Funeral Services, Personally Arranged by Chris Timmins
Church and faith funerals, life celebrations, burial, cremation and planning ahead. One experienced funeral director with you from the first call to the final farewell.
Church and faith funerals
Rites, readings and hymns, arranged with your parish.
Read more
Life celebrations
A farewell shaped around who they were.
Read more
Burial
Cemetery bookings, graveside service and procession.
Read more
Cremation
Chapel service or private committal.
Read more
Planning ahead
Funeral bonds and pre-paid funerals explained.
Read more
Repatriation
Bringing loved ones home, to and from any country.
Read more
Every funeral, arranged by Chris himself
When you call Chris Timmins Funerals, you are not passed between departments. Chris personally arranges every funeral we conduct. He sits with your family, listens to the story of the person you have lost, and stays with you until the last guest has gone home.
Our family has cared for people across Sydney since 1950. In more than 75 years we have looked after over 20,000 families, and many of the people who call us today first met us when we cared for a parent or grandparent.
Whatever shape the farewell takes, the care is the same: calm, unhurried and attentive to the details that matter to you.
Two ways to say goodbye, given equal care
About half of the families we serve choose a church or faith-based funeral, and about half choose a life celebration. Chris arranges both with the same experience and the same attention.
Church and faith-based funerals
For many families, the church service is the heart of saying goodbye. The readings, hymns and prayers they have known all their lives bring comfort and meaning.
Chris works closely with priests, ministers and faith communities so every rite and custom is observed properly. We arrange:
- Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, Uniting and other Christian services
- funerals for many faiths and cultures, including Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese and Greek traditions
- liaison with your parish on dates, clergy, music and readings
- printed orders of service, flowers and the running of the day
Life celebrations
A life celebration is centred on the person and their life’s journey. It is usually less formal than a church service, and it begins as a blank canvas, so the farewell can be shaped around who they were.
Most are led by a trained, accredited celebrant, and they can include as much or as little faith as your family wants. A life celebration might include:
- a celebrant who takes the time to learn their story, or family members leading the service
- the music they loved and the stories only their friends can tell
- photos, a video tribute or a memory table
- a venue that meant something to them, from a garden or club to a chapel
See our funeral styles for more ideas, or tell Chris about the person and he will help you shape the day.
What happens when you call
Four simple steps, with Chris beside you the whole way.
Call Chris, any hour
Call (02) 9630 9688, day or night. The phone is answered 24/7, and we can come straight away.
Meet Chris
At Castle Hill or North Parramatta by appointment, or at home, in hospital or aged care.
Plan together
Chris listens to their story and guides you through every choice, without pressure.
The farewell
Chris looks after the day itself, so your family can be together.
Burial and cremation
Choosing between burial and cremation is often guided by faith, family tradition or the wishes of the person who has died. Chris explains both options plainly and without pressure, then takes care of everything that follows.
Burial
We arrange the cemetery booking, the graveside service and the procession, and we work with lawn, monumental and family plots across Sydney.
Cremation
We book the crematorium, arrange a chapel service or a private committal, and return the ashes to your family with care and guidance on what comes next.
Paperwork and details
Death registration, certificates, permits and transfers are all handled for you. If you would like a viewing, we arrange that too.
Read more about cremation and burials, our guide to making funeral arrangements, or how funeral costs are itemised.
Planning your own funeral
Many people choose to plan ahead, so their wishes are known and their family is spared difficult decisions later. Chris will sit with you, record your wishes, and explain the two main ways to set funds aside:
- A funeral bond is a part payment toward your funeral at today’s cost.
- A pre-paid funeral locks in your funeral at today’s price.
Chris will help you decide which suits you. Read more about pre-paid funerals.
Repatriation to and from any country
When someone dies far from home, families need someone who knows the process. We bring loved ones home to Sydney from overseas, and we take them to any country for burial or cremation with their family.
Chris works with airlines, consulates and funeral directors overseas, and prepares the documents each country requires, so your family can focus on each other.
Read more about overseas repatriation.
Meet Chris at Castle Hill or Parramatta
Chris meets families by appointment at either of our two locations. If it is easier, he will come to you at home, in hospital or in aged care.
467 Church Street, North Parramatta NSW 2151
By appointment
Areas we serve
From our North Parramatta home we care for families right across Sydney, with particular ties to these communities.
Parramatta
Our home since the beginning, at 467 Church Street, North Parramatta.
Blacktown
Caring for Blacktown families and their local churches and chapels.
The Hills District
Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Kellyville, Dural and nearby suburbs.
Words from the families we have cared for
Every funeral is personally arranged by Chris Timmins.
Frequently asked questions
More answers on our FAQs page.
What funeral services does Chris Timmins Funerals offer?
We arrange church and faith-based funerals, life celebrations, burials and cremations, viewings, pre-arranged and pre-paid funerals, and repatriation to and from any country. Chris Timmins personally arranges every funeral, and our phone is answered 24 hours a day on (02) 9630 9688.
What is a life celebration funeral?
A life celebration is centred on the person and their life’s journey. It is usually less formal than a church service and is a blank canvas, so it can be shaped around their music, stories and the people they loved. It is usually led by a trained, accredited celebrant and can include as much or as little faith as your family wants.
Can you arrange a church funeral for our faith or parish?
Yes. We arrange Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, Uniting and other Christian funerals, as well as services for many other faiths and cultures. We work directly with your priest, minister or faith community on dates, rites and readings.
Should we choose burial or cremation?
It is a personal choice, often guided by faith, family tradition and the wishes of the person who has died. Chris will explain both options plainly, then look after the cemetery or crematorium bookings and all of the paperwork.
What is the difference between a funeral bond and a pre-paid funeral?
A funeral bond is a part payment toward your funeral at today’s cost, set aside for the future. A pre-paid funeral locks in your funeral at today’s price, with your wishes recorded in detail. Chris can talk you through which suits your situation.
Can you bring a loved one home from overseas, or take them overseas?
Yes. We arrange repatriation to and from any country, working with airlines, consulates and funeral directors overseas, and handling the documents each country requires.
Where can we meet Chris?
Chris meets families by appointment at Castle Hill or at our North Parramatta office, 467 Church Street. He can also visit you at home, in hospital or in aged care.
Can we call you at night or on weekends?
Yes. Call (02) 9630 9688 at any hour when a death occurs. The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and public holidays.
Speak with Chris Timmins
Whether you are planning a church funeral or a life celebration, or a death has just occurred, call (02) 9630 9688. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the Hills District, you can also call (02) 9659 5998.
Prefer to write? Leave your details and Chris will call you back, or visit our contact page.