The Role Of The Funeral Director

The funeral director plays a pivotal role in helping bereaved families to deal with the many different aspects of a stressful and difficult life event.  Here's how your funeral director can help you through this challenging time.

Prior to the funeral

The funeral director will arrange to bring the deceased to the funeral home, or will assist and advise you if you prefer for them to remain with you prior to the funeral.  If your loved one has been taken to the funeral home and you wish to see them at rest, the funeral director will organise this for you.

At a time of grief, the last thing you want to worry about is paperwork.  The funeral director will sort out all the requisite legal documentation, and will place death notices online and in the newspapers if appropriate.

Funerals can be very expensive.  The funeral director will sympathetically discuss arrangements with you, including offering coffins to suit your personal tastes and budget.

The funeral service

A funeral is a very personal occasion for those who have been bereaved; it's a last chance to say goodbye to their relative or friend, so it's very important that the arrangements are as required.  The funeral director will make sure that your wishes are carried out, and will offer advice as to the different options available to you.

Arrangements might include special tributes, musical requests, catering after the funeral, vehicles used in the cortege, and the compilation and production of the Order of Service cards.  If floral tributes are requested, the funeral director will arrange for them to be delivered to the funeral home before the funeral, and transported to the church or crematorium with the deceased.  If you decide to nominate a charity instead of having flowers, the funeral director will accept donations on your behalf, and will deal with forwarding them to the charity's offices.

After the funeral

You may choose to have the deceased cremated or buried.  The funeral director will help you to arrange this, and will also assist you in making arrangements for the ashes to be scattered or even preserved in a special casket if you prefer. 

If the deceased or their remains require repatriation or relocation, the funeral director will arrange this for you.

Support and guidance

As well as the practicalities of arranging a funeral and dealing with the logistics and paperwork, your funeral director is there to support and guide you while you and your relatives are in good health.

You may wish to discuss arranging a pre-paid funeral plan to cover the cost of your own funeral.  Even though you may plan to be around for many more years, it can make it easier for your relatives when the time comes if you have already discussed and agreed on arrangements for your own funeral with the funeral director.  Everything you discuss will be documented and kept safe until such time as it's needed, so you can rest assured that your funeral is something that your family will not have to worry about arranging when the time comes.

In conclusion

The role of the funeral director cannot be understated.  Although no-one likes to think about death in the midst of a busy and happy life, you might want to consider having a chat with your local funeral director about arrangements for the future. For more information, contact a local funeral home like Fry Bros Funerals.