Funeral Service

Experiencing the loss of a loved one is one of the most traumatic times in a person’s life. Our job is to help you with the practicalities and guide you through the funeral arrangements. We are here to follow your personal instructions to make the funeral as individual as the person to which it serves.

You can either call into one of our offices either in Longford or Bedworth, or, if you prefer, someone can call to your home to discuss the arrangements with you.

Funerals are usually based on family traditions or religious beliefs. Alternatively, you may choose a more unique or individual funeral service. If instructions have not been left in a funeral plan or a will, the family will have to decide whether to have a cremation or burial service.

The funeral service could take place at the deceased’s

  • Church
  • Temple or other place of worship
  • Crematorium
  • Graveside

Most ceremonies include some kind of spoken word and we could contact a minister, celebrant etc, on your behalf who would contact you to discuss the funeral service content regarding prayers, tributes, hymns or poems and if any family member should like to be involved during the service.

When preparing a funeral service, you may like to consider some readings and/or music. Readings, Biblical or from any other religious books, they may be spiritual or entirely secular in the form of a poem.

Music can take the form of hymns or songs that the congregation will sing together during the service there may be some recorded music, perhaps favourites of the family or deceased which can be played as we enter and leave the service and could also be played during the service as a time of reflection. You may prefer to sit during the time of reflection and watch a photographic montage which can be arranged.


When A Death Occurs

The death of a loved one is always difficult, whether it is expected after a long illness, or is a sudden shock. Sometimes the paperwork required in such situations can seem daunting. We are here to help you with the whole process.

When a death occurs at home

Relatives must contact the Doctor who attended the deceased during their last illness. Sometimes the emergency Doctor has to be called if the family Doctor is not available. The Doctor will then come to certify that death has occurred and will issue a medical certificate. (In most cases this certificate is collected by the family from the Doctor’s Surgery.) The certificate is then required by the Registrar to register the death.

When the doctor has attended and the death has been certified, the relatives can contact us, and we will arrange for the deceased to be taken to one of our private chapels of rest.

Sudden death

When a death is sudden or unexpected you should contact the deceased’s family Doctor (if known). If the Doctor is unable to state the exact cause of death or issue a certificate, they will report the death to the Coroner’s Office. The local police may then need to take statements about the deceased from relatives. These statements will be given to the Coroner.

The deceased will be taken to the Coroner’s Mortuary where a post-mortem examination will be held to establish the exact cause of death. When the coroner has completed this examination they will then issue a certificate for burial or cremation.

When a death occurs in hospital

If a death occurs in hospital the hospital will contact the nearest relative. The deceased will then be taken to the hospital mortuary until relatives have made funeral arrangements and registered the death. If a cremation is required, the deceased will remain in the hospital mortuary until Doctors have signed the necessary papers, which allow a cremation to take place.

The hospital will arrange for the nearest relative, if possible, to collect a medical certificate from the bereavement office and the hospital. This will be in a sealed envelope addressed to the Registrar stating the cause of death. This certificate is required by the Registrar, together with the deceased’s medical card (where possible), to register the death.

When an inquest is necessary

The coroner will hold an inquest in the following circumstances:

  • The cause of death is uncertain after a post-mortem examination
  • The death was violent or unnatural
  • The death was caused by an industrial disease

An inquest is an enquiry into the medical cause and circumstances of death. The coroner will arrange the enquiry in a way to best serve the public as well as the interest of the relatives.

The death cannot be registered until the inquest has been held. If a death certificate is needed by the family before this, the coroner can (on request) issue an ‘interim’ death certificate.

The coroner will issue an order for burial or cremation to allow the funeral to take place before the inquest.


Registration

A death must be registered in the district in which it has occurred (see details on below). Under normal circumstances the Doctor – your GP or a hospital doctor – will issue a Doctor’s certificate giving the cause of death. This certificate is taken to the Registrar’s Office with, if possible, the deceased’s medical card and birth certificate. If the Coroner is involved and an inquest is held the coroner will release the certificate so you can register the death.

The procedure for registering a death is a simple question-and-answer interview between the registrar and the person reporting the death. The registrar will then issue a disposal certificate (Green) which needs to be given to the funeral director before burial or cremation.

Copies of the death certificate (White) may be obtained from the registrar for:

  • Insurance purposes
  • Probate
  • Solicitors
  • Banks
  • Post Office
  • Savings Accounts, etc.

The cost of a death certificate is approx. £4.00 each. (Should a copy of the certificate be required after it has been filed, the fee is £7.00.)

Who can register a death?

  • Close relative of the deceased
  • A person present at death
  • The person who is to arrange the funeral

Documents required:

  • Medical certificate of death
  • Medical card (if available) or Birth Certificate

Information required by the registrar:

  • Date and place of death
  • Full name of deceased (maiden name if applicable)
  • Date and place of birth
  • Occupation and home address
  • If married, full name and occupation of surviving spouse

Certificates – issued by the registrar:

  • Disposal certificate for the funeral director
  • Social Security certificate to be sent to the Department for Work and Pensions offices with any pension books (BD8)
  • Copies of entry of death for banks, insurance companies and solicitors

Registrars

The Warwickshire Registrars listed below (Nuneaton, Bedworth, Warwick, Rugby, Stratford) can be used if the death occurred in Warwickshire.

Coventry

Cheylesmore, Manor House Drive
Coventry
CV1 2ND
Tel: (024) 76833129
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Nuneaton Registrars

Riversley Park, Coton Road
Nuneaton
CV11 5HA
Tel: (030) 05550255
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Bedworth Registrars

Bedworth Library, 18 High Street
Bedworth
CV12 8NF
Tel: (030) 05550255
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Warwick Registrars

Shire Hall
Warwick
CV34 4SA
Tel: (030) 05550255
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Rugby Registrars

5 Bloxam Place
Rugby
CV21 3DS
Tel: (030) 05550255
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Stratford Registrars

Winton House, Church Street
Stratford Upon Avon
CV37 6HB
Tel: (030) 05550255
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Procedure For An Unexpected Death



Procedure For An Unexpected Death



Procedure For An Expected Death


Procedure For An Expected Death