There are aspects of arranging a funeral that you may lack the expertise to know how to do or simply don’t want to take on. A funeral director will take on the burden of making arrangements and completing the necessary paperwork. They will also provide things like coffins, pallbearers, care of the body and transportation.
Many funeral directors are actually part of a larger group (Dignity Plc, Co-operative Funeralcare) but there are also many Independent Funeral Directors who typically provide a more personal and often more affordable service.
Full disclosure
This website is sponsored by independent funeral directors White Rose Modern Funerals in SW London who are modern funeral directors providing simple, beautiful ways to respect and commemorate the life of your loved one. From No Fuss to Personalised Funerals, White Rose minimise the costs typically associated with a traditional funeral.
A good starting point to finding a recommended independent funeral director is to check the Good Funeral Guide Directory.
You can also find many more funeral directors online via these funeral industry trade bodies:
- National Federation of Funeral Directors (NFFD)
- National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD)
- Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF)
- Association of Green Funeral Directors (AGFD)
There are also comparison websites and review sites for funeral directors, but bear in mind many of these charge a commission so going direct will save (them and you) money. Another way is to simply google for “funeral director in [location]” and check out each funeral director’s website, pricing and reviews.
Do you need to have a funeral director?
You don’t have to appoint a Funeral Director. It is perfectly possible to achieve a respectful, dignified send-off without the cost of using a high street funeral director.
You can take on the task of organising the funeral entirely on your own (called a DIY or ‘Direct-It-Yourself’ funeral). Alternatively, you can employ the services of an independent funeral specialist to help you organise a simpler direct cremation or burial (see Direct Funeral) where some of the administrative tasks and collection of the body are outsourced and a funeral celebrant to lead the service.
Next steps:
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