How can I stop unwanted mail addressed to the deceased? 

More than five hundred thousand people die in the UK annually – around fourteen hundred a day – and in excess of eighty pieces of direct mail are sent to them in the year after their death, causing untold suffering and anger to relatives

Companies who send out direct mail have a moral and social responsibility to check their mailing lists, but many fail to do so. 

Rosedale is encouraging the relatives of anyone who has died to register with The Bereavement Register to help reduce the amount of direct mail that continues to be sent after their death.  This is especially useful at a time when so-called ‘impersonation of the dead’ – where individuals take on the identity of the deceased in order to gain illegal access to loans and credit cards – is now recognised as the fastest growing identity fraud in the UK.

The Bereavement Register enables companies to cross reference lists and stop mailing deceased individuals, they can also place flags on internal records to reduce the chances of criminals being able to open accounts or order goods in the deceased person’s name.  If you would like to speak to a funeral director or to receive an information leaflet about The Bereavement Register, please pop into Rosedale Funeral Home or give us a call.

What happens at the crematorium?

At the conclusion of the funeral service, the coffin will either descend from sight or will be concealed by a curtain closing, depending on which crematorium you are using. The funeral director will show you out of the chapel where you will then have the opportunity to chat with relatives and friends and view the floral tributes, before going home or to a venue for refreshments.

There are many myths surrounding cremation and if you are worried about any aspect, please discuss your concerns with us.  The coffin does not enter the cremator straight away but usually within about half an hour of the service.  Each cremation is carried out individually and according to a strict Code of Cremation Conduct.  The fear that you may not get the right ashes is unfounded, thorough procedures mean that cremated remains are always kept separately and can always be identified. 

How much does a funeral cost?

All funerals are different and so this question is difficult to answer without knowing the kind of funeral you would like.  When you discuss the funeral arrangements with us we will give you guide prices for our services and coffins. 

For those for whom cost is an important factor, we offer a simple funeral package which is currently priced at £995 (excluding disbursements.)   In addition to our charges, to make things easier for you, we pay the disbursements on your behalf. 

Disbursements are the fees for the minister, crematorium, newspaper notice, florist etc.  Following the funeral arrangement you will be given a written estimate of the costs.  Please let us know if you are intending to apply to the Social Fund for help with the funeral costs.

What do I need to do when someone dies?

If someone has died at home, then you will need to contact the family Doctor and the Funeral Director.

In normal circumstances the family doctor will issue a Medical Certificate of Death, which you will need to take to the Registrar.

If the cause of death is uncertain or the death was sudden, then the Doctor will probably report the death to the Coroner. (See when would the Coroner become involved?

If someone has died in a hospital or a residential home, those in charge will contact a doctor and inform you when and from where the Death Certificate will be available.

What happens when we phone the Funeral Director?

When you phone us initially you will be asked a few simple questions to help us guide you from the outset. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to ask. What may seem daunting to you is probably something that we deal with on a regular basis.

We never make assumptions about any situation, and if someone has died at home we would ask whether you require them to be moved to our chapel immediately or whether you would prefer to have some time at home.

When we call to take the deceased into our care and move them to our Chapel of rest, we appreciate that this can be an extremely difficult time for the family. Please be assured that we take great care at this stage and are sensitive to each individual situation.

At this point, we would also guide you through the early procedures, and would usually make an appointment to meet with you so that we can discuss the funeral arrangements.

How do I register the death?

All deaths have to be registered by the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths. Unless the Coroner is involved, registration should take place within 5 days. We will let you know which registrar you need to visit and if necessary, make an appointment for you. If you have any difficulties with transport or you would prefer not to go alone, please let us know and we can take you in our courtesy car.

The Registrar will ask you for certain information and it may be helpful for you to jot this down before you go:-

- The deceased’s date of birth and place of birth
- Their full name
- Their occupation or former occupation
- If applicable, their maiden name
- The name and date of birth of a surviving spouse

The registrar will give you a form for you to send to the DSS with any pension or allowance books. You may also be given a Green certificate that you will need to pass to us to enable the funeral to proceed.

You will be given the opportunity to purchase copies of the Death certificate for a small charge and we do advise that you do this, as you will need copies for banks, insurance companies etc.

When would the Coroner become involved?

If a death occurs suddenly or under suspicious circumstances the Coroner may become involved. Usually a post mortem examination will be carried out on the deceased to establish the cause of death.

The Coroner will then issue a certificate to allow the registration of the death in the usual way, or in some circumstances he may order an inquest.

At all times we would keep in touch with the Coroner and keep you informed as to when you will be able to register the death.

What should we do with the ashes?

Today more than 70% of funeral services are followed by a cremation, and one of the most frequently asked questions is “What should we do with the ashes?”

Often families are unsure as to what the options are and can find it difficult to agree or indeed to bring themselves to carry out this final act.  If you wish to have the ashes close to you, it is perfectly acceptable to keep them with you at home for as long as you desire.

Traditionally, cremated remains were either scattered at the crematorium, or they were brought back to the local cemetery or churchyard and interred there.

There are however, many other options and requests at Rosedale have included dispersal at sea, dividing the ashes up for family members or scattering them at Colney Wood amongst the bluebells.   While tradition may provide due respect and reverence to the ceremony, many families are looking for something more striking to commemorate the passing of a loved one. 

Following the death of her mother, one woman contacted a local glass blower and came up with the idea of incorporating the remains into a beautiful 24% lead crystal glass which could then be made into vases, paperweights or jewellery.  We have also heard of instances where the deceased had specified that they wanted to ‘go out with a bang’, requesting that their ashes be incorporated into a firework display.

Like most things in life it is a matter of personal choice.  The important thing is that people have the choice to do what they feel is most appropriate for them.