Tees Valley & Durham Area
Cruse Bereavement Care
Support and Resource Centre

The Work Of A Funeral Director

What does a Funeral Director do?

Funeral Directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body.

What is the role of the Funeral Director?

Funeral Directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. The primary role of the Funeral Director is custodian of the dead. Looking after the deceased is paramount. Secondary but by no means less important, is looking after the bereaved. Funeral Directors have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognise when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help.

What are the qualities of a Funeral Director?

A Funeral Director needs to be technically competent in all aspects of the funeral service. Have good inter-personal skills to relate to all who call upon them in their time of bereavement. Needs to be flexible in manner and style of approach and as one of the primary caregivers to the newly bereaved it is essential that the Funeral Director expresses the qualities of empathy, rather than sympathy, and sensitivity.

Which Funeral Director should I choose?

It is very difficult to make the right decisions with regards to the funeral arrangements at the time of bereavement, let alone decide which Funeral Director to appoint at your time of need. Funeral Directors can be so different in many ways. Ask other people you may know who have been through a similar experience. Remember you are not alone. Death is a daily occurrence. A word of mouth recommendation can be so important.

Make sure the Funeral Directors you choose are members of an official association.

Before you choose your Funeral Directors make sure that they are an affiliated member of a National Association. One of the leading associations is SAIF - The National Society of Allied & Independent Funeral Directors. SAIF is the only professional organisation in the UK exclusively dedicated to serving the local independent family-owned Funeral Director. SAIF makes sure that their members keep very high standards, not only in dealing with families, but also in the appearance of the funeral homes. This is implemented by applying a strict code of practice.

What should I do if a relative dies at home?

When a death which has been expected occurs at home or at a nursing home, the Doctor who has been treating the deceased should be contacted. The Doctor or a colleague will either attend to confirm that death has occurred, or will give permission for the deceased to be transferred to a Funeral Directors premises, if this is your wish.

What should I do if a relative dies in hospital?

If a relative who has been a hospital inpatient dies, the Doctors who have been treating the deceased will usually be able to issue the Medical Certificate. Ask either the ward staff or your Funeral Director for advice on how your local hospital issues this certificate.

Can I be buried in my back garden?

Yes. A person can be buried in their back garden. The Local Authority would need to be informed and the plot investigated to make sure that there are no water courses that could be affected.

Are the ashes I get back that of my nearest and dearest?

Yes. The cremation process is regulated by a strict code of practice. Each coffin is cremated on its own. After the cremation the ashes are removed and once cool can then be prepared for burial, scattering or collection.

Is the coffin reused?

No. As explained already the crematorium is strictly regulated. All coffins are cremated. At no time is the body removed from its coffin or handles removed.

What happens to the jewellery?

The cremation process requires the cremator to be at very high temperature. After a cremation has taken place any jewellery or metal residue is extracted from the remaining ash and disposed of. In Darlington it is disposed of in an unmarked area of the cemetery.

This information was provided by Whitehouse Funeral Service.

Another helpful site where further information can be gained is www.saif.org.uk.