Guides Preparing for death

Arranging a funeral for someone you love

Everything you need to know about funeral processions or cortèges

We’ll cover what a funeral procession is, where they come from and why they happen. We’ll also go through how to take part in one and what to do if you come across one.

How to hire a funeral celebrant

A funeral celebrant is a person hired to plan and run a funeral service. Before the service they spend time finding out about the life, interests and beliefs of the person who has died and create a service that fits them.

How long are funerals?

This guide will go through all the things that affect a funeral’s length so that you know what to plan for.

How to be a pallbearer

A pallbearer is someone who escorts the coffin at a funeral and (if there is one) at a burial, too. They’ll either carry the coffin, move it along on a wheeled trolley called a bier, or walk with it as other people move it.

A guide to the interment of ashes

Interment is the process of putting cremation ashes in a permanent resting place that you can visit. Interring ashes can meaning burying them or putting them in a Columbarium — a building, room, or freestanding wall designed to hold urns.

What’s a celebration of life?

A celebration of life is an end-of-life event held to honour someone’s life, rather than remember their death. You could hold one instead of, or combined with, a more traditional funeral.

How to buy a burial plot

If you’re thinking about buying a burial plot – we’ll go through all the details from what a burial plot is, to how much it costs, so you feel prepared.

Can you have a funeral on a weekend

Most funeral directors and religious venues will offer a funeral on a Saturday or Sunday, but there are some special considerations to keep in mind.

How to choose between burial and cremation

In a nutshell, choosing cremation gives families more flexibility to remember their loved one, their way – and it’s usually cheaper. But while burials are more expensive overall, they tend to have less impact on the environment.

How long does it take to get ashes after cremation?

Many people find it comforting to know when they will receive the ashes of a loved one. This guide explains what you need to do before you can collect them.

How to write a Funeral Order of Service

An Order of Service is a booklet outlining the structure and content of an end-of-life event. They originated at Christian funerals, and included what hymns and readings would be performed at the service.

How to organise a wake

A wake is a gathering of friends, family, and anyone wishing to pay their respects. It’s usually held at someone’s house or a hired venue after a funeral.

What is an obituary, and how to write one

An obituary is a statement you post about someone’s life, usually in a newspaper, to let the wider community know that they’ve died.

How does a crematorium work?

Crematoriums are non-religious buildings with a service hall, cremation facilities, and grounds or gardens. Both the funeral service and the cremation itself will happen within the same building.

What happens at a Catholic funeral

A traditional Catholic funeral has a distinct three-part structure to the ceremony, including the vigil, funeral liturgy and the committal. There’s a focus on praying for the person who’s died and supporting their family.

GuidesPreparing for death