Six Generations, Still Learning

Marc Allison, founder of Marc & Friends, is a sixth‑generation funeral director. His ancestors, from the Allison and Andrews families respectively, helped establish industry associations and standards, including serving as national presidents of Funerals Australia (previously known as the Australian Funeral Directors Association).

Marc has collaborated with others to establish an award‑shortlisted hearse design, featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, and a national charity‑backed funeral service model as a social entrepreneur.

But families have long known what Marc has come to learn. In practice, the funeral sector is frequently shaped by commercial pressures, even when families hope for something more human.

The first priority should be loving people.

How This Works in Practice

We look for personal touches to soften a difficult time. Every cremation includes a choice of urns, and every burial includes rose petals to sprinkle on the grave.

We also help with both grief and practical concerns – arranging the death certificate promptly, providing carefully chosen books that families have found comforting, and finding other small and personalised ways to help.

Our prices are easy to find and include itemised quotes with options and honest advice – because transparency serves families better than sales pressure.

Everything beyond our professional service fee is provided at cost. Where suppliers require us not to disclose their pricing, we add only a nominal amount on top. 

There is no incentive to upsell – our work is funded by our professional fee, not by mark‑ups on products.

We pay colleagues above industry standards, settle suppliers’ invoices promptly, and quietly offer help to families with limited means through our Funeral Cost Help.

Friends and Partners

The "Friends" in our name are real: Anelle, Lachlan, Phil and Andrew. Each serves families in their region with the same conviction.

Those who care for families at Marc & Friends are Christians who have personally experienced the pain of losing a loved one. In Marc's case, the hardest circumstance was the unexpected loss of his mother. This shared understanding brings a unique depth of compassion and empathy to the care we provide.

The journey has been shaped by dozens of friends - some now working alongside us, others who may join in the future. With their encouragement and guidance, Marc & Friends was established in January 2025.

Our partnerships with mortuary and crematorium providers, coffin and urn suppliers go back years — some to 15 years before our founding. Through previous work with these partners, we've served hundreds of families together. These longstanding relationships ensure quality and continuity of care.

Our Deeper Purpose

For those wondering what grounds this approach: we seek to make the fullness of Christ known amid death and grief — understanding funeral service as ministry rather than business.