Helpful Information
Preparing for the Future
Are you prepared?
It’s always hard to discuss your wishes with family members about the future when it comes to funeral planning. It’s a question our families and friends like to avoid. When it comes to arranging a funeral by a family member or friend, to have simple instructions really helps for you to have the type of service you really want to, also takes the burden away from them making the right decisions for you.
Please see below a list of questions that you will be able to print off and complete at your convenience to help your family and friends prepare for the future.
- Are your wishes for a Burial or Cremation?
- Would you like a Service in a Church or Chapel before the Burial or Cremation?
- If so which Church or Chapel?
- Where would be your chosen place for Cremation or Burial?
- What type of officiant would you like to take the service?
- Would you like a standard Hearse and Limousine’s for the service or something a little more you? (Please see our Alternative Funeral Vehicle Section)
- Would you prefer Flowers or Donations in your memory?
- Which Charity would you like Donations to be made to in your memory?
- Do you have any thoughts on where you would like your ashes placed?
- Would you like a newspaper announcement, order of service or visual tribute arranged?
- Would you like a traditional coffin or a natural coffin?
- What Hymns and Music would you like song or played at your service?
Questions to Think About
Please see below a list of questions that you will be able to print off and complete at your convenience to help you prepare for the future.
- Are we thinking of a Burial or Cremation?
- Are we wanting a service at a Church, Chapel or Barn before a Burial or Cremation?
- Do we require transportation for family members?
- Would we like the transportation to be something different i.e Horse Drawn Hearse, Motor Cycle Hearse, VW Camper Van etc?
- Where would you like the transportation to start from?
- What type of person would you like to take the service i.e Minister, Celebrant or Humanist?
- Would you prefer a Male or Female to take the service?
- Would you prefer Flowers or Donations?
- Which Charity would you like the Donations to go to?
- If we are having a Cremation, any thoughts on what you would like to do with your loved ones ashes?
- Are we thinking of a traditional coffin or something a little different i.e Wicker, Willow, Bamboo, Seagrass etc?
- Would you like to visit your loved one in a chapel of rest?
- Is there any particular clothes you would like your loved one to be dressed in?
- Any favourite type of music or hymns you would like to listen or sing to, or maybe a visual tribute to watch during the service?
- Would an Order of Service be something you might want for the funeral?
Support Groups in West Sussex
None of us are the same when it comes to our approach in dealing with grief. Grief has many different stages and we all deal with each stage in our own unique way. Each stage of grief will take as long as it takes for us to process and that’s down to us and how we process it. Talking to someone about how you are feeling really will help and this could be a family member, friend, minister, support group or a counsellor.
With this in mind we have listed some support groups below which are available in West Sussex to help you with the process of grief.
- Cruse Bereavement Care (West Sussex). Tel: 0808 808167
- Winston’s Wish- offering support to those supporting bereaved children. Tel: 0808 802021
- Child Bereavement U.K- provide support to bereaved children, families and those supporting them. Tel: 0800 0288840
- Sudden- Offer support when someone has died suddenly. Tel: 0800 2600400
- Hospice UK’s Just B- Counselling and trauma helpline. Tel: 0300 3034434
- Samaritans- Tel: 116 123
- Priory (Bereavement Counselling and Support on the South Coast of England). Tel: 0808 3022708
- Child line- Tel: 08001111