After the funeral – we’re here to guide you
We understand that grieving doesn’t end after the funeral ceremony. We are here to guide you through this difficult time in your journey through bereavement, and the remaining choices you will need to make.
After the burial
After a burial, a simple wooden marker cross or plaque is placed on the grave until a head stone is fitted. The ground must be allowed to settle for six months to a year before a headstone can be erected, to prevent it from toppling. Our stonemasonry department can offer you expert advice on all types of memorials – from a simple headstone to a full kerb set; either in a churchyard or cemetery.
We offer a wide range of traditional and contemporary memorials, each expertly crafted by hand from the finest granite, limestone and marble. We will arrange a personal consultation to discuss your requirements, and we will deal with all the formalities with cemetery and church authorities on your behalf.
Please visit our memorials page to find out more.
After the cremation
A final resting place – your options for cremated remains.
We appreciate that it is often difficult to decide on the final resting place for cremated remains, and we are pleased to offer you some options for your consideration. The cremated remains can be returned to you, or they can be held in our Sanctuary, until a decision has been made, whichever you prefer. We will assist you with any arrangements and formalities regarding your choice.
Please visit our urns and keepsakes page to read further.
Bereavement Support
When you first lose a loved one, there are a lot of arrangements to make, people to notify and formalities to address. You may also be in a degree of shock, which can be both bewildering and numbing. It is not surprising, therefore, that for many people, the process of grieving often begins in earnest after the funeral.
That’s why, after the funeral, we’re still here to help you.
Our special commemorative events
We hold annual ‘Light a Candle’ Services of Thanksgiving throughout the areas we serve, and you will receive a personal invitation to attend one of these services in due course.
Christmas is often a particularly poignant time, so during the month of December we have our Christmas Trees of Remembrance in all our branches. You can ‘Name a Star’ in memory of a loved one and place it on the tree, where it will shine throughout the Christmas season.
Bereavement resources
When someone who has shared part of our life dies, the emotions we feel can leave us desolate and confused. Grief is the natural response to a significant loss, and there are several stages in the grieving process, incorporating a number of physical, emotional, and mental states.
Most people find that they need support to get through the grieving process, whether from family, friends, those who have experienced a similar loss, or a professional person who specialises in grief and bereavement counselling.
As part of our ongoing commitment to you after the funeral, we have gathered some information about the various resources which are available to help you through this difficult time. To find out more about the support offered by each of these organisations, please click on the links below or telephone for further information and assistance.
We hope you will find this information useful, and if you would like to call in and see us at any time, you can be assured of a warm welcome from our friendly and caring team.
Bereavement resources for adults
AtaLoss.org
Established to help those suffering bereavement in the UK to find appropriate local resources.
Live online chat with a Counsellor Griefchat
Child Death Helpline
Helpline support for anyone affected by the death of a child, irrespective of the age of the child, the relationship or the length of time since the death. Provided by Great Ormond Street and Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospitals.
Open every day 19.00 – 22.00, Monday to Friday 10.00 – 13.00, Wednesday
13.00 – 16.00
Tel: 0800 282986
www.childdeathhelpline.org
Compassionate Friends
Support by telephone, befriending and local groups for anyone affected by the death of a child. Please note that this charity supports people irrespective of the age of the child at the time of death i.e. the child may
have reached adulthood.
Open every day of the year 10.00 – 1600 and 18.30 – 22.30
Tel: 0845 123 2304
www.tcf.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care
Open Monday to Friday 09.30 – 17.00
Helpline: 0844 477 9400
Young Person’s helpline: 0808 808 1677
helpline@cruse.org.uk
cruse.org.uk
Farleigh Hospice
Website – www.farleighhospice.org
Tel: 01245 457308, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
For emergencies out of hours, call: 0800 567 0111
For first response with mental health difficulties, call: 0808 196 3494
Lesbian & Gay Bereavement Project
Support for gay men and lesbians expecting or anticipating bereavement and also for their families and friends.
Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 19.00 – 22.30
Tel: 020 7403 5969
Mind Mid & North East Essex – adult support
Website: www.mnessexmind.org
Tel: 01206 764600, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
RoadPeace
Tel: 0845 4500 355
www.roadpeace.org
St Elizabeth Hospice Living Grief – adult service
Website: www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk
Tel: 01473 707999 Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
St Helena Hospice
Website: www.sthelena.org.uk
Tel: 01206 890 360
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
A self help organisation which exists to meet the needs of those bereaved by the suicide of a family member or anyone close to them.
Open every day 09.00 – 21.00
Tel: 0300 111 5065
www.uk-sobs.org.uk
The Bereavement Register
Providing details of the person who has died to the Bereavement Register helps to prevent direct mailing of advertising material.
Tel: 0870 600 7222
www.the-bereavement-register.org.uk
The Samaritans
24 hour helpline support every day of the year for anyone in distress including those who are feeling suicidal.
Tel: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
www.samaritans.org
The Silver Line – helpline for older people
Website: www.thesilverline.org.uk
Tel: 0800 4 70 80 90
The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS)
Helpline: 020 7436 5881
www.sands.org.uk
WAY Foundation (Widowed and Young)
Provides a self help network across the UK to those who are bereaved through losing their partner/spouse when aged 50 or under, together with their children.
www.widowedandyoung.org.uk
Contact via website: Contact us
Bereavement resources for children and young people
Child Bereavement Charity
A charity that has a dual focus of training professionals who work with families and children affected by a death who also produce excellent resources that can be used by those who are bereaved.
Open every day 19.00 – 22.00
Monday to Friday 10.00 – 13.00
Wednesday 13.00 – 16.00
For the Information and Support Team: 01494 446648
www.childbereavement.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care
Open Monday to Friday 09.30 – 17.00
Young Person’s helpline: 0808 808 1677
helpline@cruse.org.uk
cruse.org.uk
Farleigh Hospice – Yoyo project
Website: https://www.farleighhospice.org
Tel: 01245 457308, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
For emergencies out of hours, call: 0800 567 0111
For first response with mental health difficulties, call: 0808 196 3494
Grief Encounter
National charity supporting bereaved children and young people.
Website: www.griefencounter.org.uk
Grieftalk helpline: 0808 8020111 Weekdays 9am to 9pm
Email: grieftalk@griefencounter.org.uk
Mind Mid & North East Essex – children and young people
Website: www.mnessexmind.org
Tel: 01206 764600, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
St Elizabeth Hospice 565 service – for young people and children
Website: www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk
St Helena Hospice
Website: https://www.sthelena.org.uk
Tel: 01206 890 360
The Samaritans
24 hour helpline for under 18s in distress, including those who are feeling suicidal.
Tel: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
www.samaritans.org
Winston’s Wish
Gives support for those caring for children affected by the death of a parent or a sibling and to the children themselves.
Helpline: 08452 03 04 05
www.winstonswish.org.uk
Resources for those facing end of life circumstances
St Elizabeth Hospice 565 service – for young people and children
Website: www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk
The Samaritans
24 hour helpline support every day of the year for anyone in distress including those who are feeling suicidal.
Tel: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
www.samaritans.org
Find a counsellor
Association of Christian Counsellors
Association and accrediting body for counsellors working from a specifically Christian perspective.
Tel: 0845 124 9569 or 0845 124 9570
Website: www.acc-uk.org
British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy
Professional association and accrediting body for counsellors.
Open Monday to Friday 08.45 – 17.00
Tel: 0870 443 5252
Website: www.bacp.co.uk
Practical matters
Following a death there can be so much to take care of. There is, of course, the funeral itself, which we are more than willing to help with, but there can be other details which lead to challenging decisions. We hope that the following resources will be of some help and support in some of those areas. Also, please remember that you can always ask your funeral arranger for advice and you can also find helpful information on the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website.
Probate
Probate is the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money, and possessions after they have died. If probate is required you cannot legally make any decisions or plans until it is properly granted. A person’s will and the support of a solicitor will usually allow family or friends of the deceased to deal with things properly. It is best to seek professional advice where possible. The UK government website gives some very helpful information about probate, and you can find contact details for local solicitors with a search engine. You might also find it helpful to ask family and friends for their recommendations.
Pet rehoming
Sometimes it’s simply not possible to offer a new home to a beloved pet after the death of their owner. The RSPCA can help, as can a number of local charities. There might also be friends of the family, or neighbours, who are willing to rehome a pet. You can search online to find out more information. Some helpful contacts might be your local branch of the RSPCA, The Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, and Blue Cross.
House clearance
Clearing the house of a loved one who has died can be a challenging task. For some people, the process itself is helpful to them as they deal with their memories and grief, but many others find it almost more than they can bear. However you face it, there are some things that you might like to consider.
There are usually items that family and friends want to keep, either because of their monetary value, sentimental value, or because they are family heirlooms. After that, many families want items which might be useful be donated to charity. Then there is all of the accumulation of stuff which they might be uncertain about, simply because it belonged to someone precious.
A quick internet search might give you some ideas about how to go about things. There are professionals who can help with house clearance, and some charities provide their own service to make use of what they can for fundraising. However, almost all of them charge a fee for the service. Some of the charities we know are listed here (Please note that they might not cover every part of our branch network).
There are some private companies that will clear the house and redistribute the contents to charities on your behalf too. One company which offers guidance on house clearance is Franklin Contracts.
