Arranging a Funeral

Arranging a Funeral

At Staunton Funeral Service, we have generations of experience in organising funerals, allowing us to provide the necessary guidance and support for families. Whether the service is intimate and simple or more elaborate, we are here to help.

Every funeral is unique, and whether it follows a religious or non-religious format, families want to create a meaningful tribute that reflects the life of their loved one.

Your Funeral Arranger will assist with every detail of the planning process, including arranging a celebrant, selecting music, and composing newspaper notices. Our goal is to ensure the funeral is personal, respectful, and suited to your family's wishes.

The First Steps

Families are welcome to meet with us at our premises, but if you prefer, we can visit you at home or complete all the necessary paperwork electronically.

During our discussions, your Funeral Arranger will review any decisions that have already been made—whether by the family or the deceased themselves. We will also guide you through aspects you may not have considered, offering options, alternatives, and expert advice.

Some decisions may require more time or input from other family members, which is completely normal. Your Funeral Arranger will keep track of these and let you know the timeline for finalising each choice.

We will also provide important information about legal requirements, such as registering the death, as well as any other relevant procedures, including Coroner’s involvement or grave ownership transfers.

In addition to planning the funeral service itself, we offer a range of additional services for bespoke funerals, such as handling donations, providing Order of Service sheets, arranging floral tributes, and even organising unique touches like a dove release.

Your Funeral Arranger will walk you through all available options, provide an estimate of costs, and discuss payment arrangements. We will then coordinate with local authorities, places of worship, and officiants as needed.

Choosing an Officiant

If the funeral is held in a place of worship, such as a local parish church, a minister or elder from that church will typically conduct the service.

For services held at other venues, such as a crematorium or cemetery chapel, there are more officiant options available. Your Funeral Arranger will help you choose the right type of service, whether it’s a traditional Church of England ceremony or a non-religious gathering. If the family already has a preferred officiant, we will reach out to confirm their availability before making further arrangements.

We have extensive experience in organising funerals across different faiths, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism.

For those who wish to have a Christian service, we can contact the Church of England minister from the deceased’s parish or a retired or independent minister from the local area.

If you prefer a service with lighter religious content, we can arrange for a celebrant to conduct a respectful and meaningful ceremony tailored to your wishes.

For a completely secular service, we can enlist a civil celebrant or a humanist. However, it’s worth noting that some humanists do not include religious elements such as hymns or prayers, so you may wish to consider this when making your choice.

White Dove Release

At funeral and memorial services, a dove release is a peaceful and healing tribute. A beautiful way of expressing a final goodbye, of letting go. The releasing of doves offers a feeling of peace and calmness, helping bring closure to family members of a lost loved one. A beautiful white dove release is an exceptionally powerful way to say your final goodbye.

Single Dove Release

How wonderful to remember your loved one and see a single pure white dove fly into the heavens symbolising the departed loved ones spirit. A family member can release the dove and let it fly free from their hands rising high into the sky to begin the final journey home.

Two Doves Release

A pair of white dove is symbolic of the joining of two souls. Perhaps your loved one is joining another who has departed. On the occasion that you might be putting to rest your second parent, a two dove release if offered, to symbolise them being together once and for all time.

Holy Trinity Release

Three white doves are released to ascend into the sky and circle the area. Then moments later, a single white dove is released by a family member representing your loved ones spirit. Once released, the single dove joins the flock of doves which represents The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit and is lovingly guided on the final journey home.

Horse Drawn Funeral Services

The final journey can be an emotional and poignant part of a funeral service and often families look to personalise this by selecting a vehicle to reflect the life and passions of their loved one. A cortège led by a horse drawn hearse created an air of opulence, along with traditional style and elegance. Madgwick Carriage Masters can provide a selection of stunning horses and all can be adorned with a variety of coloured plumes and drapes.

07717 482380
madghorse@yahoo.co.uk
www.madgwickcarriagemasters.co.uk/

Funeral Music

Music is a powerful way to personalise a funeral, and we can help arrange special pieces that reflect your loved one’s life and preferences.

Most crematoria are equipped with digital sound systems and can access a wide range of music, including popular, classical, and religious selections. However, local crematoria no longer accept CDs.

If you request a less common piece of music, we will need as much notice as possible to ensure it is available. In the absence of specific selections, the music played at a church or crematorium will typically be chosen by the organist or the crematorium staff.