Alan Foster SMART

Service Date: 9th December 2024

27 November, 2024

Retired Minister, Uniting Church in Australia.

Loving husband of Helen. Loving father of Heather, Fiona (dec), Jennifer and Andrew, father-in-law to Andrew and Vicki. Much loved grandfather to Nicole, Melissa, Tim, Hannah, Phoebe and Eliza. Great grandfather to Alex, William, Bianca, Claire, Tobias, Gabriel, Tiana, Amelia, Neo, Sebastian, Dominic, Isaac, Matilda, James and Oscar. Great great grandfather to Lola and Lily. Loving brother to Rex (dec) and brother-in-law to Judy and Frank (dec) and uncle to Steven, Lynette and Darren.

Family and friends of Alan are warmly invited to attend a Celebration of his Life, to be held at Wesley Castle Hill Uniting Church, 32-34 Showground Road Castle Hill, on Monday 9th December 2024, commencing at 1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers donations to Alzheimer’s Research: https://alzheimersresearch.org.au/donate/

There is limited parking available within the church grounds. Extra parking can be found on Worthing Avenue.

To view the Order of Service Booklet please CLICK HERE

Wesley Castle Hill Uniting Church

Google Rating

5.0

Ian J. Arthur & Sons Funeral Directors

5.0

Fekita Langi

05:02 06 Jun 25

I can’t thank Ian enough for the kindness, compassion, and support during such a heartbreaking time for our family. You made the whole process of organising my brother’s funeral feel less overwhelming, and we’re so grateful for your care and attention to detail especially with respect to our traditional customs and inclusivity with the process of funeral planning. Truly appreciated and would recommend to others and families.

Majelle Corpus

13:00 15 May 25

Thankyou to Ian and his team for helping organise my grandmothers funeral service in such a short amount of time and tight deadline. The entire process was so seamless, the communication was so efficient and reliable at all times and they get the job done with such professionalism and care. It made our lives alot easier having never going through this before. We highly recommend Ian J. Arthur & Sons

Jax

00:44 18 Mar 25

Having never organised a funeral before I called Ian J Arthur & Sons, after doing a Google search and seeing all the positive reviews. I spoke with Ian and he put me at ease right away. Ian is warm, compassionate and so helpful that I knew we were in the right hands. Ian then recommended Peter to be our celebrant who was wonderful. Ian & Peter’s kindness and professionalism and attention to detail made a difficult day so much easier for us. Peter, the service was beautiful and we truly appreciated the care and support you both provided.I would highly recommend Ian & Peter. Thanks again, Jacqui

Ron Dodo

08:06 29 Jan 25

Caring, thoughtful, understanding, thoroughly professional, ……. Perfect

05:05 20 Jul 24

I would like to acknowledge Mr David White and his team for their assistance in managing our family funeral.David was attentive and compassionate in all his dealings, from our initial contact and in all follow-up questions and requests leading up to the event; his communication, at all times, was incredibly prompt, efficient and precise. This provided a great deal of emotional relief from all relevant stresses of managing the funeral.David White is a trustworthy asset to the Ian J Arthur and Sons Team and I would have no hesitation to seek his assistance if necessary in the future.

Paul

05:20 16 Jul 24

David White was our main contact for our family funeral.David was most courteous from beginning to end; nothing seemed to be a problem. He went out of his way to make the day run incredibly smoothly.The whole team at Ian J Arthur Funerals were excellent and supportive on the day.I can wholeheartedly recommend David White to be completely trusted with your loved one's funeral.

Daisy Kelly

21:56 04 Jul 24

Very gracious and kind, we’ve had two family members pass and they were respectful, professional and very empathetic. Beautiful flowers and everything done extremely thoughtfully when you most need that support and care.

Rebecca Walls

08:46 30 Jun 24

On behalf of my sisters and the rest of my family, I would like to thank Ian J Arthur Funerals for the respectful way our sister’s recent funeral was managed. Particularly, we thank Peter Hoy for his consummate professionalism, consistent thoughtfulness and attention-to-detail throughout the whole process. Peter advised us of all that was required prior to the service, and reminded us when each step needed to be completed.Along with his colleagues, Peter ran the funeral service with consideration, kindness and respect. The service progressed well, as evidenced by the number of positive responses we received from many of those who attended on the day, or watched the service online at the time or later – another benefit for which we are very grateful.Thank you very much, Peter and his colleagues, at Ian J Arthur Funerals.

Renato Locano

12:14 08 May 24

Ian J. Arthur Funeral Directors helped us in the repatriation of my mother-in-law back to the Philippines. Their experience and knowledge with the processes made it less stressful for the family. The empathy, compassion and professionalism of Ian, Peter and Vanessa helped us go through this difficult time. Can't thank them enough.Highly recommended

Anna Heraud

04:48 02 May 24

Our family worked with Vanessa for all viewing and funeral services and she made it so easy to organise whilst also grieving. Not only very professional, but also kind, caring and understanding. I 100% recommend working with Ian J Arthur & Sons.

Rosaler Datu

05:21 21 Mar 24

I and some of my friends just finished payment of our funeral plans. I have been in touched with one of your staff named Dahlene and I find her very confident in what she does and promptly respond to our requests. Hence , I find you have reliable staff, she is an asset to your organisation.

Julie Clarke

06:13 13 Nov 23

I cannot speak highly enough of Ian, his caring and compassionate nature was so comforting during such a difficult time.He lead me one step at a time with such kindness.A beautiful service for my wonderful Dad.Thank you Ian, you will never quite know how wonderful you were to me, your knowledge, advice and kindness is something I will never forget.Julie

Cat Woman

07:02 24 Oct 23

A very thorough, sympathetic & respectful service. Every assistance was offered to ensure a trouble free & beautiful service. Highly recommended.

Kylie Murray

06:02 25 Sep 23

I highly recommend Ian J. Arthur & Sons. Ian assisted us in September 2022. After the sudden loss of my Dad, we didn't know where to begin with the funeral planning process. It was a daunting process for us. However, I knew my family and I had made the right choice to call Ian. This was made clear to us during the first phone conversation. Ian visited our family home that very same morning to help plan my Dad's funeral.Ian is empathetic and has great attention to detail. He guided us every step of the way.Peter Hoy was the celebrant at my Dad's funeral. He met with us beforehand and guided us through the order of service.Ian and Peter are both caring, respectful, and understanding. I can not thank them enough for their help during this difficult time.I would not hesitate to recommend Ian J. Arthur & Sons.

Clare Le Roy

21:09 07 Aug 23

My sister and I were so happy with Ian J. Arthur Funeral Directors. Navigating through the process of planning our Dad's funeral was made significantly less stressful by Peter's compassionate, professional and efficient service. His attention to detail, empathy and dedication were evident in every interaction. And his ability to take our wishes into account, whilst providing expert guidance, made for a dignified and fitting farewell for our Dad. A heartfelt thanks to Peter and his team for their exceptional service during such a difficult time. Highly recommended.

Jenny H

10:57 25 Jul 23

Highly recommend!!! From the start, Vanessa A guided us through all the steps which was a great help as we didn’t know how to proceed during a very sorrowful time. She promptly answered all our questions and costs were very clear. Excellent service, very professional and great team. Thank you so much for helping us through this difficult period.

Louise Halloran

10:29 21 Apr 23

I would highly recommend the team at Ian J Arthur & Sons. David was so helpful, down to earth and respectful of our wishes. We were honestly surprised at the superior level of service given the competitive pricing. Thanks again, Louise.

C Astillo

12:49 13 Apr 23

The staff was very accommodating from the start. Prompt action. They made a beautiful atmosphere for our family during the service despite the tough time. Excellent service. Greatly appreciated! Highly recommend!!!

Tae Rim

09:00 28 Mar 23

An amazing service with all the planning and costs laid out and made very clear. Very kind and sincere staff and very efficient catering to anything you needed to the best of their ability. Very lovely people, thank you very much. highly recommended.

Diane Zhang

09:51 14 Feb 23

We went with Ian J Arthur & Sons back in October 2021 when my father passed away and couldn’t have been happier with our decision. They made what is a really tough time for the family a very straightforward process, which is exactly what you need. They are very transparent about their prices and provided great advice. We went back to them to organise my brother’s funeral less than two years later and it was just as seamless. Thank you so much David for your help over the years.

Maggie Koller

22:20 25 Jan 23

We had the most heartfelt memorial service for my dad thanks to Ian Arthur Funerals. Ian’s caring approach, organisation and attention to detail helped create a sincere memorial service for my dad which honors his place in our family and helps us to grieve this milestone in our lives. Many thanks Ian and David.

Ellie

23:32 20 Oct 22

The staff at Ian J. Arthur’s were very helpful and supportive to my sister and I when our elderly mum passed away recently. David listened to us and suggested ways to order the service so that it was what we wanted. He assisted us in every way possible and was readily available to answer all our questions.We made the decision early this year to pay ahead, this meant that most of the emotional decisions & preparations were already done for us. It was a positive experience which then gave us more time to grieve in a relaxed way.They are an Australian, independent company and, as well, kept our funeral costs to under five-figures. We highly recommend them.

Bryan Hew

06:56 06 Oct 22

Having been completely in the dark about having to organise a funeral, Peter was an absolute guiding light throughout the whole process. It’s hard enough to have a heartbreaking incident happen in the family, so to have the experience and guidance of Peter in our time of grief was very much appreciated. I appreciated his honesty and transparency throughout the entire process as well as his learned suggestions and advice. Thank you for your help in our time of utmost need.

Glen Redden

10:39 24 Aug 22

It's been almost 10 months since we laid our beloved Mother [Late Yvonne Redden] to Rest [May Mum's Soul Rest in Peace] without the help of Peter Hoy and his team this would have been extremely difficult and even more challenging, from organising the entire funeral, helping us the family make selections etc., conducting the service with the help of [Fr Zvonimir - St John the 23rd] and Peter's coordinating every step of the journey we would have been lost, Peter's professional mannerism, empathy, compassion and care is outstanding and definitely has a sincere message of care during a difficult time. Well done Peter to you and your team for the outstanding service provided to the Redden family in a time of distress, need and a dear loss. Thank you.

Robert K

05:27 17 Jul 22

Ian, David and the whole team were very considerate in providing the care and advice to guide us through the whole process of our father's funeral.It was no problem for them.to accomodate us and work with the church that was of another nationality. We are very thankful for the great service.

Gonzalo Jacome

01:43 03 Jul 22

Absolutely outstanding service. Very personal approach from the whole team, led with much compassion and authenticity by Ian Arthur. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for family / intimate - like approach to farewelling your loved one.

F B

09:21 05 May 22

Highly recommended. Ian was compassionate, showed great patience and didn't overcharge with unnecessary extras. His valuable advice and experience really showed. It made a difficult time much easier for all.

Tom Kennedy

09:51 13 Apr 22

These folk handled my funeral with the utmost professionalism and dignity. The director, David White, was careful and appropriate at all times; taking into account that I had never arranged this sort of thing before. He was supportive and congenial at every step. We were able to give my partner a send-off that I’m sure he would have been very pleased about.

Toni Ramos

09:16 05 Apr 22

We highly recommend your company for the professional yet caring way my father's funeral was handled. Vanessa and her team was helpful , supportive and "on call" all the time. She has the patience of a saint as she explained and guided our family through the process. You don't realise how hard it is to make a decision as a family and we had to make several changes in the process. Her familiarity with Filipino traditions helped a great deal as she knew what our expectations were. Thank you so much from the Cosio family!

Solange Cruz

08:35 05 Mar 22

My family and I would like to thank Peter Hoy and the team at Ian J Arthur & Sons for all their care and support. My grandmother’s funeral arrangements were done with such empathy, care and respect surpassing all our expectations, allowing us to mourn without any concerns and worries.Thank you Peter for your kindness, patience and for going the extra mile to ensure my grandmother received a dignified farewell. You blew us away with the Chilean classical guitar music you played at the cemetery, such beautiful gesture.God bless the beautiful work you do.Solange Cruz & family

Luke I

21:40 23 Dec 21

As a family business, Ian J. Arthur & Sons took the time to understand what was important to us to make sure they made our wishes were met. Our funeral director Peter Hoy was not only professional, but very respectful in all matters related to religious traditions, family dynamics, dealing with the different people and organisations involved. He also helped advise on bringing in a singer to the funeral and the result was much more than we had hoped. Thanks Peter for making this event so fitting for the memory of our mother.

Matthew Ingram

09:59 20 Aug 21

Ian and the team came recommended by a number of friends of ours. Throughout the entire process of planning the funeral, Ian was timely, compassionate, professional, and personable. He made every accommodation to ensure the service and other arrangements were exactly what we wanted. He answered questions, took phone calls, visited our family, and went above and beyond in so many ways. David conducted the funeral service and did a wonderful job – we couldn’t have asked for a better conductor. Thank you so much to Ian, David, and the team for all your support throughout what was a very difficult time.

Kelsey F

05:20 19 Aug 21

Vanessa and the rest of the team at Ian J. Arthur & Sons Funeral Directors were extremely professional and helpful during our difficult time. They were patient and kind, making the process and planning of our mother’s funeral as easy as possible for us. We cannot thank them enough for their quality services and we highly recommend their services.

Liz Maria

01:26 22 Jul 21

Losing my father was the hardest, most painful thing I had ever gone through.Vanessa, our funeral director, made laying my father to rest, one less thing to worry about. She is so dedicated to her job, it's unbelievable.She went far and beyond, and most of my father's guests were so impressed at how beautiful the ceremony went.I can not thank her enough for everything she did.Thank you again, Vanessa.You're amazing!Liza & Alicia Saclayan

Jeriel De Guzman

14:01 13 Jul 21

An amazing service that helped my family and I through a tough time. Highly recommended

Esther Polis

00:04 05 Jul 21

We highly recommend your service. Your team did a wonderful, high quality serviceAppreciated by all the family. Thank you.

Andrew Edwards

20:59 05 Nov 20

Peter and the team made the whole process of organising a funeral for my late brother such an smooth process. Peter worked tirelessly with our family to plan the funeral and did everything in his power to make sure the little things happened. He was compassionate, understanding and professional. What ever you asked, Peter was on top of it.The day ran smoothly despite the weather, thanks to their dedication.You will not find a more compassionate team. Couldn't recommend them more

Linda Lee Fatani

02:30 12 Oct 20

We had experienced a tragic death in our family and it was our first time ever having to organize a repatriation back home to New Zealand. At first due to the overwhelming emotions we carried because of the nature of the death, we felt a sense of distress and weren't prepared to deal with the funeral/repatriation processes. However, Mark from Ian J Arthur and Sons was a blessing to us. He was open, consistent and transparent in his communication with us, was able to deal with communication needs within Australia and New Zealand. He also gave us the reassurance we needed in order to reduce the impacts of stress on our well being. From the beginning to the end, Ian J. Arthur and Sons was amazing and I am grateful that we repatriated our brother through them. I highly recommend them to anyone in need of a stressful free funeral. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for the service you provided and also the support too. Thank you Mark for your amazing work. I've already told my family when it's my time, contact Mark he'll get me home one day. Haha. Thank you, Linda-Lee Sila

Ben Fonseca

04:20 12 Jun 20

Ian was extremely organised, informed and compassionate to myself and my family during a very difficult time.

jenny cownie

02:32 20 May 20

Eight months ago i lost my beautiful husband John it was the hardest and most saddest time of my life .Ian Arthur funerals conducted the funeral for me it was handled with so much care and dignity that it made this terrible time a little more bearable.I would like to say thank you to you Ian and to your wonderful staff and i would not hesitate in recommending you to my family and friends.Thank You Jenny Cownie.

Jim Roditis

23:31 19 May 20

A funeral is a time where you prefer not to have to deal with issues on the day. David and the team were exceptional from the get go. I rang a couple of places while others were happy to quote over the phone and provide an estimate David took the time to send me an itemized quote. That attention to detail gave me the confidence that all would be fine on the day. Additionally, every question, every request was dealt with promptly no follow up was ever needed. Its those little things that they did well. Highly recommended.

Robyn Spencer

06:28 04 May 20

Julieanne Adolphus

06:36 27 Mar 20

Words cannot experience the professionalism and personal service that Peter, Ian and the team provided to us when we lost our darling Mum. The empathy, compassion and ease you showed to get everything done for us was outstanding and the after funeral care was also appreciated. We highly recommend your services. We are forever grateful.The Pereira Family.

Saroja Hewagama

07:32 23 Feb 20

David handled my mum's funeral with so much gentleness and compassion which made the sad situation more bearable. He was so efficient in dealing with everything and I didn't need to worry about anything . I have no hesitation in recommending Ian J. Arthur & Sons to anyone. Thank you David.SAROJA.

J M

10:04 16 Aug 19

I was fortunate enough to be referred to Ian by a friend in the funeral industry when my mum suddenly and unexpectedly passed away.Five stars is really not adequate to describe the service that Ian and his team out together. He was very easy to contact throughout the whole process and kept us informed every step of the way. I would absolutely recommend Ian.

Racheal Hoffmeister

08:19 23 Jul 19

Thank you to Ian J. Arthur & Sons funeral directors especially Peter Hoy who went to extreme lengths to make sure my mum's funeral was perfect.I HIGHLY RECOMEND THIS COMPANY!!No words will ever be enough for how grateful my family and I are. It was our first funeral that we had to plan and we were really scared to put our trust in somebody knowing we wanted the perfect farewell. Nothing was ever too complicated and Peter was very professional and caring. We spoke to a few funeral places beforehand but knew as soon as we met Peter, we were in the right hands.He just amazed us more and more each time we met up and went out of his way to make sure we were happy.Thank you for making one of the hardest times in my life just that little bit easier.

Margaret Debelak

00:47 05 Mar 19

My beautiful husband passed away recently and I just want to say that we were so impressed with the service we received from Ian J Arthur & Sons. Chris Cullen looked after us and was extremely helpful and guided us along the way. Although a terribly sad day everything was handled so well by their team. I just want to say thank you for looking after us.

Kathryn Wilson

05:46 19 Feb 19

David & Chris were extremely helpful at the recent passing of my father. I would have no hesitation in recommending them in the future. A very professional family company.

Judy Christian

07:35 18 Jul 18

I just wanted to thank you for all your help over the last few weeks. You made everything much easier for our whole family and guided us through a difficult time. You provided a service that felt personal and genuinely caring. In addition your pricing was very good compared to other companies and you provided extras that we were not expecting. I will definitely recommend you to other people. Thank you for everything.

Peter B

23:07 31 Jan 18

See all reviews Write a review

Alan Foster SMART

Ian J. Arthur & Sons

The Hills & Northwest

Windsor Rd, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

Eastern Suburbs

37 Ocean St, Woollahra NSW 2025