How To Arrange A Funeral

In the first instance please let us do the worrying – this is probably at the very least, an extremely difficult time for you, at worst it is possibly the worst time of your life.

To be worrying about what happens next and arranging a funeral is likely to be the last thing you feel able to consider and cope with.

We have mentioned in more detail in our ‘Practical Advice’ section about not being able to register the passing of your loved one until either the medical examiners and the doctor have completed their documentation or the coroner (if a coroner is involved).

Do be reassured that you truly cannot register the death until the registrar offers you an appointment. The registrar cannot do this until they have received the documents they require from either the medical examiners or the coroner.

We always say in the first few days after you have lost the person you love, it’s about caring for you and all those affected by your loss. Sleep if you can, eat well and take time for you.

What can you practically consider:

Firstly, did your loved one leave any will or last requests – the most important question is did they ever indicate whether they wanted a cremation or burial?

Did they have a funeral plan where they have detailed their last wishes?

Sometimes families tell us that the person wanted to donate their body to medical research or similar. We will always assist with this but do be aware that sometimes it is not possible for a variety of reasons.

Examples of this might be that the relevant research university might be closed for holidays. At times they are simply too full take any more into their care.

Often, age and medical conditions preclude someone from being able to donate their body to medical science.

You might want to speak with us about the options for cremation and burial – we will ensure you have all the information you require regarding the local crematoriums and cemeteries and churchyards.

We assist you to complete the relevant documents for applying either for an interment (burial) or a cremation.

Some will want a religious service either at a church or chapel and others prefer a religious service at the crematorium or at a graveside. We also offer non religious services.

Many wish for a non-attended cremation or interment and we will arrange everything that needs to be done for this to take place.

We will always offer to meet with you at a mutually convenient time to discuss everything. Our advice is free and we don’t charge extra for home visits.

So, once you know whether a cremation or interment is required, then decide if it is to be religious or non-religious.

Just some of the questions we will ask when we meet are as follows:-

Which crematorium or cemetery/churchyard?
Choice of music (this might include up to three songs or more).
Hymns – if so would you like us to arrange an organist or you may prefer us to source a backing track such as a choir or orchestra playing.
Is a newspaper notice required? This includes any notice appearing online. We will help with the wording to guide you.
Is a Facebook notice required?
Would you like us to design a Service sheet usually called an Order Of Service?
If the Service is being held at the Crematorium, would you like photographs to appear on the Screen? These photographs can be run silently on a loop or can be set to music.
Would you like any of our limousines to travel in? These hold up to 7 passengers in addition to the chauffeur.
Would you like us to leave with the hearse and following cars from your loved one’s home? This is called the cortege. Some prefer to meet where the Service is to take place – either is fine with us.
Pall-bearers, these are the people who lift the coffin or casket from the hearse and into the venue chosen for the Service. We can supply these or sometimes people wish for family and friends to do this. We will instruct the pall-bearers on the day of the Service so that they are confident in what they are doing.
We will, if you would like us to, record names of the congregation mourners and then present you with a typed list after the Service.

We hate the word ‘coffin’ and one lady recently said to us ‘these should be called heaven carriers!’ We have a range of coffin and casket options including eco-friendly coffins, wicker and willow ones some with curved ends. Other coffins people often choose are bespoke with personal photographs, some are themed – examples recently have included floral decoration, motorcycles, football and much more. Most popular are our wooden veneered coffins all silk lined with pillows.
We work with all local florists – you might have your own preferred florist but either way we carry a supply of brochures to help you choose. Small cards for you to write to attach to the flowers if you want to, are available free of charge from us. If only family flowers are requested, would you like to nominate a chosen charity or organisation so that friends and family can donate in the person’s memory? If so, we will bring a collection box to the funeral service and mention more about how you can donate on our Service sheets.
Refreshments – ask us for menus from local restaurants and inns.
We provide a free of charge personally engraved memorial box and memorial book with free pens for people to write their messages for you to treasure.
Ashes – after a cremation has taken place, please rest assured that we will collect the ashes as soon as we possibly can and they are safe with us for as long as you need. When you say the time is right for you, we will arrange their safe return in either an urn, casket with nameplate or a scattertube or scatterpod (whatever you decide to choose). If the ashes are to be interred just ask us about the choices available to you. We will always ask if you want any ashes to be kept separately sometimes for memorial jewellery or for separate scatterings.
Once you have made these decisions we will gladly provide an itemised quotation to you.

Understandably this all seems like a huge amount of questions but remember nothing is urgent, unless your religion states that the funeral needs to take place quickly.

Choosing Your Plan

We understand that everyone is different, therefore we offer funeral plans that are designed to hold your personalised wishes in one place.

Golden Leaves Funeral Plan

There are three easy methods to pay for a Golden Leaves funeral plan. You can choose to pay in 12 interest-free monthly instalments, pay all at once for immediate coverage, or use our credit-financed payment option plan (see terms and conditions for details).

Our team of caring associates is always available to discuss your funeral preferences, whether you have a plan in mind and are ready to go-ahead with it or you have questions. Sometimes it’s just helpful to talk to someone. We will spend as much time as necessary to thoroughly go over your wishes, whether they are straightforward or more intricate.

Additional Information

We will collect the ashes of your loved one as soon as we possibly can after a cremation has taken place. We will keep them safely stored for as long as you wish – we have literally kept some for over ten years, that’s fine, if someone isn’t ready to collect or receive them, we understand. Furthermore, we will never destroy them. For those of us facing decisions about ashes I often describe it as being like ‘another hurdle to jump.’ Some, do make decisions quickly about the ashes of the one they are mourning, but more often we find people need time after a funeral, and often they can’t think about making decisions about the ashes.

What are the options? It is one of those questions that the majority of people would never have even begun to consider until they were suddenly faced with their loss. Many people decide to scatter ashes – often in a poignant place which holds dear memories. We will always offer to split ashes – what do we mean by that? Well, sometimes when scattering ashes somewhere, it is nice to keep a small keepsake urn or for some, they like to have a piece of jewellery made which incorporates some of the ashes. Others dislike this idea – that’s fine, it is about what is right for you and whether your loved one’s wishes were ever discussed. Very often, we are asked to transfer the ashes into an attractive urn or scatterbox and families will keep the ashes at their home if that is right for them. Often we are asked to assist with applying for an interment (burial) plot for ashes in a local cemetery or churchyard. We will always help with this.

Most churchyards and cemeteries allow us to apply for a new plot (although sometimes we are asked to inter ashes in an existing plot if there is already a family member’s ashes there). Either is fine, if there is an existing ashes plot or family grave we can always temporarily remove a memorial stone (if needed) and apply to add an additional inscription and place back into position. Some like to plant ashes under a tree or rose bush, this might be in a cemetery or garden of remembrance or in your own garden. Often if in your garden, we suggest you may wish to place the ashes in a large garden planter with an ornamental tree on top – this way, if you ever move house, you can take the tree and pot with you.

Some of the more unusual things that you can do with ashes is to have them made into a firework rocket, this is sometimes an idea used at a celebration event of someone’s life. Even tattoos now can incorporate a tiny bit of ashes – again, we fully appreciate this idea is not for everyone.

Other ideas include the ashes being added to a living reef under the sea or pressed inside a vinyl record. Some companies even sell photograph frames which will hold ashes too. However, take your time; there is absolutely no rush. The decision is an important one, so don’t feel pressured by anyone. We have an extensive range of caskets, urns and scatterpod and tubes available – just ask us for more information or see more on our website.

Contact Us For Help To Arrange A Funeral

Take the first steps by giving us a call or emailing us today.