It can be very difficult and stressful choosing a funeral director, especially as you are also dealing with the loss of a loved one. Decisions need to be made quite quickly as to who will direct the funeral and on top of the feeling of loss, it does not make the process straight forward. It seems commonplace that these decisions are generally made after the loss of a loved one, although there are a few people that choose to remove the burden of funeral planning from their family by pre-planning their own service, burial or cremation.
If you find yourself in the sad situation where you lose a loved one and have to take control and find a funeral director to assist you throughout the process, here are some tips to help you find the right one. However, you may also wish to pre-plan arrangements for yourself, in which case these tips will also help you.
Help from Your Friends – In times of grief it is essential for you to rely on friends and family, those that can be on hand to help and support you. Therefore, one of the easiest ways to find the right funeral director for you is to ask those around you for recommendations. Unfortunately, the very nature of life means that many will have suffered a loss through the death of a friend or family member and they may have been involved in their funeral arrangements. If you feel it is appropriate and you are comfortable in asking those around you to make recommendations, this would be one of the easiest ways to ensure that you make a good choice.
Make Comparisons – Whether you have taken a recommendation or searched through local directories to find local funeral directors, it is worth contacting more than one. This is because you can make comparisons as they don’t all charge the same prices for their services. You can establish which provides the best value and will be able to deliver what you want in the planning and funeral service.
Accreditation – Check to see if your prospective funeral directors are member of the NAFD (National Association of Funeral Directors). To become and maintain membership of this association, funeral directors have to adhere to strict guidelines and abide by their Code of Practice. For peace of mind during a very sad time, this is essential to ensure that you are providing your loved one with a respectful funeral, allowing you to say those final goodbyes.
Timing – You can contact a funeral director at any time. Many people assume that you can only contact them once you have a death certificate, but this is not the case. Therefore, the sooner you contact them after the death of your loved one, the less stress is placed on your shoulders, because there’s more time to make all of the necessary arrangements. It gives you more time to make decisions and you have their support and guidance earlier in the process. The funeral directors can explain processes, provide you with contacts for arrangements or take all of this out of your hands and take away some of the responsibilities from you.
For four generations, there’s a family firm of independent funeral directors serving Okehampton and the surrounding areas. Drew & Sons offer a very personal service and have been entrusted in making funeral arrangements within the area for generations.
