The funeral service that caters for everyone’s needs

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The Day of the Funeral

Funerals can be as unique or as traditional as desired, and at Alan Greenwood & Sons we can help you plan all the minor details every step of the way. Most funerals tend to follow the same general schedule throughout the day, from the procession to the wake. To give you an idea of what to expect, here is a rough itinerary.

Itinerary of the Funeral Day

The funeral procession

Usually, the funeral procession will start at the home of the deceased. Your chosen hearse will arrive at the specified time, with the coffin already inside. Loved ones who will travel in the procession in your chosen vehicles, behind the hearse, will be collected from this same place. The route to the funeral service will have already been properly planned by the Funeral Director, making sure the quickest and simplest route is taken. The funeral procession will typically travel at 20mph, and the Funeral Director will usually get out of the vehicle and lead on foot upon arrival at the venue.

Arriving at the funeral

When the procession has arrived at the church or crematorium the Funeral Director will liaise with the service officiator to make sure everything is in order. If you have requested pallbearers, they will remove the coffin from the hearse, and prepare to enter the venue. If you have your own pallbearers, they will be instructed on the best way to do this by the Funeral Director.

Funerals can differ in the order in which people enter the church or crematorium. Sometimes everyone will follow the pallbearers, and other times guests are asked to be seated before the hearse arrives, with only immediate family members of the deceased following the coffin. Either way, the first few rows of seats are reserved for specified close friends and family.

The funeral service

This will largely depend on whether the funeral is being held at a church or a crematorium. In churches, the service will usually last around one hour, however at a crematorium it can be around 30 minutes. The officiator at either venue will lead the service, although chosen attendees are often asked to read poems or passages, and a eulogy. The officiator can do all of this if preferred, including reading a eulogy that has been prepared by a loved one. At the end of the service, in a church the pallbearers will take the coffin out of the church to take it to the burial ground or cremation venue. At the end of a crematorium service, the coffin will be enclosed by curtains before cremation begins.

The committal service

Many people choose to have a committal service after a church funeral ceremony, which will either take place at the burial ground or crematorium. Depending on the whereabouts of the venue, the coffin might be placed in the hearse, once again followed by the procession and other guests. If you are staying at the same venue, the Funeral Director will walk with you.

The committal service usually involves readings and/or poems, and after the service guests will have the opportunity to give flowers and pay final respects. The Funeral Director will be on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly and, at the appropriate time, escort the family back to their vehicles to then make their way to the wake (if there is one).

The wake/funeral reception

Most families choose to host a wake after the funeral to give friends and loved ones an opportunity to offer their best wishes and share happy memories. This part of the funeral day is entirely up to the loved ones; however the Funeral Director can offer advice at the planning stages regarding venues and caterers for example. After escorting you to the venue, at this point the Funeral Director will depart.

After the funeral

After the funeral, remember the team at Alan Greenwood & Sons are still here to give you any advice, help, and support that you may need. You can also read our tips on coping with grief and what to do with ashes.

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 £2345.00

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 £1295.00

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.

Cremation Fee 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...

“I would like to say a big thank you for everything. I had nothing to worry about, it all went so smoothly from the day of his death to the end of the funeral and in the circumstances could not have been better. Thank you so much.

I don’t have a great deal of experience in these matters, but compared to the other funeral directors I had to deal with, Greenwoods are the tops and you personally were a pleasure to deal with, you hit absolutely the right note.”

Ann Bishop

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 so much for the care, support, compassion and understanding you showed with helping Chris and us to plan his funeral. You made a very difficult time for us more bearable for which we are very grateful. Thank you also for enabling all Chris’s plans to come to fruition. His ‘send-off’ was exactly what he wanted. Malcolm did a brilliant job too. Thank you, Jane, With love and sincere, thank you.”

Kathy, Samantha, Rosie and all the Sayer Family

“Just a wee note to say a huge thank you for your amazing support, care and friendship when helping us to arrange my dad’s funeral. Although it was such a difficult time for us as a family, you ensured that we were so well looked after & that everything went perfectly. Our tears often turned to laughter in your company & that’s because you helped us remember the good times.

Thank you for everything from the bottom of our hearts. We would also like to thank the whole team involved in helping before, during and after my dad’s funeral. You truly are amazing, showing such dignity, compassion, care and professionalism. Thank you.”

Karen, Anna & family

“We would like to thank you very much for looking after Mum and for all the arrangements you made for her funeral last Thursday. Your professionalism, help and ready advice together with your sensitivity at such a difficult time was much appreciated by us all. Our best regards.”

Nigel, Colin Ian & Coraine Ferguson

“Thank you so much for the way you took care of Loui’s funeral for us. You really went the extra mile, we are really grateful for all your help with the arrangements with Louis and Mum.”

Sheila, Kenny & Family

“Dear Donna,

Just a little something to say thank you very much for all of your kind support during a very difficult time.

You really went above and beyond to help us and it was truly appreciated.

Thank you for helping us organise such a personal and fitting service for Margaret and everything else that you did for us.”

Bill, Sandra, Vicki and Family

“Dear Beth,

Just a short note from all of us to say “Thank You” for all the effort that you applied to ensure that Sarah’s funeral passed so seamlessly.

If it can be described as a “Great Day” (which I know will sound odd) I mean it purely in terms of the balance between sadness and celebration was met – that also the weather was perfect, the co-ordination between service and committal was excellent, the flowers so beautiful and everyone played their part so well. It was largely down to you that it did work so well.

So a “Big Thank You”

Barry, Jemma, Matthew, Josie and William

“To all that it concerns, thank you seems hardly enough for making our Pops (William Hadaway) day very special with love and dignity from the beginning to the end you all made the day very special as well as his wishes you were there for all the family and made it a bit easier for us all to handle, couldn’t have wished for anything more. Many thanks again.”

Mark Hadaway & family

“Thank you so much for the care you took of mum and help and kindness you showed us making a very sad time so much easier to bear. With very best wishes and a very big thank you.”

Claire, David & Pia Stevens

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