What are your final wishes? My nearest and dearest know that I want Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead played at my funeral. I've also been to a wake where we honoured the departed by wearing bright pink feather boas.
It seems more and more Aussies are dumping tradition in favour of going out their way.
From Viking send offs, to backyard BBQs, firework displays and tree planting ceremonies, funeral provider, Bare, has seen it, heard it and done it all.
The funeral provider says nine in 10 Aussies want to plan their final farewell their way.
Bare's Co-Founder Cale Donovan shared some of the wacky, weird, wonderful and utterly unique memorials they have helped to arrange for customers in the hope to encourage open and honest conversations about death and end of life planning.
"One of the most interesting requests we received was from a young man in his 40s who wanted his ashes sent into space," Cale said.
"It was a bit of a race to the finish to make this one happen, but we were over the moon (pun intended) that we could fulfill his and his family's request."
There have also been some creative ideas when it comes to turning ashes into objects. While jewellery, individual stones and blown glass are some of the more common requests, Cale has heard of some unique items.
"I think one of my favourites was a customer who wanted their ashes to be added in a cement mixer and made into garden gnomes," he said.
Ash scattering is also very common, with lots of different ways to do it. Drone scattering is becoming increasingly popular, as is hot air balloon scattering.
"Some people have really personal stories behind ash scattering. For example, a man had lifeguards at Broadbeach take his mum's ashes out to the ocean because she was a lifesaver and involved in the life saving clubs for years," Cale said.
There's also lots of simple requests, from fireworks displays, planting trees in ashes , and ashes being divided into small vials so different family members can take these with them on their travels.
Pet lovers out there sometimes ask to have their pet's ashes mixed in with their own. In fact, the same thing can be done with spouses, ensuring couples are together until death do us part, and beyond.
Some people even get tattoos with the ashes mixed into the ink.
"A simple request, but one that we found incredibly creative and funny was a customer who wanted his ashes put into a box with a sign that said Do Not Resuscitate," Cale said.
"There was a man who didn't have any family, so his neighbour organised his cremation. When they were sorting through the deceased's belongings there was a tonne of tennis memorabilia as the guy was a good tennis player, so the neighbour got approval to scatter the man's ashes at Kooyong tennis court in Victoria."
Incorporating sporting passions seems to be becoming more popular.
"A loyal member of a shooting club requested for his ashes to be put into shotgun pellets, for his club to then shoot said pellets," Cale said.
"Another simple idea, executed beautifully was a family that organised for their deceased, who loved cars, to have their ashes driven around in a sports car - their last big drive," Cale said. "The family didn't have the budget for a traditional funeral so wanted something affordable and personal."
