Funeral directors

Most people choose to employ a funeral director to make the funeral arrangements on their behalf. They do so partly for reasons of convenience, at what is generally a stressful time, but also to ensure that the remains of the deceased are disposed of with dignity and propriety.

Choosing a funeral director

There are a number of funeral directors in the area, and although we are not able to recommend any particular one or offer you rights and standards related to the use of a funeral director, our guide to using a funeral director should help you with your choice.

This guide will help you understand how funeral directing operates and enable you to ask questions appropriate to your needs when you consider the arrangement of a funeral.

adobe logo Guide to using a funeral director (PDF 24kb)

Role of the funeral director

The funeral director is there to provide a professional and sympathetic service and will ensure your funeral arrangements are carried out in accordance with your wishes.

Their services usually provide:

24 hour service
Private Chapel of Rest
Pre-paid and pre-arranged funerals
Choice of coffins and furnishings
Special services such as provision of horse-drawn hearse
Hearse and matching limousines
Bearers

The funeral director will:

Collect the body from the home/mortuary
Meet by appointment, the executor or person arranging the funeral and discuss funeral arrangements
Liaise with us to arrange the cremation or burial service and advise us of all relevant instructions. Arrange the attendance of a minister or other officiant
Make the necessary payments (disbursements) on your behalf, to include cemetery or crematorium fees, doctor's fees or minister's fee
Ensure all necessary official documents are completed and delivered to us within the required timescales
Transport the coffin and any floral tributes to the crematorium or cemetery
Ensure the funeral is carried out under the guidance of a Funeral Director

Additionally, on request the Funeral Director will:

Prepare the body for viewing, a procedure which may include embalming and /or cosmetic treatment
Arrange for the publication of obituaries and provide floral tributes.
Organise a collection for a named charity
Following cremation, remove the cremated remains from the crematorium on your behalf, to their Chapel of Rest, pending a decision on their final resting place
Arrange a private burial of the cremated remains at a cemetery or churchyard of your choice

Your choices - you can: