Care of Your Loved One

Once we have brought your loved one into our care, you can be assured that we will treat them with care and respect as we would a member of our own family. They can remain in our Funeral Home and you may visit at any time or we can bring them home prior to the funeral.

When we arrange the funeral with you, we will normally ask your permission to carry out Hygienic Treatment. This is a simple process which helps to restore your loved one to a lifelike appearance and maintain their dignity until the time of the funeral.

It would be useful if you could supply us with a photograph of your loved one, and you may have them dressed in their own clothes in the coffin. Tina, our female assistant, will ensure that ladies are cared for in terms of dressing, hair and cosmetics. It is sometimes useful if you upply us with your loved one's own makeup.

If your loved one was wearing jewellery you may want this returned, or we can place certain items in the coffin provided they conform to cremation regulations.

Viewing Your Loved One in the Chapel of Rest

Some people find it beneficial to spend some time with their loved one prior to the funeral. You may feel you want time to say "Goodbye" or just to accept that it really has happened. Others choose not to visit but to remember them as they knew them in life. We are all different and you may need to decide how you feel about this.

Once we have informed you that your loved one is ready in our Chapel of Rest, you may come to view during office hours or at any time after by arrangement with us.

The office is normally open from 9am until 5pm weekdays. We do not have set times for viewing during the evening, but we would appreciate one hour's prior notice to ensure we have the staff available for your visit. We have Chapels of Rest in Ushaw Moor and Langley Moor.

Alternatively, you may wish to spend some time just sitting beside your loved one with the coffin closed. This is no problem.

Flowers and Donations

 

We will offer to supply the floral tributes for you or you may wish to use your own florist. Many people now request donations in lieu of flowers to a charity. Either is acceptable but you may wish to have some family flowers on the coffin. These may be sent to our premises prior to the funeral or delivered to the house.

After the funeral they will either lie at the crematorium or on the grave. If you wish to donate the flowers to a hospice or hospital we can deliver them for you or you may wish to place them on a grave prior to burial of cremated remains. We can also list the names of those who have sent flowers and return the cards to you.

Donations may be collected at the church, although we may need to check if the church allows this or takes a percentage for church funds. Alternatively they may be sent direct to us or given at the crematorium. We usually include a notification in the newspaper if you wish to have donations in lieu of flowers.