Our past
Allens Funerals was established in 1921 and has continued as a family-run funeral business servicing the families of the Cooma and Monaro districts.
Alan Dodd bought the business in 1996 from Alan’s aunt and uncle, Joy and Jack Bitten, who had taken over the business 20 years earlier from Joy’s parents, Danny and Eda Dodd. Danny and Eda had purchased the business from Gary Allen, whose father Freddie had started Allens Funerals with his brother in 1921.
Our present
We offer a full range of funeral and mortuary services, especially covering the Cooma, Snowy Mountains, Monaro and Palerang areas, extending into the Far South Coast of NSW and up to the ACT.
However, our services are not limited to those areas and we are able to assist in transfers, transportation and services from all areas of Australia as well as repatriations to and from overseas locations. We have both male and female staff members, so if a gender preference is expressed, we are able to accommodate your wishes.
Our future
Allens Funerals was seeking to establish a chapel and crematorium within Cooma. Plans are currently on hold. However, Allens Funerals is committed to assisting with ensuring that all services are a dignified and fitting celebration of life..
Presently about 60% of our clients choose cremation and we have to either travel to 1 1/2 hours north to Mitchell in the ACT or 1 1/2 hours south to Wolumla, neither of which are always convenient for families and friends, especially those with transportation difficulties, to attend services.
Graveside services are available at all local cemeteries, with marquees and seating available for a limited number of people.
Although many smaller towns and villages have suitable halls, there are an extremely limited number of venues in Cooma.
In some circumstances, a home service may be possible prior to a private cremation. Although there are no Department of Health restrictions, (so long as a coffin is sealed); many businesses do not wish to have a coffin on their premises for a service to be conducted. However, many will allow an urn or Ashes casket, for a service to be conducted following a private cremation._
It is hoped that a local chapel and crematorium may come back on our agenda at some stage in the future, as it would allow many more people to attend and pay last respects to a loved family member or friend, in a purpose-built first class facility, rather than direct committals which remove that chance unless a local memorial service is organised at a later date.
Professional Associations
Allens Funerals ware members of
Allens’ Professional Staff
Alan Dodd
Funeral Director / Owner
Alan originally grew up in Panania, but his grandparents lived in Cooma running Allens Funerals and he visited often as a child and young man. He qualified as a plumber after leaving school and met and married in Sydney and has 4 children.
In 1996, Alan moved his family to Cooma and he took over the family business. Alan did his training with his uncle Jack Bitten, who had been running the business.
Alan does most of the carpentry and mortuary work. Alan also has a passion for hearing the stories about the diverse mix of people who make up “Cooma” and surrounds, especially those who moved here for the Snowy Hydro Scheme.
Wendy Gosling
Funeral Director
Wendy offers the woman’s touch in face-to-face dealings of the firm. Anyone wanting a woman to care for. their loved one can be entirely confident that Wendy will treat their loved one with the dignity and respect deserved.
Wendy has a varied work background, having tried a bit of everything from fitting windscreens to various retail and service positions.
Wendy joined Allens in 2009, initially in a casual capacity to see how she liked the industry. Now that she has settled into the business, Wendy feels that she has really found her niche, thoroughly embracing the work and finding it incredibly rewarding, especially meeting all the people. She loves working with the families and assisting them, which she finds fulfilling work.
Mick Fabro
Funeral Director
Mick started working permanently for Allens Funerals in 2009, although he had worked on a casual basis prior to that. He is laidback and professional, a combination that sits well with the clients he deals with.