When someone dies - first steps - Berriedale Funeral Home : Berriedale Funeral Home

There is no right or wrong time to talk

If someone close to you has died, or is dying, please don’t feel you have to wait to call us. Arrangements can be made before – and also immediately after – death and finalised later. We are here to offer guidance and take away worry or doubt at any point. It’s never too early to talk.

Planning a funeral can take time. To help you and your family approach the many decisions needed to arrange a funeral, we’ve put together this simple guide for funerals. Your funeral director, and the wider resource behind the scenes, are here to support you throughout.

What do do

Step 1

What Happens First?

Agreeing when to bring your loved one into our care, which will require your authorisation. Registration will also be an early consideration

Step 2

Once in our care

It’s at this stage we can agree if embalming is required which will need your authorisation. We can arrange to collect clothing or personal effects and discuss viewing arrangements.

Step 3

Saying goodbye

This is your time. You can take as long as you like and over as many days as you need. Viewings are private where your loved one will be dressed and laid out in their coffin. Mementos such as photographs, letters, personal effects or favourite items can also be left. It’s important you and your family have this time for farewells.

Step 4

Type of Funeral

Respecting current restrictions, we will guide you to the right decision, influenced by your choice of:

Burial or cremation
New or existing grave
Location: church, cemetery, woodland burial site which may depend on availability of space
Tone of funeral eg. upbeat, themed, or no-fuss
Style of funeral eg. traditional or contemporary
Personalisation
Faith or non-faith
Choice of coffin or ashes storage

Step 5

The Service

Officiant and other contributors
Live streaming or recording
Music
Flowers
Family transport and routes
Order of Service sheets and digital presentations
Notifying people
Donations
Wake or celebration
Memorials and headstones
Final resting place for ashes
Special requests

Once decisions are made, we’ll give you a written estimate. On approval a deposit is taken and the balance will be invoiced after the funeral. A full list of our funeral fees and typical third party costs is available here

Step 6

Registration

The medical authorities will send an electronic death certificate to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages who will then contact you for further information including:

Full name, gender, date and country of birth
Occupation: current or previous
Address and postcode
Parental names and occupations
Marital status with partner(s) name, date of birth and occupation

Funeral arrangements can begin before a death is registered but the funeral will only go ahead once this is complete.

When someone dies – first steps