With Stass Jones, Co-founder of The Last Hurrah

When someone dies, most of us have no idea what happens next.

Who do you call? How quickly do decisions need to be made? Does the person always have to go straight to a funeral home? And how much choice do families really have?

In this episode of Rest Easy Knowing, Fiona Healy sits down with Stass Jones, co-founder of The Last Hurrah, to demystify the practical and emotional realities that follow a death. Drawing on her experience supporting hundreds of families, Stass explains what happens behind the scenes and challenges many of the long-held assumptions about funeral care.

Together they explore why families shouldn't feel rushed, how much involvement they can have in caring for someone after death, and why funerals are most meaningful when they honestly reflect the life of the person being remembered.

This is a practical, compassionate conversation that will leave you feeling better informed and more confident about navigating one of life's most difficult moments.

In this episode we discuss:

• The first practical steps after someone dies
• When the Coroner becomes involved
• Why families don't need to feel rushed
• How much involvement families can have in caring for someone after death
• Common myths about funeral care
• Personalising a funeral to reflect the person who has died
• Burial, cremation and emerging environmentally conscious choices
• Prepaid funerals and planning ahead
• The rights families have when making funeral arrangements
• Why honest conversations about death help us make more informed decisions

About our guest

Stass Jones is the co-founder of The Last Hurrah, an independent funeral service based in Melbourne that is reimagining funeral care with compassion, honesty and authenticity. With a background in psychology, youth work, disaster response and community support, Stass is passionate about helping families navigate death in ways that reflect their values rather than tradition for tradition's sake.

Key takeaways from this episode

•  Families have more choices than many people realise. 
•  You don't need to rush after someone dies—there is often time to sit with them and say goodbye. 
•  A funeral should reflect the person who died, not simply follow tradition. 
•  Funeral costs vary enormously, so asking for transparent pricing is important. 
•  You have the right to ask how your loved one will be cared for and to be involved if you wish. 
•  Families remain in control—the person in the funeral home's care is still your person.

Practical steps to consider

Death often leaves families making dozens of decisions under enormous emotional pressure. You can make that easier by doing one thing today:

•  Tell someone what kind of farewell you would want. 
•  Write down three things that matter most to you if you were to die unexpectedly. 
•  Ask your family whether they know your wishes. 
•  Research two or three funeral providers before you need one. 
•  Remember that you don't have to accept the first option you're offered - it's ok to ask questions and compare services.

Resources

The Last Hurrah https://www.thelasthurrah.com.au