But, she says the family weren't meant to be there for the cremation as it wasn't part of the package they had paid for.
"My only fault is that I didn't tell them what time the cremation was. I was meant to ring them this morning."
Donohue's 86-year-old grandmother, who the family didn't want identified, died on Saturday night at CHT Waiuku Rest Home and Hospital after being unwell for several weeks.
Souly Funerals staff arrived on Sunday and told the family it would confirm what time her cremation would be.
Donohue said her family had discussed funeral arrangements several weeks ago when her grandmother became unwell. She says they had arranged with Souly Funerals to be present at her cremation as part of what they believed was a basic package with no open casket.
"The request was clear that we wanted to be there for her cremation."
Her mother then called the funeral home twice on this morning to clarify what time the cremation would be but received no reply.
Just before midday she received a call from the funeral home director, who said her mother had already been cremated and the funeral home had forgotten to tell the family.
"Mum rang me bawling her eyes out, saying she feels like she had abandoned my nana."
But a short time later the funeral director rang her mother again, confirming her mother had not been cremated at the planned time of 12pm because the cremator had broken.
At this point Donohue said she was skeptical and demanded to see her grandmother's casket to check she had not been cremated.
"We went down to get proof to check they weren't palming off another box," she told the Herald.
Souly Funerals obliged, and the family were able to meet at Mangere Lawn Cemetery and Crematorium in time for her grandmother's cremation this afternoon.
"These companies are doing the next step for our loved ones and they need to know compassion and clarity is really important," she about the handling of the situation.
"We are making sure she goes with dignity."
Morris told the Herald the family had agreed to a basic cremation with a no-viewing casket so she did not know anyone wanted to be present.
"To my knowledge from explaining on Sunday the family were aware cremation was to be on Monday and that they wanted to be in the cemetery at roughly the time of cremation.
"I am unsure why they had not already taken it upon themselves to perhaps head into the cemetery considering the travel time of at least an hour to get there."
Donohue claims her mother made it very clear to Souly Funerals she only wanted to be present for the cremation.
But Morris claims she was not aware of this.
"After hearing that they had confused being present in the cemetery vicinity to actually being in the crematorium at time of cremation we offered to transfer [the grandmother] back into our care and to arrange a private viewing at our premises and then for the family to follow back through to the cemetery for cremation at no charge to them, to make up for my error of not notifying of the time of cremation," said Morris.
A memorial for the grandmother is being held at Waiuku Christian Fellowship on Saturday.
Donohue said it will be a celebration of her grandmother's life and attendees are encouraged to wear bright colours.
"It's lots of fun and joy, no one is to wear black ... it's a full celebration of her life and to remember the good times."
Donohue helped to provide 24/7 service for her grandmother in her final weeks at the rest home, when she stopped eating and drinking.
"She is a God-fearing woman and she brought up all her six kids. She was the monarch of that side of the family," she said.
"We got into trouble for this that and the other and she never judged us.
"She is going to be very much missed."
