Making funeral arrangements?
We will inform you of the choices and work with you to design and arrange a funeral which reflects and honours the life of the person who has died.
Working together with you we will make even the simplest, the most traditional or the most detailed funeral special, and all those present will feel it.
If there is something that you would like to talk about that is not listed below then please contact us on 01453 767769.
Traditional Funerals
Simple cremation: A service led by a minister or independent celebrant in the crematorium chapel, with a traditional coffin brought in a hearse, followed by the cremation.
Green Funerals
This involves a less formal ceremony led by a minister, friend or celebrant, followed by burial in a natural or woodland burial site, or on your own land.
All materials would be biodegradable. For example, the coffin would be made from cardboard, woven willow, woven bamboo. No embalming of the body (done very rarely anyway). Local, seasonal flowers with no oasis or plastic.
A family wanting a green funeral will often want to be more involved in the different parts of the process. Your choice entirely!
Alternative Funerals
For example:
Burial at sea – The funeral service can be held locally, to then be followed by burial at sea in full maritime tradition a day or so later. The nearest port of embarkation is in Lymington in Hampshire, about 17 miles east of Bournemouth. We then sail out to the ‘Needles’, West of the Isle of Wight for a service on the boat followed by the burial.
We will work with you to design and arrange exactly the type of funeral that you and your family feel is right for the person who has died.
Ideas for making the funeral special
We have a lot of experience in tailoring funeral arrangements to help make the day more personal to both the family and the person who has died. For example:
1) If you do not have a particular religious faith, you may have a family friend who can lead the ceremony. Otherwise, we can put you in touch with an independent civil celebrant who – with your guidance – will create a beautiful ceremony.
2) Members of the family and friends of any age – men and women – can carry the coffin.
3) Double time can be booked at the crematorium for £200-300 extra.
4) Candles can be used in many locations.
5) The service can include your own choice of special music, whether recorded or played live. You can also have a time of silence in between tributes; songs; poetry; letters and memories spoken by friends, colleagues and family members – including children. The service is yours to design as you want.
6) Family and friends can decorate the coffin beforehand; plain manila-coloured cardboard makes an excellent blank canvas. We can weave small-leaved ivy onto the sides of a woven coffin, or people can bring flowers from their gardens to put on the coffin, or to line the grave. Instead of being left at the crematorium, flowers can be taken to the gathering afterwards, or we can take them to a local care home or hospice.
7) There is a wide range of possibilities for ashes following a cremation and we would be pleased to work with you on any of these.
Contact us at any time for funeral assistance
We will work with you to design and arrange exactly the type of funeral that you and your family feel is right for the person who has died.
Our aim is to work with you to make it special, and then make it all happen smoothly.