6 Myths About Funerals from Leighton Buzzard’s Dillamores.

Leighton Buzzard Lifestyle

6 Myths About Funerals from Leighton Buzzard’s Dillamores.

Funerals have been around for thousands of years and are rooted in tradition, but as
the times change, so are the ways we arrange funerals. This can lead of outdated
assumptions about funerals, or confusion about what a funeral should contain. In this
blog we’ve debunked some of the common myths surrounding funerals to help you
make informed decisions when planning a loved one’s funeral.

1. I have to call the funeral director as soon as possible

When someone dies at home, many people will call the funeral director straight away
to alert them of the death. The funeral director will usually arrange for the deceased
to be collected as they receive the phone call.

Whilst there is nothing wrong with this, one of the most common myths is that you
have to call a funeral director as soon as a person has died. The reality is that you
don’t have to inform your funeral director straight away. You can keep your loved one
at home with you for as long as you need, and there is no rush to have them
collected.

Taking this extra time at home with a loved one can be valuable for many families,
and when the time feels right and you are ready to make the call, your funeral
director will be there to support you.

2. The deceased will reside at the funeral home


Something that many families don’t consider is where the deceased will reside whilst
in a funeral director’s care. The assumption may be that your chosen funeral director
will have mortuary facilities on their premises to care for the deceased. Whilst this is
true for some funeral directors, this isn’t always the case.

Larger funeral director chains, or those with multiple locations, are much more likely
to house the deceased in out-of-town mortuary facilities or centralised mortuary
hubs. Whilst there is nothing to prevent companies doing this, it does remove the
personalised care and attention a person may receive in death.

If receiving personalised funeral care for your loved one is important, consider
choosing a smaller independent funeral director. Many independent funeral directors
have mortuary facilities on their premises and are able to provide a more
personalised service. For anyone keen to ensure their loved one stays close by, ask
your funeral director the important question of where their loved one will reside in the
lead-up to the funeral.

3. You have to have a funeral service

One of the biggest funeral myths is that you have to have a funeral service. In the
UK you are not legally obligated to hold a funeral service, but you are required to
bury or cremate the deceased. Many people still choose to hold a funeral service or
memorial service, but there is no law that says you have to.

In more recent years, direct cremations and burials have increased in popularity. A
direct funeral is a funeral without a service. This is where the deceased is taken
straight to the crematorium or burial site and there is no formal service.

Direct burials are always unattended, but at a direct cremation you have ‘attended’ or
‘unattended’ options. At an attended direct cremation, the crematorium will allow a
small number of people (usually up to 8) to visit your loved one, for up to ten
minutes, prior to the cremation taking place.

4. All funerals are expensive


This myth is a little more nuanced. Yes funerals can be expensive – with the cost of
funerals rising year-on-year, funerals can add additional financial strain to bereaved
families at an already difficult time. However, funerals don’t have to be expensive
and there are lots of ways to make them more affordable.

One of the main ways to reduce the cost of a funeral is by opting for a direct funeral.
Because there is no funeral service, you negate the need for many third party costs,
such as venues, officiant fees, funeral cars and flowers, so the costs are dramatically
reduced. They often work out as the most cost-effective funeral option, and are
increasing in popularity across the UK. They can take thousands of pounds of the
cost of a funeral.

If having a service is important, speak to your funeral director. There are often
options and choices you can make that reduce funeral costs, and your funeral
director should be able to advise you on the ways you can make a funeral service
more affordable.

5. Embalming the deceased is compulsory


The practice of embalming is used to preserve a person’s body and delay the natural
processes that occur after death. Embalming is a very common practice in the UK
and around the world, and one myth we often come across is that you have to get a
loved one embalmed. The reality is there is no law or regulation that enforces
embalming in the UK, and the decision is entirely down to you.

There are times when a funeral director may advise a family to consider embalming,
particularly if a family plans to visit their loved one or are wishing to have an open
coffin at the funeral, but there is no obligation to agree. In fact, there are times when
embalming is avoided entirely, such as at a green funeral or for religious or cultural
reasons. If you have questions about embalming then speak to your funeral director
– they should answer any questions you have with openness and honesty.

6. Funeral directors take control of all funeral arrangements

A good funeral director should be flexible in the way they work. Some families want
full support from their funeral director, whilst others opt to arrange the funeral
themselves. Your funeral director will be able to oversee a wide range of tasks, from
administrative and legal duties and paperwork through to organising the funeral and
service, securing burial plots and arranging memorials. The role as a funeral director
isn’t to take full control of everything, it’s to work alongside families and providing
support where it is needed.

If you are recently bereaved, or would like to find out more about how an
independent funeral director can support you, Dillamore Funeral Service can help.
Based on Old Road in Linslade, Dillamore is a family-owned funeral director with
more than 100 years’ experience in supporting the bereaved in Leighton Buzzard
and surrounding region. For more information visit:
www.dillamorefuneralservice.co.uk

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