Caledonia Funeral Aid

For many people, the choice between burial or cremation is a deeply personal one, with strong views held either way. The person who has died may have expressed their wishes and in some cases the family do not share the same views

For others there is more uncertainty and doubt about what the deceased may have wanted. There may also be a financial consideration. If this is something that concerns you, please read here for more information or call us to find out more.

It is important to know that you do not have to engage a funeral director if you do not want to. However, trying to organise a funeral without one requires some careful planning and help from family and friends.

For most people. a funeral director is still the easiest option as they will take the lion’s share of the organisation. They will also do all the mortuary work and paperwork required. Funeral directors do vary. so it is always worth spending time to find the right funeral director to ensure that you are happy with the service offered and the prices quoted.

For more information click here or call us to find out more.

For some families, having mourners at the time of the funeral is vitally important to have a meaningful end to a life. Ceremonies can be for just a handful of close family and friends or can include several hundred guests.

However, recently there is a growing trend to hold a direct funeral, usually a cremation, with no attendance by family or friends at the time of the service. This may be the right choice because of financial considerations or simply because you want to arrange a more bespoke gathering some other time in a different location.

Other reasons for direct cremation include geographical distance, dislike of formality and broken relationships.

For further information please click here

NB: If you require a celebrant for the funeral or celebration of life or memorial, but are worried about the cost, we can help.
We have partnered with The Fuze Foundation, who will provide celebrant services at no cost to those experiencing financial hardship or terminal illness.

If you choose to have a service at the time of the cremation or burial, then you may need to consider where this should be held. There may well be choices of crematoria or burial ground in your area or you may choose to keep the location close to where the deceased lived so that friends and neighbours can attend.
If you would like to chat things through, then please give us a call for impartial advice.

Funeral services come in many different formats, from a traditional, religious service, to a less formal celebration of life. There are no rules about what the service should look like so, if it’s right for you and your family, be as creative and bespoke as you like.

For more information, please click here or give us a call to discuss your ideas

If you require a celebrant for the funeral or celebration of life or memorial, but are worried about the cost, we can help.
We have partnered with The Fuze Foundation, who will provide celebrant services at no cost to those experiencing financial hardship or terminal illness.

It is usual for the deceased to travel to the service in a hearse. However, this is not a legal requirement, and you may choose to transport the coffin in a different vehicle if this feels more appropriate for you and your family. Equally, do not feel obligated to hire limousines from the funeral director unless you really want them, as this can add considerably to the final bill.

If you would like some guidance about this, please do give us a call.

There are a wide variety of coffins on the market, and funeral directors will typically have a range of options and prices to choose from. Do not feel pressured or obligated to spend money you may not have on a solid oak coffin which will be seen very briefly before being cremated. These days there are also more eco-friendly alternatives to traditional coffins, such as plain wood, cardboard, willow, bamboo, banana leaf, shrouds or even wool.

It is perfectly possible to purchase your own coffin, but there are some considerations to think about before taking this option. Most suppliers will only deal directly with trade, and cheap coffins ordered directly from the internet can be hopelessly inadequate. It is also important that you order the correct size.

Please note that, for cremation, the coffin must be acceptable material for the crematorium.

A good place to start your search is via The Natural Death Centre.

Funeral directors and florists have a wide variety of floral tributes for sale at a range of prices. However, flowers are expensive and can be seen as a waste if simply left behind at a crematorium. If costs are a consideration or you would like something more personal, why not consider picking flowers from your garden or decorating a small tree branch instead.
Some people prefer mourners to donate to a charity instead – it is entirely up to you. 

If you want some ideas, please give us a call.

Many people choose to have a charitable collection at the funeral service or wake. This can be instead of flowers or because the family has a close connection with one or more charity.

The funeral director can help you manage the donation if you wish.

We created a video guide on how to create a fundraising page in memory of the deceased, which you can view here.

Most funerals have some kind of service, at a religious site, the crematorium or at the graveside. Even if you are having a direct or unattended funeral, you might like to have a gathering of people elsewhere at which to commemorate the one who has died. There are no rules about what the service should look like. Most traditional services have music often provided by the crematorium, a eulogy read by the celebrant, minister/priest or a family member, and some form of poems or readings.

For further information please see the section on funeral services here or give us a call to discuss your ideas.

When holding a funeral service, it is traditional to have order of service sheets or cards for the mourners to look at. These are by no means compulsory and if money is short, then this is one item you can either produce yourself or can do away with all together.

Your vicar or celebrant will keep the service together without an expensive set of cards. If you do decide to have service cards, your funeral director will be able to help you and will advise about content and photos.
These days it is also possible to live stream the funeral service, with most crematoria having recording equipment as standard for an additional fee. This can be very valuable if mourners are unable to travel or live abroad. Your funeral director and local crematorium will be able to advice you.

You may want to put a death notice in a newspaper to let people know about the time and location of any funeral arrangements. Funeral directors can help you with this, or most newspapers have an online facility to place your own announcement that is easy to use.

Alternatively, more people are turning to social media to make announcements, manage any information and collect memories. It is worth noting that Facebook and Twitter both have a place within the personal profile settings where a named person can be added, this person will then be able to access and manage your profile after death.

If you have chosen a cremation, you will need to think about ashes and what you would like to do with them. You may wish to have them interred at a crematorium or cemetery and have a grave marker added, or you may wish to keep them at home or scatter them somewhere in nature. Please ask the landowner’s permission if you wish to scatter on private property.

Memorials vary in shape and size and can be simply a modest plaque on the ground or a full size headstone with a curb around the plot. Please note that aside from the costs of the stone and inscription, there will also be a fee for a permit and various regulations to adhere to depending on the burial site. Woodland burial grounds will often allow the planting of a tree or vegetation on a grave, so do think of this before you decide on the final resting place.

Please note, not all cemeteries will allow a curb around the plot – since this affects grass cutting so be sure to check before proceeding

There are many personal touches you can add if you so wish. So it is good to take some time, maybe with the help of others, to ensure you have thought about everything and planned a fitting funeral/service for your relative or friend.

Remember we are here to support you.