Chelmsford Star Co-operative Funeral Services

How to arrange a Funeral
Registering the Death
Burial or Cremation
Woodland Burial
Simply Different
Power of Eulogy
Funeral Rites
Funeral Music
A Living Memorial
The Funeral

The Funeral

There is no set procedure for a funeral but traditionally the funeral procession starts at the deceased house. The hearse and any limousines or mourners cars will follow the cortege to the place where the funeral service is being held.

Unless otherwise instructed by the family, our Funeral Conductor will ‘Walk’ the cortege when leaving the house and again just before reaching the place of service.

Sometimes the hearse goes straight from our funeral premises to the service and the family and mourners meet there.

Upon arriving at the place of service, the Funeral Conductor will ask if any family members or friends of the deceased wish to bear the coffin. The family usually then follows the coffin and sits at the front. If it’s a burial, the coffin will be taken to the grave and lowered into the grave while a short service is held.

If it’s a cremation, the coffin will be taken into the Crematorium and placed on the catafalque where the Funeral Conductor and Bearers will bow their heads thus paying their own last respect to the deceased.

At the conclusion of the service, music will usually play and traditionally the coffin disappears from view, unless the family has requested that it remains on view until after they have left. At this point, the Funeral Conductor will lead the family and mourners from the service and show them where the flowers have been laid.

Before departing the Crematorium, the Funeral Conductor will collect the floral cards and present them to the principle mourner. Alternatively, the floral cards can remain with the tributes. The Funeral Conductor will also ask the family if they wish to take any of the floral tributes home.

The majority of people return to the family home after the funeral. Once the mourners have been seen into the house, the Funeral Conductor will then take his or her leave, unless he or she has already done this at the place of committal.

For more information, guidance and advice please contact our caring and professional team on Freephone 0800 028 4808 or E-mail us on funerals@chelmsfordstar.coop

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funerals@chelmsfordstar.coop