Funeral arrangements can be a very complex procedure which many of us have never encountered before. It is important to remember that every funeral and the circumstances surrounding it is different, therefore the procedures that have to be completed can be vastly different in each case. It is important to make contact with the funeral director as soon as possible following the death to discuss your requirements and to ensure that the correct action is being taken at the right time.
One of our funeral directors will meet with you either in the funeral home or in your own home to discuss the arrangements with you, and he will be responsible for ensuring that every aspect of the arrangements is carried out according to your wishes, through to the point of being there on the day personally to conduct and oversee the funeral ceremony itself at a time mutually agreeable to all parties involved. He will also provide advice on registration of the death and other legal procedures which have to be followed.
There are no “rights” or “wrongs” when it comes to making funeral arrangements – every funeral is personal and unique, forming a dignified and fitting tribute to the deceased. There are a great many decisions to be made at the point of making the arrangements; some of the most common ones are listed below. The funeral director will go through these items in detail with you.
- Will it be burial or cremation?
- Where will the funeral service take place?
- Will the funeral ceremony be religious or non-religious?
- Will viewing of the deceased be required in the funeral home or family home?
- What vehicles will be required for the funeral and where will they travelling to and from?
- Choice of coffin or casket and dressing of deceased.
- Will an intimation be required in a newspaper; if so which paper?
- Will floral tributes be required?
- Is catering required afterwards at a local hotel, pub, or private club?
If you have any more “unusual” requests or ideas our funeral directors will be only too happy to discuss these with you.
In all cases clients will be provided with a written estimate of the costs of the funeral and confirmation of the arrangements. In most cases clients will be asked to make a payment towards the account before the funeral taking place to help cover payments that we have to make on your behalf, and also any additional services that we may be providing. We will be happy to provide guidance on obtaining assistance with the funeral expenses from the DWP should you be eligible for this assistance.
In the case of burial, if a client already has a family lair in a cemetery it may be possible to use this if there is sufficient space. Every lair will have a set of “Title Deeds” containing details of the lair and its owner; it is considerably easier to check for space in a lair if these are to hand. If the family does not already own a lair it is possible to purchase a new lair, normally with space for up to three interments, at a variety of cemeteries. Please note that the purchase and opening of a lair can be very expensive and some cemeteries charge a surcharge depending on where the deceased and the lair purchaser/owner stay. As a general rule, in Glasgow and the surrounding area, burial tends to be a more expensive option than cremation.
Cremation is probably the most common option for a funeral and we are within easy reach of no less than seven crematoria in Glasgow and the surrounding area. The paperwork required for cremation is considerably more complex that that for burial, but our funeral directors will make all the arrangements for this and ensure that it is submitted to the relevant crematorium authority in time for the funeral. It is always important to allow ample time for this paperwork to be completed; in particular in cases where the death has occurred in hospital. The client will be asked at the time of making the funeral arrangements what has to happen after the funeral to the cremated remains. These can be scattered in the gardens at the crematorium or retained by the family to do something more personal with them. Rigorous procedures are always followed both by crematorium staff and ourselves ensuring that it is always the correct ashes that are returned to the client.
Every individual has their own beliefs and we can cater for all requirements irrespective of this. The funeral ceremony can be conducted by the deceased’s own parish minister, priest, or religious leader; or if this is not in keeping with the wishes of the deceased, it is possible for a non-religious ceremony either conducted by a friend or family member, or by a member of an organisation such as the Humanist Society of Scotland. No matter who is leading the ceremony, it is important that the person arranging the funeral meets with them before hand to discuss the format the ceremony will take. This may include music to be played, and this should also be discussed with the funeral director to ensure that adequate provision for this is made.
We operate a main fleet of Ford Hearse and matching Limousines. Each of these vehicles is finished in black with a luxurious air-conditioned leather interior. The hearse has ample space for displaying large floral tributes alongside the coffin, while each of the limousines can easily seat seven adults in comfort and is easily accessible by the disabled and wheelchair users. Each vehicle is driven by an experienced chauffeur who will ensure your comfort and needs are met on the day of the funeral.
It is possible for us to meet more unusual requests for vehicles including different coloured or types of vehicle, and even a horse drawn hearse – such requests usually require more time for planning and should be discussed with the funeral director as early as possible.
All of our vehicles are available for hire for weddings and other events when not required for funeral work.
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| Our Vehicles |
Our standard coffin range is shown below although we are able to cater for more unusual designs. Ranging from our standard veneered oak coffin to solid wood coffins and caskets, English or American style caskets, cardboard or “eco” coffins, the range is endless. Our funeral directors will be happy to discuss any more unusual ideas you may have. The interior of all our coffins are suitably lined and finished depending on the coffin chosen, and provided with a simple shroud for the deceased. If desirable, the deceased can be dressed in their own clothes – our funeral director can advise you on what is permitted.
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Rannoch In polished Golden Oak veneer, with raised lid, fully furnished for cremation. |
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Harris In polished Golden Oak veneer, with raised lid, fully furnished for burial. |
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Mull In Light Waxed Oak veneer, with raised lid, fully furnished for cremation. |
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Lomond In Light Waxed Oak veneer, with raised lid, fully furnished for burial. |
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Strangford |
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Spey In two tone high polished Oak veneer, with raised lid and oval paneled sides, fully furnished for burial or cremation. |
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Last Supper In polished Golden Oak veneer with raised lid, paneled sides and Last Supper motif, fully furnished for burial or cremation. |
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Kinnity In polished solid Maple, with raised lid and fluted sides, fully furnished for either burial or cremation. |
Many people choose to place a death notice and notice of the funeral arrangements into a local newspaper. We are happy to do this for you and our funeral directors can help you compose suitable wording for it. The cost of publishing a death notice can vary greatly between newspapers and the funeral director will be able to provide you with guidance on this.
To many people, providing a floral tribute is a very important part of the funeral although it should be remembered that it should not take priority over other aspects of the funeral ceremony itself. We work closely with a local florist and are happy to arrange your choice of floral tributes with her; alternatively you can meet with her personally or arrange with your own choice of florist for tributes to be delivered to us prior to the funeral. Please remember that in the case of cremation, we are restricted to the number and size of floral tributes that can be taken into the crematorium; the funeral director will be able to advise you on this.
Traditionally families invite mourners to join them after the funeral ceremony for a buffet or meal, and refreshments at a local hotel, pub, or private club. In the case of hotels and pubs we are happy to make arrangements for you, although when a bowling, golf, or other private club is the choice; it is often easier for the family to arrange themselves through their own contacts in the club. The funeral director will be happy to discuss possible venues with you and give you a guide as to their prices. In all cases it is advisable to book quickly once the funeral time is known as most venues tend to fill up quickly. In all cases we require that the account for catering is paid directly to the venue on the day.
