The funeral service that caters for everyone’s needs

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How to Arrange a Funeral

Who is responsible for making the arrangements? 

The person who makes the arrangements must be able to give instructions and be able to sign documents regarding the funeral arrangements. This person will also be responsible for arranging payment of the funeral. This could be a friend or relative, or someone appointed by the family to manage the arrangements.

What to consider when planning a funeral

Planning a funeral can be a very daunting task at first, but we can help make the process easier for you. There are a few things you will need to consider when making arrangements such as what type of funeral your loved one would have wanted, or what the costs may be. We offer a range of services and are happy to run through any questions you may have when planning a funeral. 

Steps to arranging a funeral

1. Contact a funeral director

The first step when planning a funeral is to contact a funeral director such as Alan Greenwood & Sons. We will be able to answer any questions you may have, explain your options and begin the process of arranging the funeral. 

One of the questions we will ask you when you get in touch is where the deceased is. We will collect them as soon as possible and bring them into our care. We will either arrange to meet you in our funeral home or arrange to see you at your home to make the funeral arrangements, whichever is easiest for you. 

We will make all necessary arrangements with officiating clergy, cemeteries or crematoriums and assist you in the completion of documentation. You will receive confirmation of all arrangements and a detailed estimate of costs which we can discuss with you. 

Information we may need from you

When planning a funeral, there will be a few things we will need to check with you before finalising any plans. These will include:

  • Name, address and age of the deceased
  • Location of the deceased
  • Name and contact details of their doctor
  • Whether a death certificate has been issued
  • Whether the funeral is to be religious or non-religious ceremony
  • Number of limousines required (each carries 6 people)
  • The location the cortege will leave from
  • The location you will return to

If you are unsure of any of these details, we can help you to locate the information and talk you through the options that you have.

2. Choose the type of funeral

When planning a funeral, it is common to choose something in line with the personality of the deceased. For example, this could be a religious ceremony if the person was religious, or a wicker coffin for those who were conscious about the environment. 

Where the funeral will take place is another step in the planning process. This could be in a church, cremation chapel, at the graveside or somewhere else. We can discuss the options with you and find something that suits the wishes of the deceased and the loved ones attending the ceremony. 

3. Choose cremation or burial

There is also the consideration of burial or cremation. It may be that the deceased expressed their preference before their passing, or this may be a decision that the deceased’s loved ones will need to make. 

4. Plan the service

We can help you plan the service and prepare for the funeral. We can help and support you on all aspects of the day, including; service sheets, floral tributes, catering and vehicles for close family and friends. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your options and the different services that we offer. Whatever your requirements are, we can help and arrange it for you.

Compassionate and Professional

Your calls will be taken in person locally not by a call centre, with complete confidentiality, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Funeral arrangements can be made at our premises, at your home or via email.

Simple Service Cremation £1995.00

To a local crematorium or cemetery, the day and time is at our discretion, a coffin of our choice included. Third party costs are not included and need to be added to the above cost. Local crematoria cost can be found on this website by clicking the pricing tab.

Unattended Cremation £950.00

When no service and no attendance is required. Day, time and crematorium at our discretion. Provision of our choice of coffin, suitable for the purpose of cremation, third party cost included.

Has Someone Passed Away?

We understand at this difficult time you need someone to guide you through it all. We’re on hand to help after someone you love dies.

Arranging a Funeral

We’ll talk you through the process and what’s involved, so that you can make the right decision both for you and your loved ones.

Pre-Paid Funeral Agreement

Funeral plans

As a company we are not a funeral Plan provider.

We are though in most circumstances able to carry out instructions from a funeral plan purchased from a third party. Please contact us, to discuss your needs.

We're Here to Support You

Get in touch to see how we can support your needs

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A Few Kind Words...

“Dear Fran

I just wanted to drop you an email to thank you for all your care and support in the arrangements for my dad, John.

I know that my Mum, Valerie, was most grateful for your support and care, particularly last Friday which was a difficult day for her. Mum said to me that you went over and above in her eyes, making sure she was ok before you would let her leave.

Dad would have highly approved of the day yesterday, and that’s all we could have asked for. It really was the celebration of his life that he would have wanted.

Again, my sincerest thanks and gratitude to you all.”

Helena

Dear Mr Alan Greenwood, I cannot thank you and your team in Bookham enough, for the excellent service they provided in every respect in the Cremation of my wife.

Your resident Funeral Consultant Mary fully explained all we needed to understand and advised the options available to us.

Her in depth knowledge of all the service providers including, Order of Service, authors and print selection, Celebrant, Hall and refreshments.

So many things which without her I would have been lost.

In the past few days I have received so very many complements and praise for the service you gave.

Do please allow other potential clients to share our experience.

Yours sincerely

Terry Eves-Thorpe

Sheila Eves-Thorpe

“Thank you for the care and support you gave to us all at the funeral of Annette Streetley, we did appreciate you kindness as we first stepped through the door at your Claygate branch and the days following. I know Tony, Rachel & Andrew were extremely grateful”

David & Betty Wakeford

“Dear Judy,

Thank you for all your hard work and great communication for the arrangement of mum’s funeral. Even though the restrictions limited certain things, everything ran so smoothly. We were able to celebrate mum’s life with a lovely service and great help from you and all at Alan Greenwood funeral services on the day.”

Yvonne and Peter Richardson

“Would you please pass on our thanks to the young lady who conducted the burial of Joyce Ashby last week. She was so kind to Jean my very elderly cousin especially on the ride back in the Limo taking us through Richmond Park and chatting all the way. We then went on to have a family picnic in Jean’s garden in the sunshine a lovely way to remember Joyce and the perfect day for Jean. Very many thanks from all of us in North Wales.”

Sheila, Keith & Rhoada Ashby

“Lynn, Bruce and I thank you so much for the wonderful understanding and help you have given us over the past days.It has been a difficult time but made so much easier by your guidance. With your kindness, we feel we managed to say our goodbyes to ‘Roger’, ‘Dad’ and ‘Grandy’ – showing our love and thanks to him for looking after us so perfectly over the years.”

Pat Clark

“You make an extremely difficult time easier. Dad’s service was very fitting and I was so pleased to see him dressed in his uniform and hold his had one last time, Jess you did a lovely job. Thank you so so much.”

Clare

“We would like to thank you for a friendly and professional service and especially Adam who made a good job of the service, and a big thanks to Jane who was a great help and showed much kindness. We would recommend your company.”

Chris & Mike Whalen

“Dear David and Hannah,
Just a quick note to say thank you so much for all your help and support over the last month or so.
The funeral was just as it should have been.
Your staff were lovely and the day went without a hitch.”

Michele & Caroline

To Lisa and all at Greenwood’s
Thank you for all the care and professionalism you have shown whilst caring for my Dad.
Thanks also for being so wonderful whilst looking after Diane and me, we are so grateful,
you took the pressure away from us during a very stressful time.

Sally and Diane

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