When arranging a funeral, there are many decisions for a family to make. Where should the service take place? Who should lead it? What music, readings or flowers would be appropriate? And, of course, when should the funeral be held?
Choosing a funeral date might sound relatively straightforward. You may assume it is simply a matter of finding an available time at the crematorium, church or cemetery. In reality, the availability and resources of your chosen funeral director can have an important part to play too.
At Forsey and Son and Trotman Funeral Directors, we believe that wherever possible, funeral arrangements should work around the family – rather than the family having to work around us.
What affects the date and time of a funeral?
There will always be some practical limitations when arranging a funeral date.
Crematoria, churches and cemeteries have their own availability. A particular minister, celebrant or other officiant may already have commitments. Family members may need to travel, and sometimes there are circumstances outside anyone’s control.
However, the funeral director also needs to have the people, vehicles and other resources available to carry out the funeral.
For a very small funeral business, one Funeral Director may be responsible for almost everything. If that person is already conducting another funeral, is on holiday or is unwell, the dates available to a family can understandably become more restricted.
Different challenges can arise within organisations covering very large geographical areas, where Funeral Directors, vehicles and other resources may be shared across numerous locations.
Neither approach is inherently wrong, but it illustrates why the way a funeral director operates behind the scenes can make a surprisingly significant difference when arranging a funeral.
Greater flexibility when choosing a funeral date
Across Forsey and Son and Trotman, we currently have seven people who can act as Funeral Director.
Although we have different offices, we don’t operate them as completely separate businesses. Our team works together across our locations, giving us considerably more flexibility when arranging funerals.
If one Funeral Director already has a funeral at a particular time, that does not necessarily mean another funeral cannot take place. Similarly, holidays or an unexpected absence don’t have to bring everything to a halt.
That depth within the team gives us greater scope to accommodate a funeral date and time that works for the family, alongside the availability of the crematorium, church, cemetery or other venue involved.
Our team also includes both male and female Funeral Directors. We normally allocate the next available Funeral Director, but if a family has a particular preference, we will always do our best to accommodate it.
The person you meet is the person who looks after you
Having a larger team could potentially create the opposite problem: families being passed from one person to another.
That isn’t how we want to work.
Wherever possible, the Funeral Director who meets you to arrange the funeral will remain your Funeral Director throughout the arrangements and will be there to conduct the funeral on the day.
We think there is real value in that continuity.
By the time the funeral takes place, your Funeral Director will know you, your family and something of the person whose funeral they are conducting. They will understand the choices you have made and the reasons behind them.
Of course, there will occasionally be circumstances – illness, holidays or an unforeseen event, for example – when another member of our team needs to step in. One of the advantages of having seven Funeral Directors is that we have experienced colleagues available when that happens.
Our aim, however, remains simple: the person who meets you at the beginning should, wherever possible, be the person standing alongside you on the day of the funeral.
A funeral fleet that gives families greater choice
People are only one part of the equation.
Our funeral fleet includes three hearses and two limousines. This means we are not dependent upon a single hearse being back at the funeral home before another funeral can take place.
Alongside our wider team of bearers, removal staff, administrators and other colleagues, this gives us the resources to conduct more than one funeral at the same time when required.
That might sound like a relatively unimportant behind-the-scenes detail. For a family trying to find a funeral date that allows children to travel home, accommodates elderly relatives or works with the availability of a church or minister, it can make a considerable difference.
It is ultimately about having sufficient people and resources available so that, wherever reasonably possible, the funeral can be arranged around the needs of the family.
Another option: The Pavilion at Willowfields
Flexibility isn’t limited to choosing a funeral date.
At Willowfields in Glastonbury, we also have our own service venue, The Pavilion, which provides another option for families considering where to hold a funeral.
Some families choose a traditional church service. Others prefer a crematorium chapel or another venue. The Pavilion provides an alternative for those who would like a more intimate service in a funeral home setting, with the facilities needed for music, readings, tributes and other personal touches.
Having our own venue gives us another way of helping families create a funeral that suits them, rather than assuming every funeral needs to follow the same format.
How much choice do you have when arranging a funeral?
No funeral director can responsibly promise that every date, time, venue or individual Funeral Director will always be available.
There are simply too many people and organisations involved in arranging a funeral for that to be possible.
But it is entirely reasonable for a family to ask what choices are available rather than feeling that a funeral date and time have simply been decided for them.
At Forsey and Son and Trotman, we want to make sure that our own resources don’t unnecessarily restrict those choices.
That is why we have invested in our team, our fleet, our premises and our facilities. Having seven Funeral Directors, three hearses, two limousines, colleagues working together across our different offices and our own service venue gives us resilience – but, more importantly, it gives the families we look after greater choice.
When somebody dies, there are inevitably things that a family cannot control.
We don’t think the availability of their funeral director should unnecessarily be one of them.
Talk to us about arranging a funeral
If you need to arrange a funeral, our team at Forsey and Son and Trotman Funeral Directors can talk you through the different options available and help find a date, time and type of service that works for your family.
Our offices are open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, and our telephones are answered 24 hours a day. You are welcome to contact your local office to speak to one of our team.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose the date and time of a funeral?
Yes, families will normally be involved in choosing the funeral date and time. Availability will depend on factors such as the crematorium, church or cemetery, the person leading the service and the funeral director’s resources. We will always try to find a date and time that works for the family rather than unnecessarily limiting the options available.
How soon after someone dies can a funeral take place?
There is no single answer, as every funeral is different. The timing can depend on factors including the necessary paperwork, whether a burial or cremation is taking place, venue availability and the family’s own wishes. Your Funeral Director can explain what is possible and help you choose an appropriate date without feeling rushed into making a decision.
Will the person who arranges the funeral also conduct it?
At Forsey and Son and Trotman Funeral Directors, that is what we aim for. Wherever possible, the Funeral Director who meets you and helps arrange the funeral will continue looking after you and conduct the funeral on the day. Occasionally, illness, holidays or other unforeseen circumstances may mean a colleague needs to step in, but continuity of care is an important part of how we work.
