Organising The Funeral

What is a funeral?

A funeral is the way in which families and friends come together to pay their last respects, and to either cremate or bury the body of someone whom they have lost.

Who organises the funeral?

When it comes to orgainsing a funeral, the funeral is normally organised by the next-of-kin or by the executor. This person would be appointed by the deceased in advance of their death. In the event where there is no family, then close friends may well take in hand the arrangement and the organising of the funeral.

Do I have to follow the wishes of the deceased?

Normally, you would follow the wishes of the deceased, yes.

Does a funeral service have to take place?

It's not necessary for there to be a funeral service; however, the custom in the United Kingdom and Ireland is that normally the cremation or the burial of someone is surrounded by a funeral service.

Does the funeral have to be in a church?

It's not necessary for a funeral to be in a church. The funeral ceremony can take place in a crematorium chapel or perhaps in a cemetery chapel. Increasingly, a larger number of funerals are now non-religious and consequently the family has no church connections, in which case the funeral can either take place either at the crematorium facility or sometimes at the funeral directors premises.

What is a funeral director?

With orgainsing a funeral, a funeral director is the modern term that is used for the undertaker. The funeral director is the person to whom the families will approach at the time of bereavement in order to coordinate all the arrangements necessary for conducting and carrying out the funeral.

What should I consider when looking for a funeral director?

When you're looking for a funeral director, you ought to consider a number of factors. First of all, the person's reputation. Normally people within the community will know whether or not a funeral director has a good reputation for offering a compassionate and efficient service. You should also, where possible, engage the services of a funeral director who's a member of a reputable and recognized trade association and perhaps offering some form of complaints procedure in the unlikely event that the funeral isn't carried out to your complete satisfaction.

What will the funeral director do?

With orgainsing a funeral, the funeral director will do as much or as little as the family require of them. Normally, a family would leave all the funeral arrangements and the coordinating of all the necessary arrangements to the funeral director. However, increasingly more and more families want to have a more physical and practical input into the funeral arrangements, the funeral director will facilitate them to do whatever they require.

When can I finalise the date of the funeral?

Provided all the necessary legalities have been attended to, the date of the funeral can be fixed fairly quickly after death. The family would be well advised to approach a funeral director as soon as possible, in order that he or she can start things rolling and get things organized as quickly as possible for them.

How will the funeral be paid for?

With orgainsing a funeral, the funeral would normally be paid for by the estate of the deceased. In the event that the person does not have sufficient money or funds, then the family would be expected to pay for the funeral.

Can I ask the local authorities for help in paying for the funeral?

When it comes to orgainsing a funeral, you can approach the local authority for assistance with funeral costs. However, it is unlikely that your local authority will give you any form of help with the cost of the funeral. The Department of Works and Pensions however, will give assistance to the cost of the funeral to the next of kin, provided they fulfill certain criteria.

How much does a funeral usually cost?

There is no hard and fast rule dictating what a funeral costs. There are a number of factors that determine the cost of a funeral. For example, if it's going to be a burial or a cremation, and if it's going to be a burial, whether of not the family own an existing plot. The choice of coffin, the number of cars, etcetera, all have a bearing on the final cost of the funeral. But, if the funeral director is a member of say, the National Association of Funeral Directors, they must comply with a code of practice which has been laid down and agreed with the Office of Fair Trading. One of the aspects of that code of practices is that every client, when arranging a funeral, must be given a written estimate of all the expenses involved in the conducting of that funeral.

What costs are associated with a funeral?

Funerals generally are in two parts. First of all, the funeral director's charges for everything the funeral director does: the supply of the coffin, embalming, limousines, hearse, bearers, etc. But the associate costs are the costs over which the funeral director has no control and which he or she will pay on behalf of the family: cemetery charges, fee for the minister, crematorium charges, doctor's fees, florist's fees, and submission to the newspaper, et cetera.

What happens in a basic funeral?

When it comes to orgainsing a funeral, a basic funeral is offered for people who are perhaps in difficult financial circumstances. A basic funeral normally is a supply of a fairly standard coffin and the hearse only conveying the remains of the deceased directly to the cemetery or crematory, within normal working hours. This is usually in order to keep the funeral costs down at a time that's convenient to the funeral director.

What form do I need to give to the funeral director?

With orgainsing a funeral, the form the funeral director would normally require would be the Disposal Certificate. This Disposal Certificate is issued by the Registrar of Deaths.

Do I have to use a funeral director?

It's not necessary to use a funeral director. However, in what is a very, very emotional and difficult time for families, they prefer to remain at arm's length from everything and invariably they will get the funeral director, the professional funeral director, to carry out most of the aspects of the funeral for them.

Where can I get advice on DIY funerals?

There are a number of sources available principally on the web. Information can be supplied by the Natural Death Society.