Are you going to die?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but....

...you ARE going to die. And so is everyone else.

Hopefully not imminently, but it is one of the only certainties in life. You can't avoid it, but you CAN plan for it. As an independent celebrant, it is always upsetting for families when the time comes to be asked "what did they want/believe in?" and the answer is that you don't know, because it was never discussed. I will work with families to create a ceremony for someone, but it is much easier for everyone if we know what they wanted.

At the time of someone's death, there are a number of legal things to be dealt with, such as registering the death, dealing with banks and insurance companies, probate issues etc. and most people find they are too upset to want to be faced with choices about coffins, flowers, readings and so on. Most of us, will (hopefully) only be involved with organising one or two funerals in our lives, and it is one of the hardest parts of a funeral director's job to ask grieving relatives to make these choices without being seen to be 'selling' anything and so most funeral directors opt for a fairly basic and standard solution, unless any specific wishes have been left.

However, any Funeral director can, and will, help you to fulfil the wishes of your loved ones, or to help your family give you the kind of funeral you want.

All too often I hear people say that they didn't really know what to do, or what a loved one wanted, and this only adds to the distress at the time, and regrets in the future, so I would urge you to have 'the discussion' with your relatives, (or those you care about), or even just leave your wishes with your will.

I have a template form I can let you have, please contact me through this site or by email - funerals@authenticspirit.co.uk

I will be glad to let anyone working in 'end of life' jobs (such as will writers, solicitors and even funeral directors have a copy for their own use, completely free of charge).