Rodney’s
first experience in the Funeral Industry started many years back when, looking
for a new challenge, he took up a position as a funeral arranger and celebrant
with an established funeral directing firm in Adelaide. With an extensive
entrepreneurial background, he quickly learned the business and found he
cherished the interaction with families and the opportunity to assist them.
Opportunities for advancement in that company were limited however, so Rodney
decided to move on; but it seemed the funeral industry wasn’t quite ready to
let him go.
Tragically
in September 2005, a good friend of Rodney’s passed away suddenly,
and despite having just left the funeral industry, Rodney rose to the challenge
of arranging a very special funeral for his friend.
Rodney
called in favours from colleagues he had met during his time in the industry,
borrowing a hearse and hiring funeral parlour facilities. "It was by far the
most challenging funeral I had ever arranged" Rodney admitted, "but at the same
time I felt really honoured to be given such a responsibility and especially
because it was a friend", he added.
The funeral was flawless. The
service, held at St Peters Catholic Church in Grote Street, was followed by an
interment at the historic West
Terrace Cemetery.
Rodney personally arranged every detail of the funeral including the handmade in house
floral tributes, a haunting didgeridoo performance, as well as coordinating the
wake at the Hampshire hotel. "I believe that a funeral must be a meaningful
reflection of the life passed at the same time providing a service that everyone could afford. Now through Signature Funerals I am able to
provide a truly comprehensive service.
Following his friend's funeral in
2005, Rodney became determined to
establish his own funeral business.
Rodney
found himself in a position to realise his vision, and Signature Funerals was
born.
Our story for you
Rodney van den Brink
