healthy sense of humour. Through much research and word-of-mouth, I was delighted to find that magical blend of funeral director and celebrant Sarah Foster. During the Covid lockdowns of 2021, my 95-year-old mother’s health declined. I knew it would not be long until she passed away. I picked up the phone and rang Sarah. From that first phone call, hearing Sarah’s sincere and genuinely comforting words, I knew that I was in good hands!Sarah guided me every step of the way. Because my mother was in a nursing home during the lockdowns, I was not permitted to see her see her, and I felt very disconnected and distressed. Sarah helped me assert my right to have my mother assessed to determine if she required palliative care and that I be allowed to visit her. On many other occasions, Sarah provided a caring, non-judgemental ear when I ran some ideas by her.Even on the day that my mother finally passed away, when I was in a cloud of grief and confusion, Sarah was available on the end of the phone, speaking calmly and kindly to me and helping to provide me with some stability and focus on the rollercoaster ride that takes place when a loved one dies.When writing a tribute to my mother, Sarah left no stone unturned, asking lots of meaningful and relevant questions about her life which helped to provide background for her ultimately beautifully crafted words. Listening to Sarah speak about my mother so eloquently, you would be forgiven for assuming she had known my mother all her life. However, the opposite was true. She only got to know my mother through me, at the end of my mother’s life.Sarah‘s advice, support, and attention to detail in this and other aspects of the funeral organisation were faultless… the flowers, choice of casket, the order of service, the music, the general organisation of the service and much more, were perfect.I felt that Sarah got to know my mother so well that I asked her to be involved in the placement of my mother‘s ashes in the garden of my childhood home. Once again, Sarah wrote the most extraordinarily beautiful tribute to my mother and supported me in closing the circle… from her funeral to the placement of her ashes. A true celebration of my mother‘s life, handled in the most caring, loving, and compassionate manner.If you are looking for the most remarkable funeral director or celebrant, I wholeheartedly recommend Sarah Foster, without any hesitation.

Sarah at Picaluna was amazing, with the arrangements, suggestions, attention to detail, the bag pipes, the poppies and rosemary. People commented it was the best funeral they have attended, we were so happy with Picaluna.

Picaluna Beautiful Funerals indeed deserves its name as a beautiful funeral. Jaqi provides a 5 star service - from the very first meeting all the way to the end, there is care, understanding and love provided to the whole provision of service. Picaluna coming to you for meetings makes a lot of difference as dealing with a death in the family, often you just don't feel like going anywhere or doing anything. My aunty, myself and the rest of the family are very happy with Jaqi's help in getting through the difficult process of the funeral. The amount of changes we have had to make to accommodate family's request - Jaqi had no issues granting it all. Jaqi also thinks outside the square in providing what is best for all of the family members. Thank you Jaqi. It feels like you were a family member too in this whole process.MY FAMILY HIGHLY RECOMMENDS JAQI AT PICALUNA BEAUTIFUL FUNERALS.

I cannot recommend Picaluna and Cheryl enough. From the get go we had nothing but clear and concise communication. Cheryl was very compassionate and empathetic and really helped us through the grieving process. She respected all of our wishes to farewell my late mother. She had to deal with three different personalities and she handled the conflict between us all very very well. She was professional and organised and made the process very seemless. If you want someone that actually cares then you can’t go past picaluna.

I came across Picaluna Funerals via the internet and was so fortunate to select Sarah Foster as the Funeral Planner/Celebrant for my late husband, Rod. The minute my daughter and I met Sarah we connected immediately and she made this unenviable task so much easier. Her kindness and empathy really helped ease the pain. We really appreciated her taking the time to explain the whole process and her suggestions regarding the service were so in tune with what we were after. Sarah was readily available to answer any questions or concerns we had and handled the whole process with the utmost respect. Thank you so much Sarah.

Jacqueline Coan from " Picoluna - Beautiful Funerals '' ,was a blessing to me during a very difficult time recently. I wish to thank you Jacki ,for your expertise in taking care of all arrangements for me , but particularly for your obvious care of the clients you see - who you are at your core, is what sets Picoluna apart from others. Cannot recommend highly enough Thankyou Jacqueline

Sarah, I want to reach out to thank you for the fabulous role you played in farewelling our brother David. I’m sure it’s every family’s desire to plan a funeral that honours their loved one, but as David’s health deteriorated, and we knew the end was near, the thought of planning a funeral was overwhelming. That’s when I started researching who, and why, and how. I wanted a funeral done differently, with love and joy front and centre, and one that reflected what David would have wanted. And the family all agreed.Once we met you, the decision to proceed with you and Picaluna was an easy one. Your compassion and thoughtfulness, the effortless process, the checklists (I loved the checklists), the regular communication, and every little detail taken care of by you made the day everything we hoped for. The feedback from all who attended, in addition to those who watched from the live stream has been nothing but positive. Even the task of providing attendees with individual little bouquets of flowers from the coffin was such a lovely touch.Once again Sarah, thank you so much, you really do have a gift, and we feel very fortunate to have met you.Kind regards Susan Eastway

Dear KathrynFrom my heart, I just wanted to drop you a quick note and say a huge big thank you for officiating at Jo’s ceremony yesterday. You made the day so much easier and Jo would have loved every minute of it.I’ve had so many people yesterday and today share with me how beautiful and fitting the service was and how we chose the perfect person in you to farewell Jo. It wasn’t an easy task or an easy day but your kindness, empathy and professionalism shone through. Your words were just beautiful.Thank you also for all the help and support in the preparation for Jo’s send off and the sound advice you gave us.The whole service was classy, respectful and we were able to inject a little bit of humour into it, which Jo would have wanted.We were truly blessed to have you. It was an exquisite celebration of Jo’s life.Thank you so much.Kindest regards Virginia

A sincere thank you from the bottom of my heart to Alexandra and her team. Alexandra is professional, caring, empathetic and patient. Thank you for the wonderful service they gave to my beloved father. I would have no hesitation in recommending Picaluna Funerals for their exceptional and compassionate service.

My family and I are pleased to have Picaluna to plan, organise and arrange the funeral for my husband. I can say Picaluna provides a customised and high standard service. It was a beautiful service which brought so much comfort to our lost loved one. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the staff as they were all very kind and responsible. Thank you for the hard work and support! Highly recommended!!

I approached Picaluna Funerals with some trepidation, as I had not heard of them before. We required the funeral to be held by a specific date, and consequently by default we settled on Picaluna. We need not have been concerned. Alexandra arrived at the meeting at the specified time. She was efficient, knowledgeable, understanding and compassionate. From that first meeting I felt assured that the funeral would progress efficiently. In fact the efficiency of Alexandra and her co-workers was more than could have been expected. There were no problems whatsoever and the fees were most moderate and in fact somewhat lesser than originally quoted.I would commend Picaluna most highly and especially and more so Alexandra who was the driving force. She was beyond compare.Ian Dover Heights

Murray Smith and his wife at Picaluna Funeral Services were wonderfully kind and supportive. We had some special requests and they made them happen beautifully. Emotions are high when someone you love passes but Murray continued with respect for everyone’s feelings in such a professional manner.

I will be eternally grateful to Pittwater Funerals with Picaluna for smoothing the the path ahead during a very emotional time. The quiet efficiency, the empathy, the unconditional support made it possible to manage all the other things in life, trusting 100% in their professional caring of my mother. I would recommend them to each and everyone of you to entrust your loved ones to their care.

I'm delighted to provide a reference for Amanda at Picaluna Funeral Service.Unfortunately my Dad past the day prior to a family holiday. Amanda's professionalism shines through in every aspect of her work and she made it all happen before we left.Her dedication to detail is exceptional, ensuring that every aspect of a family's needs is met with the utmost care. Beyond her skills, Amanda's compassion truly sets her apart. She approaches her role with a deep understanding of the emotions families are experiencing, providing them with unwavering support during difficult times. Amanda's ability to balance professionalism, compassion, and attention to detail makes her an invaluable asset to any family she serves.Thanks for making the experience stress free and a positive expereince.

Thank you to all the staff from Picaluna Funerals especially Alexandra for her professional guidance and support she offered our family prior to my dad’s funeral. Thank you for her hard work and kind words. The patience and empathy of the staff at my dad’s funeral service is also greatly appreciated. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting that personal touch for a loved one for their final farewell. A huge thank you from our family. Cynthia

Jaqi Coan of Picaluna Funerals was exactly as the brochure says: 'personal & compassionate'. I would add: professional, kind & intuitive. She let me lead, but was ready to take the initiative if I became overwhelmed, & cared for my mother with gentle, timely, dignified respect. Couldn't recommend more highly.

Wanted to express our gratitude to Jacqueline and the Picaluna team on behalf of my family and myself. Jacqueline was sincere and empathetic and that’s all you could really ask for during a difficult time. Jacqueline helped my family and I say good bye to our loved one in the most precious way. On behalf of my mother Denise, she would like to say thank you.

During the toughest time of our lives, Jacqueline stood as a pillar of support for my family. Her thoughtfulness, understanding, and professionalism were truly amazing. We were fortunate to have found her, as she skillfully guided us through the funeral arrangements, making a profound impact on our hearts. Jacqueline's unwavering care and expertise ensured a beautiful farewell to our beloved stepdad. We are forever grateful for her presence during our time of sorrow.With heartfelt appreciation, Sean.

Morning Amanda. Thank you again for making yesterday such a special, celebratory and in the context as easy as possible.You and the whole Picaluna team have made the first half of this year with our two 'celebrations' so much easier and less traumatic than they could have been given the circumstances.You and the team have been kind, gentle, efficient, professional, caring and most importantly focused on the family (not profits) which sets you apart.Kirsty from the venue was raving about you and Picaluna too. She said you've been the easiest team to work with so thank you for that too.I can't recommend you all enough.

The Picaluna staff were so comforting throughout the entire process. They showed great attention to detail and they were so patient and kind. I would definitely recommend their services ❤️

Kathryn Booth, our funeral director was the perfect fit for our family. It's obviously an intensely challenging time organising a funeral for one's loved one, Kathryn really listened to our requests, went out of her way to understand the character and personality of my mother and ensured, on the day, the funeral was memorable and special. In fact, many of the guests asked if Kathryn was a family member or a friend of the family, the perfect indication of how much thought and genuine care Kathryn put into the week leading up to the funeral and the day itself.

Attempting to arrange a funeral after a close family members passing may be one of the most challenging things to endure but Zena and Picaluna brought a warmth that immediately eased this burden. Our family will always be grateful to Zena and her empathetic yet pragmatic approach, it made an incredibly challenging time one that our family now remembers fondly and one that we appreciate to have shared with and under Zena's guidance.

The service and attention to detail we received from Amanda and her team were exceptional ... at the worst time of our lives Amanda made every decision easy for us and the day went as smoothly as possible. We will be eternally grateful to Amanda and her team for making things easier for us on the day and before and after. Thank you again and keep doing what you do. Heather and Ken and family.

Uplifted is not a word hour normally associate with a memorial service but that’s the overwhelming feeling me and my family were left with after the beautiful tribute to our Dad we had with Picaluna. Kathryn and her team were so easy to work with - respectful, warm and efficient. Communication was excellent and attention to detail, particularly in regard to the eulogies was most appreciated. Would highly recommend this service for anyone looking to say a poignant and graceful farewell to someone very special.

Jaqi has been amazing!!….from our very first phone conversation all the way through to bringing my sisters ashes home to me. Her kind heart shines so brightly and has been a light for me in the most challenging time of my life. I cannot thank her enough and I highly recommend Jaqi to guide and support you through the passing of a loved one.

Kathryn was simply everything we needed, and more, when we needed it.Not only was she across ALL the important details of a deeply personal and particular service, but she was transparent, proactive, considerate, reliable and caring at every step of the way. Even when we couldn't make decisions she provided thoughtful suggestions for our family, that went way beyond just the logistics.I couldn't recommend any service operator any higher and I would hate to imagine having chosen anyone else to deliver such an important service for our family and friends.It is my absolute pleasure to recommend her to others. Grab her while you can.

Sarah Tolmie of Picaluna furnerals was nothing but wonderful, from the onset of our interaction, Sarah is compassionate and kind, organised and supportive.This deeply painful and stressful period of our lives was made much easier with Sarah's direction and honest care & concern for my family and I. Together we organised a beautiful funeral for my Mum Carol in a relatively short time frame, a funeral which I know my mum would have been happy with and appreciated, knowing that her children, grandchildren & dear friends were well looked after a cared for.Sarah and her team provided such a loving, caring personalised approach it was like they were part of the family & funeral procession, not just emotionless bystanders going through the motions.I cant thank you enough Sarah, you are a gorgeous human X❤️Denby, Brent, Simone, Sarah & our beautiful mother Carol who flies high above the stars xx

We had a lovely experience with Amanda for my uncles funeral. She was kind, caring and lovely to deal with. She made the event personal and special without much time. Highly recommend her.

I would like to thank Kathryn Booth of Northern Beaches Funerals for everything that she did in organising my late fathers funeral, it made a difficult time for us that little bit easier. Kathryn went out of her way to make sure the service was a beautiful farewell to my father. Thanks again Kathryn, Glenn Oakes

Thank you so much for everything Viv - for the funeral yesterday and all the days before it. Your calm, loving and professional support made a HUGE difference during the whole period.You are an exceptional celebrant Viv with a delightful mix of genuine warmth, your total lack of stuffiness and formality that is so often part of funerals, encouragement to speakers and being just yourself during every stage of it. We will remember the day so fondly Viv. With much appreciation, Di

The Team at Picaluna were amazing helping to organise a very special send of for my mum, Kate was just an angel, helping organise every aspect with such compassion and warmth, we were put at ease the moment we met her, she was truly a blessing through the whole process, even going out to find me a memorial book in her own time to make sure every detail was covered. Jonelle who ran the service was amazing and made a hard day that little more special, and I just loved how she interacted with my Dad making a most difficult time a little better, with Vivienne also providing amazing support and care the whole way through the service, taking time out to check even the smallest details with me. Truly an amazing group of ladies who showed so much care and compassion, making sure every aspect was just perfect. The time and effort they all put in to make sure that our final send off for mum was respectful and reflected all the love we shared. The compassion they showed my father, myself and my family was amazing and greatly appreciated. I can't thank them enough for everything they did. It wasn't just a process for them, it was genuine care and personal.

We unexpectedly lost my mum recently. A friend recommended Amanda Bisset at Picaluna Funerals. The professional and personal service she gave us was amazing. Amanda helped guide us through all the paperwork and her suggestions for the memorial service were invaluable. Such a caring and lovely woman. Thank you Amanda

A send off befitting of my wonderful Father. I cannot speak highly enough of Kathryn, Greg and the Picaluna Team. Nothing was left to chance, beautifully organised with such ease. Very comforting

Kathryn Booth and Picaluna Funerals were all you could hope for at such a difficult time. Kathryn's service was sensitive and her words kind. We had many comments from family and friends on how beautifully the whole celebration of my dad's life was conducted. I would happily recommend Kathryn and Picaluna Funerals.

Kathryn conducted a beautiful service for my Father-in-Law Jim.

Amanda and her team helped us organise a funeral service for our mother. Amanda had wonderful clarity and vision when it came to organising the right venue for our very intimate service, and both she and her colleague Lisa were incredibly compassionate, reassuring and patient. The process felt very collaborative and personalised, and so much thought was given to every detail. It was a pleasure to work with Amanda and Lisa, and a relief to celebrate our mother in a service that felt authentic and joyful.

A special chair reflects the high esteem His Community had for this former Mosman Councillor. I was honoured to be the Funeral Planner and Celebrant. VALE Robert Wendon.

Thank you Karin, Kath and Bec for the beautiful ceremony for Mum, so professionally live-streamed to extended family in 4 countries and 5 time zones by Jason. Many of the family have commented that it hit just the right note, and was a very fitting and moving send off. I think Mum would have been happy to see her beliefs respected, and her life celebrated. And all in the home she loved so much.

Kath Breusch is a very special person - she helped us through a very sad time and helped make the most beautiful farewell for our friend we could imagine. Thank you , Kath, from the bottom of my heart xxx

Thank you Amanda and your staff for the beautiful send off that you arranged for the most beautiful woman, our mum, sister, nana and friend!!!Such a precious, intimate service that has given our family closure and the finest departure to our dear loving Ana. From the level of communication, to the options available and the personal touches to the thoughtful staff - the Pouli family are so grateful we chose to use your company!

We are extremely grateful for the support and guidance provided by Amanda and her team at a difficult time. The care and sincerity they showed us was greatly appreciated.

Jonelle helped us create a wonderful funeral for mum...It was something that mum would have been so proud of. We felt that Jonelle really listened to what we,as a family, wanted and her words about mum rang so true even though they had never met. It was a difficult time , especially due to the covid restrictions. We highly recommend Jonelle....she is kind and compassionate and very understanding.

The passing of my father-in-law was very tough on everyone, but Sarah Tolmie from Picaluna funerals made it so easy for us. She was thoroughly professional and compassionate and did everything with great care and empathy. I would highly recommend Sarah to anyone. We had a lovely funeral.

I would liken Sarah to an Army General, a fierce listener and warrior guiding us through the toughest day imaginable. We only met Sarah days before the funeral service, her professionalism and experience spoke through her kind words and gentle demeanour. She navigated family, faith and cultural expectations with respect and honour. Needless to say, it was a beautiful celebration of life for our mama. Sarah, continue to be the bright star that you are. God bless.

Sarah and Picaluna were remarkable during the toughest time for our family. Her gentle and caring nature meant the process was not only seamless, but also cathartic. She was incredibly professional but quickly developed a rapport with our family where we felt we could lean on her for support and guidance in not only organising the service but also helping us move through the period of death and grieving. I would highly recommend Sarah and Picaluna to everyone!

Sarah offered us such a heartfelt and meaningful experience during one of the toughest times our family has faced. We first made contact with Sarah in the lead up to my mother's death... she sensitively guided us through the process and helped us navigate the difficult days following her passing. She was a calm, grounding presence for us as we began our grief journey and planned the funeral. Sarah planned and presented a beautiful service, no detail was missed...many present told me how special it was. I couldn't recommend Sarah more highly. She is far more than a funeral director, she is a support system for anyone going through the experience of losing a loved one. My only regret is we didn't find her sooner.

Picaluna came recommended. They were supportive and flexible and easy to deal with right from the beginning. Our grief was respected in its individuality and our Mum was honoured at every point. Picaluna provided something unique, tuned into who we are and so supportive. They are a beautiful alternative to expensive and factory produced. So important right when you need it. Very grateful.

Hi Picaluna Team, Our sincerest thanks for helping to organise one special funeral that myself and my family held close to our hearts. The COVID-19 restrictions were tough and if it wasn't for the Picaluna team, the situation would have been terribly stressful for myself and my family. We cannot thank you enough for going above and beyond. The ceremony was beautiful and we are so thankful to have had your support throughout such a tough time. Special thanks to Sarah Tolmie, who handled most (if not all) of the arrangements. She is amazing!

Sarah and Picaluna were so fantastic. I can’t thank Sarah enough for helping my family through the entire funeral and end of life process. Sarah was an integral part of helping my mum plan her funeral prior to her passing, and then helping myself and my family with executing that plan (albeit with some slight changes due to lockdown). Sarah is such a kind and wonderful person, she always has the right words to help us; from her sincere funeral directing to dealing with our grieving. She also provided my mum with incredible support all through her end of life process. I am so grateful and thankful to Sarah and Picaluna for being a part of this hard process and helping all of us through it all.

Hi Greg, I wanted to thank Picaluna so very much for the amazingly beautiful send off we were able to give my father. Right from our first contact with you, to Sarah Tolmie taking over the coordination, to Pam Northcote our celebrant and the hurse driver Steve (I think); wonderful! It was handled with compassion, kindness, professionalism and amazing communication, thank you Sarah. Our father, the wonderful Harry, would have been smiling down. And his exit was perfect, thank you, Steve. The summing up by Pam showed just how much she had listen to and heard us. A time that was so hard for us was made perfect by our Picaluna team. Once again, thank you. Kind regards Jane

I recently needed to arrange the funeral of my wife. I was recommended to use Picaluna- Pittwater Funerals by a trusted friend. Amanda Bisset came to our home and assisted with the arrangements. At that point we were unsure of the direction we would head. Amanda listened to our thoughts and ideas as we were hoping to do things a little differently. With COVID restrictions in force many options were closed to us. Amanda’s knowledge, guidance and assistance were invaluable. We were able to work out what was possible and create the perfect service for our needs . Amanda was by our side throughout, contactable whenever needed and so supportive throughout. She was totally professional and great to work alongside. I highly recommend her services. Kind regards, Mikel

I want to acknowledge Anne Lee & her team for the impeccable way they helped us with a family members funeral. At every stage, through her compassion and professionalism she facilitated a beautiful, effortless and very respectful funeral. Thank you so much for all your support.

When you lose a family member unexpectedly - trying to arrange a funeral can be a daunting and costly time. Our family were fortunate enough to find Kathryn from Picaluna – Beautiful Funerals who we cannot help enough for being there for us in such a difficult time and arranging everything from the day dad passed away till the time we received his urn. Kathryn was very gentle and carrying and it felt like talking to a great friend rather than a stranger. I Can’t recommend Kathryn and her company highly enough.

I won’t ever forget the incredibly personalised, caring and respectful experience I received from Jonelle McDonell when having to farewell my beautiful wife of almost 30years married and really want to share my experience to help others. It was an incredibly upsetting and difficult time for myself and our family and Jonelle went above and beyond to guide us through every step with so much care and respect for myself, my family and most importantly for my wife. She was so professional and articulate in all aspects of her communication from the first phone call and meeting to the very last. Jonelle understands that conversations can sometimes get very emotional between families and she displayed real skill in helping me manage these conversations with the utmost respect to everyone, while working towards agreement on decisions. She understands the challenges each family faces through this difficult process and on numerous occasions used her experience to offer really valuable ideas and suggestions that made such a positive difference to the events on the day. Jonelle had a perfect balance of care and respect against ensuring every aspect was covered to ensure the best possible experience on the day. I couldn’t imagine getting a better service from anyone.SincerelyThank you so much Jonelle 💗

Over the past three years, Cheryl has conducted three funeral services for members of my family. Cheryl is a delight to work with. Her caring nature and willingness to go above and beyond is a quality that is rare to find these days. Cheryl’s compassion, ‘can do’ nature where nothing is a problem, ensured that every detail was taken care of with professionalism and respect. Each service went without a problem and her caring nature was very much appreciated during these difficult times. Cheryl is a professional in the true sense of the word.

In October 2020 my much-loved father passed away. I'd known celebrant Cheryl Forbes for many years as a friend, and she had met my parents, so she was the obvious choice to officiate at his funeral. Her gentleness and compassion were genuine but with the professional overlay you only hope for. We also engaged Cheryl as the funeral director so she could bring in other Picaluna people too. The pricing was completely legible and transparent and Cheryl took us through every item in the quote in detail. Before, during and after the ceremony the tone was absolutely spot on for my father, my family and our friends. It was as beautiful, as sweet and as fitting as a funeral could be and we are all very grateful to Cheryl and Picaluna. I gladly recommend them.

Picaluna were so thoughtful, caring and considerate at such a difficult and painful time, in putting together a very special funeral and service for my mother. We worked closely with Amanda who took extra care to curate a beautiful and personal service at North Bondi Surf Club and working with us on Buddhist elements of the service and finding a Buddhist Nun to speak, that made it so unique and created something that just felt like my mum the whole day and I know mum would have absolutely loved every minute.

Picaluna managed the cremation of my husband and assisted with the necessary paperwork. It was the minimum service they offerred but despite this everything they did was carried out with great sensitivity, professionalism and care. At no time did I feel that they were proceeding with less than their full attention to detail and quality of service. I felt very supported through the whole process of organising the cremation. I recommend them very highly.

When arranging my father’s funeral, I hoped for a personal service that reflected who he was and what was important to him and his loved ones. A family friend recommended Picaluna, and I am so happy that I followed that recommendation.Amanda Garland, in particular, was fantastic. In the early stages of sadness and mourning, she eased the planning process by coming to our home (together with a delicious cake she'd made) to meet us and to hear our wishes, and to describe the types of services that Picaluna could arrange. Amanda was professional, compassionate, thoughtful and respectful - we always felt that our wishes had been heard, and where appropriate she provided recommendations based on her obvious wealth of experience. She was always approachable and responsive, which was incredibly important to us during what was already a stressful time.The funeral we planned together was perfect. Dad would have been proud. We engaged Amanda not only to assist with planning but also to act as our celebrant for the funeral itself, and she performed both of these duties impeccably.Pricing was perhaps on the higher end, but I consider it a bargain for the personal and complete service that Picaluna provided. From the initial planning stage, through to interactions with the mortuary and crematorium, arranging the death certificate, directing the funeral itself, and the many other tasks that would never have occurred to me, Amanda (and Picaluna) did a truly fantastic job; I highly recommend them.Thank you, Amanda, for your huge role in designing the perfect funeral for Dad.

Thank you to Lizzie for her compassion and care during this emotional process. Our family were very grateful for Lizzie's professionalism and sensitivity during this very sad and challenging time. We highly recommend Lizzie.

Shelly’s warm gentle personality and focused guidance enabled us to create a beautiful and relevant funeral service for my 100 year old mum. She covered every detail including a beautiful order of service booklet and a heart warming photo story. Webcasting meant relatives from interstate and overseas could attend. Shelly took the stress out of the process and was always there with a delicious warm laugh. I felt grateful and relieved to have found Shelly and Picaluna. I can’t recommend her highly enough.

At such a difficult time in our lives, Picaluna Funerals made the whole experience so much better. From the first call with Shelly, I knew we'd chosen the right place. She was there with us from just before my mum passed, until after her funeral, gently guiding us along the way. Her warmth, kindness and compassion made us feel safe and comforted. Shelly was extremely respectful and accommodating of all our requests. She presented us with some options for the care of our Mum's remains which we didn't even know was possible, but which has made all the difference in helping us through our grieving process. The funeral itself exceeded our expectations. The audio visual tributes at the ceremony, and having it live streamed, all managed by Stephen, meant that our friends and family from overseas, and those locally who could not leave home, were able to be part of it. So many people at the funeral spoke to us afterwards to say it had been the most beautiful and elegant funeral service they had ever been too. We couldn't recommend Picaluna, and Shelly, any more highly. Thank you very much.

I found this review from Kerri’s client under the incorrect Picaluna listing.Dad’s funeral was beautiful and Picaluna were responsive and generous, without intruding and offering ideas and options, at every stage of the planning and the service. When our sister passed less than 4 months later, Picaluna were the obvious choice and they excelled with another beautiful funeral. If you are looking for Australian owned, responsible and responsive funeral directors, go with Picaluna. Jane Robbo

We were fortunate enough to have Cheryl Forbes as our funeral director and celebrant for our fathers funeral. She was simply magnificent. Cheryl has genuine empathy and exhibits extraordinary kindness in difficult times. Cheryl is wonderfully articulate and brings together the key moments of a person’s life. In doing so she is always respectful of all stakeholders involved. In the sad event that you lose a loved one, I have no hesitation in recommending Cheryl as a person of integrity that you can rely on. Alex Malley

Last year when my mother passed away I asked Elizabeth Trevan to be the funeral director to look after our Mum. As Mum’s service was to be held in a Catholic Church Lizzie looked after all of the logistics down to the finest detail. More importantly she looked after me & my family with grace & sensitivity. More than 200 people attended Mum’s funeral. Everything went well to plan on the day & our large family were more than happy with Elizabeth & Picaluna. We received many positive comments. I have much pleasure in recommending Picaluna & Lizzie.

Lizzie guided us through a very emotional time and it was exactly what mum wanted a colourful fureral for a colourful life. The location Lizzie suggested and the requests that the family suggested were met, down to the pink coffin and murals. Thanks for the send off and I would highly recommend Picaluna! 10 stars!

Melissa who is a funeral director with Picaluna is really passionate on giving people a great send off that allows family and friends to honour the memory of their loved one. She is also really good at weaving a great story about the life of the people who have departed which truly celebrates and honours the person. Melissa is an out of the box funeral director and celebrant who will ensure the memory of your loved one is honoured and the family and friends have some unique rituals to celebrate the life of their loved one. Melissa and Picaluna will really do everything possible to make your difficult time easier