Organising a funeral can be an extremely emotional and overwhelming time for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. And, often this amount of grief can easily affect somebody’s judgement which is why it is so important to choose the right funeral director to help organise your loved one’s funeral service. Not only will choosing the right funeral director make the process more bearable to deal with, but they will have a large influence over the funeral proceedings and help guide you through the process. At S. Stibbards & Sons, we have been funeral directors in Leigh-on-Sea since 1867 and pride ourselves on serving our local community. We have created this short guide to help you choose the right funeral director for when that inevitable time comes.
The Role of a Funeral Director
Once you have chosen your preferred funeral director, be prepared for them to ask you a lot of different questions. We would advise that you prepare some simple answers in advance as you will be limited on time. A good funeral director will come to visit you in your home to ask you questions before starting to organise the funeral. By doing so, means you can relax in the comfort of your own home, and this can help take off some pressure. If the funeral director that you have chosen doesn’t offer to visit you at home, then start looking for another one.
Optional Services
When preparing your answers for the funeral director, make sure that you try to cover everything that you can. It can help take away emotional pressure and allow you to clearly outline everything you want them to be responsible for. Maybe you would like them to take care of the music, flowers or organise a photographer to document the ceremony. Whatever, your request is, a good funeral director will grant your wishes. Here are some different questions that you might want to consider asking the funeral director:
- What types of funeral transport do you provide?
- Do you offer 24/7 advice and bereavement support?
- Can I visit my loved one before the funeral service?
- Can I choose the funeral date and time?
- Can I choose the venue for the funeral ceremony?
- What additional services do you offer and are they included in the price?
- Can I personalise the funeral in any way I want?
- Can I choose a traditional burial funeral or a cremation?
- Where will my loved one’s body be kept until the day of the funeral?
Funeral Prices
Unfortunately, not everyone has access to enough finances to put towards the perfect send-off for their loved one. When choosing the right funeral director, the price will have a considerable influence over who you decide to go with. In the UK, the average funeral director costs roughly £1,600 – £2,000 for a simple funeral arrangement. This price will include the coffin purchase, the storage of the body, hearse rental and staff for the day of service.
When choosing your funeral director, make sure that they are a member of The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) and The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD).
Members of these associations are required to meet a set of standards in order to retain their badge of honour, and this includes pricing structures. The SAIF and NAFD have pricing standards that their members must abide by. If a funeral director goes above these pricing standards, then they will lose their memberships. So, if you are in doubt about a company’s pricing structure, then you can contact these associations before you begin to pay for their services.
On the Day of Service
Prior to the day of service, make sure you know exactly what the funeral director is going to provide you. A professional and experienced firm will guide and support you throughout the entire day, and this will include:
- Be by your side for the entire service to supervise the occasion and guide those who are in attendance.
- Oversee the funeral procession and ensure that your loved one, family members and close friends are brought to the venue in a safe and respectful manner.
- Oversee the pallbearers and ensure that your loved one is escorted into the ceremony with dignity and respect.
- Prepare the venue for service.
- Look after the collection of cards from floral tributes.
- Take care of charity donations.
- Oversee the safekeeping of the book of remembrance
- Help organise the wake or after event (if you wish).
Why You Should Choose S. Stibbards & Sons
At S. Stibbards & Sons, we help you decide what the best type of service is for your loved one and spend time getting to know you to ensure everything is organised just the way you want.
Everything matters to us just as much as it matters to you and we pride ourselves on honouring everyone’s wishes. We understand that losing somebody can be one of the hardest things to deal with, so we are here to make things more bearable and support you 24/7 along the way. Our friendly and compassionate team are committed to setting the very highest standards no matter what type of funeral service you would like.
If you decide to choose S. Stibbards & Sons, we will arrange a time to come and visit you to discuss your requirements. Our compassionate team of professionals will then be able to talk you through all of the different funeral options and plan a service that truly represents the life of those who have passed away.
