Funerals

Funerals mean different things to different people, from a celebration of life to a sad farewell.

Some people leave information about the arrangements they would prefer for their own funeral. If this is not the case, the immediate family and friends of the deceased decide the type and location of the funeral.

It is possible to plan a funeral without the services of a funeral director but most people find it easier to work with one. A funeral director can take care of the practicalities while still providing a wide range of choice to make a funeral personal and fitting. A funeral director also has knowledge of local celebrants (a celebrant is the person who leads a funeral). It is important to find a funeral director who is a member of one of the professional associations as they have codes of practice and complaints procedures.

The Natural Death Centre is a charity that, among other things, gives support on family-organised funerals and runs the Association of Natural Burial Grounds.

The person who arranges a funeral must ensure that there is money available to pay for it. The deceased may have taken out a pre-paid funeral plan through a funeral director, specific funeral plan company or an insurance company. Otherwise the cost of the funeral will normally be met out of any money left by the person who has died. If there is insufficient money, the Department of Work and Pensions may in some circumstances provide help.

Contacts

Bereavement Advice Centre	Heron House, Timothy's Bridge Road, S tratford upon Avon, CV37 9BX Tel: 0800 634 9494	Bereavement Advice Centre - the funeral
The Natural Death Centre	In The Hill House, Watley Lane, Twyford, Winchester, SO21 1QX Tel: 01962 712 690	Natural Death Centre website
National Association of Funeral Directors	618 Warwick Road Solihull West Midlands B91 1AA Tel: 0845 230 1343	NAFD home page
Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors	SAIF Business Centre 3 Bullfields Sawbridgeworth Herts CM21 9DB Tel: 0845 230 6777 or 01279 726 777	SAIF home page
The Good Funeral Guide - advice on coffins		Good Funeral Guide - coffins
What Price website - cost of funerals in the UK		What Price - cost of funerals in the UK
British Humanist Association	1 Gower Street London WC1E 6HD Tel 020 7079 3580	Humanist Association website
Salford City Council - commonly asked questions about cremation		Salford City Council - FAQs on cremation
Bath and North East Somerset Council		BANES burial and cremation services
Wiltshire Council		Wilts burial and cremation services

Review date: June 2012

Dorothy House Hospice Care provides the A-Z as a service to patients, carers and professionals, and cannot accept responsibility for the content of any external site referred to. We endeavour to ensure that all links are relevant at the time of publication.