Planning a funeral
Registering a Death
A death will need to be registered at the Registrars Office that covers the area where the death occurred. The doctor signing the death certificate should be able to advise you.
Planning a Funeral
The simplest way forward is to contact a funeral director who will be able to explain fully all the various processes.
When death occurs many emotions are experienced and those left behind have to decide, amongst other things, where the final resting place should be for their loved one and how best to commemorate their life through a memorial or tribute of some kind. The most important thing to remember is not to make a hasty decision. Take your time, take advice and talk over all the options with your family and friends. It may well be the deceased has left instructions which will help you.
Whilst most people opt for a traditional burial, other options include Interment of Ashes, or arranging a funeral yourself – there is no legal reason why you cannot arrange a funeral yourself.
Traditional burials – This is the type of funeral/burial service we are all most familiar with, the coffin usually being made of wood and is interred in an earthen grave which is later marked by a stone memorial.
Interment of Ashes – It is becoming more common for families to have their loved ones cremated and their relatives’ ashes interred at a later date. A casket for the ashes is supplied by the funeral director and then interred in a small grave.
Purchasing a grave space – Many people prefer to purchase a grave space either for themselves or for a member of the family. This aids the planning of a funeral and avoids last minute arrangements. You can visit Hills or Roffey Cemeteries and ask to choose a grave space which will be reserved in your name.
Arrangements are generally made through a firm of Funeral Directors, who will provide everything from a simple funeral to whatever you want and provide an estimate of costs.
Contact details for the main Funeral Directors in Horsham
Freeman Brothers
9 North Parade
Horsham
West Sussex
Tel: (01403) 254590
R Radmalls
3/4 Shelley House
Bishopric
Horsham
West Sussex
Tel: (01403) 257444
Memorials
Should you wish to have a memorial erected, which can be in the form of a headstone, tablet, book or ledger, these can be arranged through any memorial mason which conforms to the standard laid down by the National Association of Memorial Masons. Every Memorial Mason will be able to offer advice and inform you of the various costs of supplying and erecting a memorial.
Memorials are the property of the holder of the Exclusive Right of Burial (i.e. the grave owner) and the maintenance is their responsibility. We have a duty of care for all our sites and we regularly check memorials for stability and safety. Those which are found to be defective are referred to the owner for remedial action. If the memorial is considered unsafe or dangerous we have the right to take immediate action by laying flat if necessary
Contact details for the main Memorial Masons in Horsham
J Gumbrill
9 North Parade
Horsham
West Sussex
Tel: (01403) 354590
R Radmalls
3/4 Shelley House
Bishopric
Horsham
West Sussex
Tel: (01403) 257444
A complete list of Funeral Directors and Memorial Masons in the Horsham District and surrounding area can be found in the Yellow Pages, the Registrars Office, Public Libraries and Citizens Advice Bureaux.
Funeral Expenses
The cost of a funeral will vary depending on whether you choose burial or cremation. Other factors to consider are the type of coffin, number of cars in cortege, flowers, purchase of burial rights etc. The costs relating to the purchase of the burial plot and the interment will be included in the quote provided by your Funeral Director.
It is advisable to obtain a quotation from more than one funeral director compare costs.