Things to know if you're planning a funeral

Staff at A. Wass Funeral Directors have a wealth of experience and can help families plan a funeral with empathy and compassion

Following a death, a great deal of organising and planning has to take place, and A. Wass Funeral Directors is there to be of service to families at such a sad and difficult time. As in previous years, hundreds of families are likely to choose A. Wass in the coming year to take care of their loved one and make arrangements for their funeral.

The company gives help, guidance and advice to navigate what can be a very confusing time between a death and a funeral. From the moment a first call is received, the company is on hand to answer questions, based on its many years of experience.

Until a death is registered the funeral cannot take place, so this is a priority. In most cases, a death should be registered in the district in which it occurred within five days.

If the death is sudden or unexplained, the Coroner is likely to become involved, in which case registration may be delayed, but the Coroner may issue an interim death certificate and authorise the funeral to proceed. Most registrars offer the Tell Us Once service on behalf of the DWP; this allows families to inform central and local government services of the death at one time and other documents issued to the family at the time of registration will also allow them to attend to other matters arising from the deceased’s estate.

With the correct documentation completed, dates and times for the funeral can be confirmed and one of the funeral directors at A. Wass will discuss each element of the arrangement. Decisions about the type of funeral service, choice of coffin, transport, flowers and music are among many important factors in being able to give a loved one a meaningful and appropriate farewell. All of A. Wass’s funeral directors are well-informed with current information and qualified to guide people through the decision-making process with patience and empathy.

At the earliest opportunity, A. Wass takes the person who has died into its care. They are washed and dressed according to instructions and families may wish to visit their loved one in one of A. Wass’s chapels of rest. Arrangements may also be made for them to rest at home or at a place of worship.

Each funeral is unique and A. Wass responds to the wishes, beliefs and values of the person who has died and those closest to them. Although many of the formalities are the same in each instance, everyone at A. Wass appreciates how confusing the process can be; families are therefore encouraged to ask questions, however small or trivial they may seem. That way they can feel confident their loved one will receive the perfect farewell with this respected and reputable funeral directing business.

To find out more about the services A. Wass Funeral Directors offers, visit the website.