What inspired you to start Agnee Funeral Services?
The biggest reason is that I believe that Funerals for our Indian Community Members should be done by someone from the community as we understand the nitty-gritty of what goes on and what our traditions mean.
The next reason is that there needed to be someone from my generation available to carry out this very essential service, especially in this much western world where our traditions are still understood and to a point tolerated by the newer generation growing up.
This is a rather crucial viewpoint as most of the people in my generation (30–60-year-old individuals) have parents or other elderly family members still present.
I personally feel that it is extremely important this elderly generation knows that that there is someone present who knows how things are done correctly and to the requirements of our culture.
The next reason is, having brought so many people into the care of many a funeral services provider, I have firsthand seen the back of house processes that the deceased and families go through, and the state of the many mortuaries and storage facilities used. There is a lot to be desired.
I can proudly and without a doubt say that the facilities that I have partnered with, are extremely well presented where thoroughly auditable processes are in place to ensure the sanctity of the deceased human body. I personally would be comfortable being held in there when my time comes.
Agnee Funeral Services operates on the following tenet:
“To provide an ethical cremation service with a lot of care.”
Can you tell us about your background.
I was born in Suva; Fiji and my parents, Kanji Bhai and Prabha Jogia are First Generation Indians born in Fiji. I was raised in the traditional Hindu Way where religion was the basis of many a function of life.
I was however educated exclusively in Catholic Schools which led to a broader understanding of different viewpoints in a diverse religious diaspora. Growing up in Fiji my family was open and welcoming of anyone I brought home during my formative years.
I started my formal education at the University of the South Pacific and completed it at the Australian Catholic University with Post Graduate studies at the Newcastle University.
I started working in the Technology Industry after Graduating and continued working in that industry till 2010 where I went into business for myself in a totally different industry.
Just before the world ground to a halt due to Corona Virus pandemic, I started working in an industry which I have had an affinity for since a young age and had always intrigued me. The Funeral Industry.
For as long as I can remember, I have pondered the question as to what happens between the time that a person passes away, and then mysteriously appears in a decorated box in front of the family.
Having worked in the industry through the worst of times, I have now developed an intrinsic view of what goes on. With this knowledge and firsthand experience, I have started Agnee Funeral Services.
I believe that my entire life to this date has been full of lessons that will allow me to provide the best service which can possibly be provided to a grieving family. My role and my karma is to make things as easy as possible for the family in their hard time.
What sets Agnee Funeral Services apart from other funeral service providers?
The level of care we provide to not just the deceased in terms of getting them to our facility where they are housed and prepared for the last ceremony, but the personalised care and attention to detail, provided to the family in the process.
I personally take the family through the process with care and empathy.
Can you walk us through the process of arranging a funeral with Agnee?
Once we are given permission by the family to represent them, we bring the passed away family member into our extremely neat, well-kept, and clean facility.
They are then allocated an individual “bed” in which they will spend the next couple of days or so while we prepare all the legal documentation required so that we can do a proper Cremation Ceremony where the family members can see or witness the creation of their loved one.
In between all the documentation being done, I personally meet with the family at their residence to organise what the final day should look and most importantly, feel like.
The whole process is completed with a lot of care, comfort and ease and I am there for the family 100% of the way personally.
Can you walk us through the process of arranging a funeral with Agnee?
Once we are given permission by the family to represent them, we bring the passed away family member into our extremely neat, well-kept, and clean facility.
They are then allocated an individual “bed” in which they will spend the next couple of days or so while we prepare all the legal documentation required so that we can do a proper Cremation Ceremony where the family members can see or witness the creation of their loved one.
In between all the documentation being done, I personally meet with the family at their residence to organise what the final day should look and most importantly, feel like.
The whole process is completed with a lot of care, comfort and ease and I am there for the family 100% of the way personally.
How do you ensure that you provide personalized and compassionate services to families in their time of need?
After the initial contact I go and meet with the family in person to discuss and plan the requirements of the funeral service where they can do the best personal goodbye, they can for their loved one.
I work cooperatively as a team member with their family and their religious leaders, for example their family pundit.
After performing many services in both the Hindu and Western world, this knowledge, experience, compassion, and precision is translated into how we Hindus do our final rites with all our nuances.
Are there any unique or customized services that you offer?
We provide customised coffins, think favourite Rugby Team Colors or imagery of the persons life on the coffin and it can be custom sized and shaped.
For example, we have done a coffin for a client that looked like an oversized suitcase, as he was a seasoned traveller.
We can provide Black or White Hearses and custom flower arrangements, we also do personalised memorial cards.
How do you ensure that your services are affordable for families?
A funeral can get as extravagant and as complex as the family would like, as ultimately it is a celebration of the life that the person has had.
We also provide a service that will take into account the economical power of a family whilst still doing things the traditional Hindu way.
All the information is provided to the family in the consultation phase.
Tell us about NSNA or No Service No Attendance Cremation Service?
This is a very new concept and has come into existence over the last couple of years and is the most economical option available for a funeral.
Essentially if the family is not religious or does not prescribe to any school of theistic thought, this is the ideal service for them.
The process involves bringing the deceased person into our care and once the due diligence has been done regarding documentation the deceased is then cremated without ceremony.
It is important to note that the family will not be advised when the loved one is being cremated and they cannot pick a time to carry out the cremation. This is the nature of this service.
The ashes are then delivered to the family where they can have a memorial at a time and place of their choosing to honour the life of the dearly departed.
How do you handle cultural and religious differences when it comes to funeral services?
Coming from a Hindu background with majority of my clients being of the same background, it gives me an advantage that I already understand what they’re trying to do.
Every family is different, and they all have their own unique rituals, I ensure that these rituals are performed accordingly.
Share some of the challenges that you’ve faced while running Agnee Funeral Services, and how you’ve overcome them?
The most common challenge is getting perfectly correct documentation from the stakeholders in question. The thing is, if even a Letter or Number is incorrect in the paperwork, a cremation cannot go ahead.
To prevent this, I have created and have a system in place where every bit of data that we collect is double checked before being processed. Thanks to this system we have not had an unsuccessful ceremony.
What is your future for Agnee Funeral Services?
I have a few things lined up for the future and you can rest assured that the events and details planned are to make things easier for the deceased and the family.
My end goal is serving my community with the utmost respect and dignity.
I believe that serving my fellow human beings in this very sad time is my prescribed karma.
It is an honour to be able to carry out this role.
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