One of the first decisions to make
The first decision to be made for any funeral service is whether it is
going to be a burial or a cremation.
You will also need to decide where the service is to be held.
This may be at a church or place of worship, at a crematorium, at the
graveside or somewhere else.
In the case of cremation there can be a service at a church combined with
a shorter service at the crematorium chapel.
Whether there will be a burial or a cremation is a decision that may
already have been made by the deceased.
This might have been in discussion with family members or in their will.
The arranging of the funeral service involves many elements.
We will take care of all the details.
We will listen carefully to your requirements, help you make important and
difficult decisions, liaise with third parties, and be responsible for
ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible on the day.
We will guide you through all the options when you have to make decisions.
The funeral service
The funeral service is a way of saying goodbye to someone who has died.
We are here to take you through the decisions you need to make to ensure
you can arrange the funeral that you want for your loved one.
Some things to consider about a burial
- You may already have a family grave or plot.
We can arrange for this to be reopened and the headstone removed before
burial
- In some areas, burial space may be limited or very expensive
- You might want to reserve plots or a large plot if you or your family
want to be buried close by
- Woodland burials are now available in many areas in the country
- You can hold the funeral service in a local church or in a cemetery
chapel.
Some funeral directors have a room you can use for a service if you
prefer
- After the burial you will need to consider if you want a memorial
headstone, or a new inscription on an existing headstone
For all burials there are fees involved which could include the following:
- Cost to purchase a new grave
- Opening or re-opening an existing grave
- Removal and replacement of any existing memorials, headstones, and so on
- An exclusive right of burial
We can also give you advice on choosing a memorial and any local
regulations you should know about.
Some things to consider about a cremation
- It can cost less than a burial
- The funeral service can be held at the crematorium.
Most will have a service room or other appropriate facilities
- The service may also take place in a church or another location before
going to the crematorium
- There will be a strict time limit for the length of the service.
This will vary depending on the crematorium
- You will need to decide the final resting place of the ashes.
You can keep the ashes in an urn, or scatter or bury them
We can advise you if any restrictions are in place at your chosen
crematorium regarding the choice of dress for the deceased, or
placing any possessions in the coffin.
Supplying information about the deceased
In order to make the funeral arrangements we will need:
- The full name of the person who has died
- Their full address
- Their date of birth
- Details of where and when they died
- Confirmation of whether the person who has died had a pacemaker fitted,
as pacemakers must be removed before the cremation
