Every funeral is different because every family is different. With forewarning we are happy to accommate all reasonable requests. 

On the day, the usual procedure will be as follows:

• Flowers delivered to our main offices - 85 Dudley Road, Tipton will be arranged in the hearse (subject to available space.) 
• The funeral cortege will arrive at the agreed address at the designated time.
• We will place any additional flowers inside the hearse (subject to available space.) If large numbers of flowers are expected, and it has been arranged in advance, we are able to provide a flower hearse.
• The Funeral Conductor will greet you and place any additional flowers in the hearse. You will then be escorted to the limousine(s) where requested.
• You will follow the hearse to the place of service.
• On arrival, the coffin will be taken in to the church, crematorium or alternative venue by coffin bearers followed by the family. Should family members wish to act as bearers, we would ask that you inform the funeral arranger at the time that the funeral service is organised. Please be aware that we do not advise shouldering the coffin, due to a number of risks involved. If a family insist on shouldering then we would require that a disclaimer is signed by our client on behalf of all the bearers.
• The service takes place.
• After the service, the coffin will either be taken to the church graveyard, cremated or transported to a cemetery
• If it is a burial then family and friends will gather around the grave while the committal takes place. You may be invited to scatter earth on the coffin or place a stemmed flower.
• Flowers will be laid out for you to view and read messages of condolence.
• You will then be taken to the venue where the wake or other social family gathering is being held.

The funeral service itself typically lasts about 30 minutes if it is to be held at a crematorium. Should you feel that you require longer, then it may be possible to arrange for an extended time. It is important that we are notified of this request at the time that the funeral service is initially arranged to avoid disappointment. 

A service to held in a church will typically also last for 30 minutes unless a full Requiem Mass has been requested, which will last approximately 1 hour. Following this, a committal service will typically last 10 minutes either at a graveside or crematorium. 

The funeral service usually involves a mix of hymns or other music, eulogies, readings, poetry or even slide shows celebrating the life of your loved one. The service is usually conducted by a minister of the church or, for more secular funerals, a ‘celebrant’. We can advise on the options here and make recommendations.

Funeral etiquette has become less formal over recent years to reflect the style of service the deceased and their family prefer. However, anyone attending a funeral should respect the feelings of the family and act accordingly. Regardless of the style and informality of the funeral, there are some principles that should be observed:

• Arrive in good time
• Dress in appropriate attire – if in doubt, be more formal. Dark trousers and jacket, white shirt and black tie is the accepted norm. Increasingly however mourners are asked to wear bright colours. You should only do this if requested to do so.
• Seating is normally family at the front, with friends behind and co-workers towards the back.
• Ensure your mobile phone is switched off – even if switched to ‘vibrate’ it can be intrusive to people sitting next to you.
• Do not take photos.
• Applause or clapping may be appropriate for some less traditional funerals.
• Remain for the whole service.
• If you have young children and they become noisy then quietly leave the service.
• Likewise, if you are persistently having to cough then quietly leave the service.
• If you can’t attend the funeral then it is customary to let the family know by writing a letter to them – not email or text! You can express your condolences and explain why you cannot attend.

Whether or not you decide to take a child to a funeral service is a personal decision. You should consider however whether a young child will remain seated and quiet for the duration of the service as running around although acceptable at a wedding, is not at a funeral. 

If an older child has lost a close family member then they should be encouraged to attend the service as it may help to draw closure to the loss and they may regret not attending later. It also allows them to understand that death is a natural part of life.