Your guide to arranging a funeral

Making funeral arrangements can be a difficult task and we can support you by taking care of all the practical arrangements.

The Co-operative Funeralcare offer a high level of dedicated funeral care, advising you of all your options and choices and seeing that the funeral arrangements are made in accordance with your wishes, and those of the deceased.

Funeral arrangements are highly personal; some people choose a simple funeral whilst others prefer a more elaborate service.

We help to make sure that every funeral we arrange is a unique tribute to a unique life.

When planning a funeral, it is important that the person making the arrangements can give instructions and make decisions regarding the funeral details. This person will also be responsible for arranging payment for the funeral.

You may make funeral arrangements at your home, our funeral home or another location, such as a solicitor’s office or friend’s home.

When arranging a funeral you will need to make early decisions about:

• Whether it will be a burial or cremation
• Where the funeral will take place (church, cremation chapel, cemetery chapel, graveside, elsewhere)

We have experience in arranging funerals across all religions and cultures, and in organising humanist services.

We will also need to know:

• The full name, address and age of the deceased
• The location where the deceased is resting
• The name and contact details of the deceased’s doctor
• Whether a death certificate has been issued
• Whether the funeral will be a religious or non-religious (humanist) ceremony
• Full details of your wishes regarding the services of a minister will be needed, if one is needed

Arranging the funeral provides an opportunity to create a unique commemoration to the deceased and we will spend time helping you to do this.

Staff at our funeral homes can also help to explain all you need to know about the funeral arrangements, including:

• The choice of coffin or casket
• Dressing the deceased
• Transport for the day of the funeral
• Writing and placing an obituary
• Alternatives to religious funerals
• The choice of music or poetry for the service
• Organising flowers or donations
• Preparing a eulogy
• Service stationery
• Catering

Because we have a nationwide network of over 800 funeral homes, we have the resources and experience to help with almost any
request.

We will assist you in the completion of all documentation and make all necessary arrangements with officiating clergy, or those leading the service, together with the cemetery or crematorium, as required. We will then provide confirmation of all the funeral arrangements, together with a detailed estimate of the costs.