Types of Funeral
When deciding the type of funeral for your loved one, you may wish to consider whether:
- Your loved one expressed any wishes before they died
- Your loved one has a funeral plan/policy where they detailed their wishes
- Your loved one documented their final wishes in a written will
- Their religious beliefs may influence whether a burial or cremation is acceptable
- There is a family tradition of burial or cremation
- There are financial considerations that may affect your decision
Where can burials take place?
Burials can take place in various locations, depending on your preferences:
– A churchyard
– A cemetery
– Woodland burial in a natural burial ground
How do I find a burial plot?
The ownership of the burial plot depends on its location. Cemeteries are typically owned by the local authority or parish council, or by religious organisations such as churches. There are also privately owned burial grounds, such as natural/green burial sites.
We can assist you with organising the purchase of a new burial plot for your loved one, and also for pre-purchasing plots you may wish to secure for the future.
How much do burial plots cost?
The cost of a burial plot varies and may be affected by whether you and your loved one reside locally or not.
You may also need to consider the overall expenses including memorial stonemasonry, such as a headstone or kerbset, in your financial planning.
Crematoriums are subject to strict codes of conduct under the ‘Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities Code of Cremation Practise’, which can often be found on display in public areas or on the Crematorium website.
Most often, the full funeral service will take place in the Crematorium Chapel, with the cremation occurring thereafter.
Alternatively, the funeral service may take place at another venue such as a Church or Hall, followed by a shorter committal service at the Crematorium Chapel.
What happens after a cremation?
Following a cremation, cremated remains (ashes) are provided by the Crematorium in a container, most often a ‘bio-box’ made of recyclable board. Depending on your instructions, we will usually collect the cremated remains of your loved one from the Crematorium on your behalf.
Are cremations cheaper than burials?
Usually, a cremation is cheaper when compared to the cost of a burial. This is partly due to the additional expenses associated with burial, including the cost of a burial plot and expenses related to memorial stonemasonry, such as a headstone or kerbset.
We offer caring and considered support for you to create a memorable service for your child, and to help guide you through this difficult journey.
For babies, children, and young people up to their 18th birthday, we provide our professional services free of charge. This includes:
- Conveyance of your child from their place of rest, into our care. (Usually within 15 miles of our Funeral Home).
- Care of your child until the funeral, including dressing (where required).
- Arranging the funeral service at a date and time to suit the family; to include scheduling venue/s, Officiant, transportation, organising a burial plot (where required), and communicating with all relevant third-parties.
- Administration of all necessary legal and medical documentation, and submission to the relevant organisations.
- Provision of a ‘Sweet Dreams’ white casket for babies and children, or a ‘Pastel’ white coffin for a young person, fitted with silver effect handles and a nameplate.
- Chapel of Rest visiting (during office hours).
- Provision of 20x Order of Service. (printed in-house).
- Attendance of a Funeral Director for the funeral service.
- Provision of a suitable vehicle to convey your child from our Funeral Home to the funeral service venue/s.
- Provision of a wooden cross to mark your child’s grave
There are additional products and services that you may wish to choose, such as:
- An alternative coffin/casket
- A specialised hearse eg. Horse-drawn Carriage
- Limousine/s
- Professionally printed Order of Service
- Urns, keepsakes and scattertubes
We can assist in organising additional products and services and will provide you with details of associated costs, so that you can make an informed decision. Further information can be found within the Planning a Service section of the site.
Many costs associated with funerals for children are covered by the ‘Children’s Funeral Fund’, which is government funded.
To be eligible for the Children’s Funeral Fund, the burial or cremation must take place in England, and your child must be under 18 years at the time of their death or stillborn after the 24th week of pregnancy.
- Cremation – The cost of cremation is usually covered and will usually be reclaimed by the crematorium.
- Burial – The cost of a grave and interment is usually covered and will usually be reclaimed by the council or the church.
- Coffin – The price for a coffin is usually covered. We will not charge you for this, as we will reclaim the cost.
- Celebrant or Minister – The Children’s Funeral Fund does not cover this cost. Celebrants and Ministers do not usually charge a fee for a child’s funeral service. If there is a fee, this will be included on your estimate.
An estimate will be provided to you following the funeral arrangement, including any costs for products or services you have chosen, over and above our Professional Services or any Third-Party Fees that will be claimed by the relevant cremation or burial authority.
Children’s Memorial Stationery Brochure
Bereavement Support:
Support for siblings:
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“Everything has been first class from the first meeting to the conclusion and handled just as I wanted. Tracy Jones [the celebrant] ran the service and read the eulogy for us of my Mother’s life. There were many compliments about what a lovely service it was.”