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Bereavement Guide Bereavement Guide
for Crematorium for Cemeteries Cemeteries and and Crematorium Services Services in in Doncaster Thisguide guidecontains containsall allthe theinformation information you you require require to This to makethe theright rightchoices choicesfor for you you and and your your family. family. make
www.doncaster.gov.uk www.doncaster.gov.uk
Bereavement Bereavement Guide Guide
Cemeteries forforCemeteries andCrematorium Crematorium and Services in Services inDoncaster Doncaster
Page
Contents
Introduction
1
Introduction
.
2
Procedure to follow when someone dies
2
Cemeteries & Crematorium opening times
3
Facilities within the Crematorium grounds
4
Cremated Remains - your choice
7
Frequently asked questions about Cremation
8
Cemetery information
9
Burials and Graves
13
Frequently asked questions about Burial
23
Useful contact details (back cover)
Doncaster Council’s Bereavement Services aim to provide a caring, sensitive and professional service to bereaved families and their loved ones, offering support and advice regarding all aspects of funerals and memorials. The Service is responsible for 13 Cemeteries, nine Closed Churchyards, 26 War Memorials and the Crematorium. This brochure contains information regarding Bereavement Services, contact details and advice.
What to do when someone dies The first few days It is important to do the following, if you can
1. Inform the family doctor. 2. Contact a funeral director, if you intend to use
one. If the death occurs at home or in a nursing home, the funeral director will need to be contacted to move the deceased to a Chapel of Rest.
3. Begin arrangements for the funeral - you
should check to see if there is a ‘will’ for any special requests.
4. Obtain a medical certificate, which states the cause of death and is signed by a doctor. However, if the coroner is involved, you can take instructions from the coroner’s officers regarding registration of the death
5. Register the death at the Register Office. Please note in the case of a sudden death, the police should be informed first. As early as possible:
t Find out if there is a ‘will’. If so there will be
an appointed person who is deemed as the ‘executor’. The executor is the person who will be responsible for paying any debts, taxes and expenses from the deceased estates.
t If there is no ‘will’, decide who will apply to
sort out the deceased’s affairs and contact the Probate Registry to apply for ‘letters of administration’ if necessary
Documents you will need in the first few days You will need to gather together the following documents as soon as possible to enable registration of the death and to start funeral arrangements.
t medical certificate which determines the cause
of death, signed by a doctor unless the coroner is involved and there has been a coroner’s post mortem
t birth certificate * t marriage/civil partnership certificates * t NHS Number/NHS Medical Card * t organ donor card (if appropriate) *Although it is not necessary to produce these documents, you will need to provide information contained within them, e.g. date and place of deceased’s birth.
Doncaster Cemeteries & Crematorium opening times SUMMER OPENING - 1st April to 31st October
Crematorium Grounds *8:00a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pedestrian Access 24hrs All Cemetery Grounds *8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Controlled by Pedestrian Access 24hrs Doncaster Councill Rose Hill Bereavement Monday to Friday Services Offices 8.30 a.m to 5.00 p.m. Wiill be open on Mothers Day Book of Remembrance Room 10.00 a.m to 5.00 p.m WINTER OPENING – 1st November to 31st March
Crematorium Grounds *8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pedestrian Access 24hrs All Cemetery Grounds *8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Controlled by Pedestrian Access 24hrs Doncaster Council Rose Hill Bereavement Monday to Friday 8.30 Services Offices a.m to 5.00 p.m. Book of Will be open Fathers Day Remembrance Room 10.00 a.m to 5.00 p.m SERVICE TIMES Service Times for Burials
10.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Burial times can vary dependant on where the burial takes place.
Service Times for Cremations
9.00 a.m. to 4.40 p.m.
Service times are for either a Committal Service which is 20 minutes or a full service is a 40 minutes. Please note the last time for a full service is 4.20 p.m. * Not all Cemeteries permit vehicle access without a valid permit - please contact the office if you have a blue disabled badge and wish to have vehicle access.
Main Office for all correspondence: Rose Hill Crematorium, Cantley Lane, Cantley, Doncaster, DN4 6NE 736900 Tel: 01302 535191 Fax: 01302371948 371948 Fax:01302 E-mail: cems@doncaster.gov.uk Website: www.doncaster.gov.uk 2
Facilities available at the Crematorium Car Park 76 spaces are available, however additional areas within the Crematorium grounds are used for large funerals. Waiting Room Available with comfortable seating, a water dispenser and toilets. Main Driveway in Crematorium
Chapel Can seat up to 80 people with additional standing area for approximately 70. Outside speakers are in place for large funerals. Service books are provided at all times and individual song sheets are available on request. Although an organ is available for use, arrangements for the organist must be made in advance with your Funeral Director. Music A wide and varied choice of music is available from our comprehensive list, which can be viewed at the Bereavement Services Office, via your Funeral Director, or by visiting the website: www.wesleymusic.co.uk
Crematorium Chapel
Rose Hill Crematorium The Crematorium occupies a site of 4.10 hectares on the outskirts of Doncaster Centre, approximately 3.5 miles from the town centre. The grounds are a balance of manicured gardens and less formal areas, which enhance the natural habitat. Vehicles For safety purposes the speed limit within all cemeteries is 10mph. To maintain the appearance of our grounds, we request that you do not drive or park on grassed areas, unless instructed to do so by Bereavement Services staff. Dogs We do allow dogs into the Crematorium but only under the strict control of the owners and on a lead. Owners are advised to be aware that in order to maintain the appearance of our grounds, dog fouling laws apply.
3
If a particular piece of music is not shown on our list, every effort will be made to source and provide the requested piece. Please note 48 hours notice is required. Should a piece of music not be available, and you have the CD, this can be forwarded to our music company for them to download. Copy CDs cannot be played on the Crematorium’s music system. In the case of copied CDs, we ask that the family provide a battery operated portable CD player. Collection Boxes A collection box is available should families request one. This should be indicated on the cremation paperwork. Should the family not request their own collection box, then the Crematorium will put out a box for donations towards suggested improvements within the Crematorium. If the family would prefer that no collection box is put out then the paperwork must be clearly marked ‘no collection box to be put out’. Disabled Facilities There are several spaces allocated in the car park with easy access into the Crematorium Building are113 removable pews within thethe Chapel for for There is removable pews within Chapel wheelchair access and a loop system within the Chapel for people with hearing difficulties.
Visits Anyone wishing to view the facilities may do so; we actively encourage visitors.
Cremated Remains - your choice
C.C.T.V For your safety and security, CCTV Cameras are in operation within the Crematorium car park.
Options available for the resting place of Cremated Remains following a funeral at Rose Hill Following the funeral the Cremated Remains may either be laid to rest in the Scattering Areas within the grounds, placed in a dedicated plot or grave, or removed from the Crematorium to be laid to rest in a favourite place elsewhere.
Inspection The Crematorium operates within the guidelines of The Federation of British Cremation Authorities. Inspections by the Federation are carried out periodically. The Crematorium also operates in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Floral Tributes An area is provided for the display of floral tributes following a funeral service. The floral tributes are kept for a period of six days following a cremation. Please note that unfortunately for practical reasons the council cannot accept any responsibility for floral tributes at the Crematorium before, during or after a funeral service.
Crematorium Grounds
Independent Funerals for Crematorium & Cemetery If you are interested in Independent Funerals and wish to look at this option more closely, you can make an appointment with a member of the Bereavement Services staff. You can discuss details of the funeral and the format in which you would like it to be. Should you choose this option an arrangement charge would be appliclicable.
As the nearest relative or executor of the deceased, you will have been asked by the Funeral Director to sign an official form applying for the cremation. Included on this form is a section containing ‘Authority for the disposal of Cremated Remains’. The Funeral Director would have gone through the various options available and then asked you to sign the form once you have made your decision. If you have decided to remove the Cremated Remains from the Crematorium The Funeral Director will have discussed your wishes and advised on the provision of a suitable container. Normally the Funeral Director would collect them for you to pick up at your convenience but you may collect them yourself. However, only the person who applied for the cremation can collect the remains from the Crematorium. It is important to know that it is an offence to rest cremated remains in water courses or on public land without consent. Permission must also be sought if you intend to rest cremated remains on a grave in a cemetery or in the crematorium grounds; should this happen, Bereavement Services staff will remove the remains and scatter them in our gardens of remembrance. Please be aware that if the remains are to be collected and to be buried elsewhere a ‘Certificate of Cremation’ may be required. A charge is made for the certificate. Scattering in the Gardens of Remembrance There are currently four scattering areas within Rose Hill Crematorium landscaped grounds. All Cremated Remains are scattered with due respect by the Crematorium staff on your behalf. A record is kept of the location and a small marker stone is placed on the scattering area to give an indication as to when the remains were laid to rest. Please note that this service is only available from 1995 onwards in the scattering area. Markers indicate where all remains are laid at that time, not individual plots. 4
If a family would like the remains to be scattered in the same area as another family member from previous years, this is possible. The family will need to indicate this to the funeral director, who will put this on the appropriate paperwork. Families can be present at the scattering if they so wish. There is a charge for appointments to witness the scattering. It is important to be aware that no type of ‘memorabilia’ can be placed in the area where the remains are scattered, floral tributes are permitted however these will be removed periodically.
the Crematorium, for a small charge. Flat Granite Plaque or York Stone Plaques can be placed on these plots. Please note that no kerb surrounds are permitted on any memorials in the Crematorium. Memorial Granite Stone The memorial is a Miniature Headstone and accommodates up to two sets of Cremated Remains. A metal flower container is also incorporated into the plaque if required. The above three memorials are sold as an inclusive price – this includes the Exclusive Right of Burial*, Interment fee and the plaque or stone *Exclusive Right of Burial definition The person who purchases a plot has the right to bury their loved ones in that plot - the land is still the ownership of the council. In a way it is like leasing land.
Area where remains are scattered beneath ground level
Burial of Cremated Remains within the Crematorium Grounds There is a choice of four types of Plots available in the Crematorium Grounds, all of which can accommodate two sets of cremated remains. Large Special Plot The memorial is a wedge shaped plaque upon which an inscription can be made. A metal flower container is incorporated into the plaque if required. The large Special plots can accomodate up to two sets of Cremated Remains.
Burial of Cremated Remains within the Crematorium Grounds If you wish to have the cremated remains buried within the crematorium grounds we offer the Exclusive Right of Burial for cremated remains for a period of 30 years in a grave space on a section specifically designed for that purpose. Sanctum (Above Ground Niche) The Sanctum is an above ground memorial vault with a granite plaque and incorporates a flower container. The Sanctum holds two sets of Cremated Remains and has a lease period of 20 years There is another type of plot which holds up to four sets of cremated remains; these are located in the Cemetery section. Reserved Plots The above plots can be reserved in advance. However, the Exclusive Right of Burial is only purchased for a 10 year period, should the plot not have been used at the end of this period then the owner will have the opportunity to purchase the Exclusive Right of Burial for a further period. If the owner does not renew the reserved plot, the ownership of the plot will revert back to the council.
Memorial plaques for Large Special Plot
Small Special Plots The plots can accommodate up to two sets of Cremated Remains, however the remains are scattered loosely into the plot. Should you not wish for the remains to be scattered loosely, the remains can be placed in a velvet bag supplied by 5
Should the plot be used within the 10 year period, the Exclusive Right of 30 years will need to be purchased along with the interment and plaque fee. The remaining years of the initial lease (10 years) will be added to the Exclusive Right. For example, if someone reserved a plot for 10 years and used this after five years - the Exclusive Right of 30 years would total an Exclusive Right of 35 years.
Please be aware that we do not allow any other alternative memorials on the above plots. Leased Memorials The early days and months following bereavement can be a particularly difficult and stressful time. For many, a memorial is very important when trying to come to terms with the loss of a loved one. The purpose of this brochure is to introduce you to various memorial schemes available at Rose Hill Crematorium, where it is hoped that the tranquil grounds are a constant source of comfort to visiting relatives and friends, inspiring contemplation, remembrance and peace. The lease term period for Bronze Tablets, Granite Seats, Ornamental Trees and Granite Vases is 10 years. The lease term period for Rose Trees, Shrubs and Miniature Shrubs is five years. The lease term period for Vases in Book of Remembrance and Flower Room is one year. No lease term is applicable for the Book of Remembrance applications. A renewal letter is sent before the lease period expires; therefore it is important to inform Bereavement Services should your details change e.g. change of address Ornamental Trees and Shrubs These are existing mature trees and shrubs with the placement of a bronze tablet or granite plaque. The amount of lettering on both of these depends on the size of the plaque you choose.
Miniature Shrubs Miniature shrubs are located in the Memorial Gardens. The arrangement consists of a miniature conifer, a heather and shrubs with a plaque. Bronze Tablets The plaques are cast in bronze with an inscription of your choice and are situated on the kerb side of all the main paths in the Crematorium grounds. A small vase is provided with the tablet. Granite Vases The vase is situated in several areas within the Crematorium grounds. The vase is available in two colours, grey or red and a flower vase is provided. Granite Seats Memorial Seats can be placed in all Cemeteries or at the Crematorium; however the location needs to be agreed prior to lease agreement. The seats include a plaque with an inscription of your choice. Flower Room and Book of Remembrance Room Vases The Flower Room and Book of Remembrance room are situated in the grounds of the Crematorium. A vase and small plaque are provided. Book of Remembrance Inscriptions An entry in the Book of Remembrance is popular as this is a permanent memorial. The inscriptions can also be viewed on Doncaster Council’s website: - www.doncaster.gov.uk
A vase is supplied with the tree or shrub for any flowers you may wish to place there. Rose Shrubs and Trees Standard rose shrubs and trees are found in several locations in the grounds. A vase is supplied for Rose Trees only for any flowers you may wish to place. Panel where book of remembrance page displayed
Scatter Monument & seated area available for leased plaques. These leased memorials are located in the grounds of the Crematorium where the Cremated Remains are scattered. The plaques are granite. A small flower vase is placed at the base of the monument. Standard Rose Trees 6
Children’s Memorials There are a number of options available to lease a memorial in memory of a child – please contact the office and a member of staff can discuss the options with you.
Children’s burial area
Frequently asked questions about Cremation Q. How many cremations take place in Great Britain today? A. 1968 was the year in which the number of cremations exceeded disposal by burial for the first time. Since then the proportion has increased and is now almost 70% of all funerals. Q. Do I have to sign anything else at this stage? A. You will probably be asked how you wish to dispose of the cremation ashes. If you know what you want at this stage, you will be asked to sign an ‘authority to dispose form’ for the crematorium to carry out your wishes. If you are undecided, you can discuss this with the Funeral Director. Q. What can happen to the cremation ashes? A. In eighty per cent of cases the cremation ashes are strewn or buried in the gardens of remembrance at the crematorium. A few crematoria have niches where urns may be placed but these are usually on a rental basis and if not removed periodically, the ashes would be strewn or buried. The alternative is to remove the cremation ashes from the crematorium in a suitable urn for disposal elsewhere. This may be by burial in a family grave or by strewing the ashes at another crematorium or in some favourite spot. However, it must be considered that when ashes are strewn on other places, e.g. graves, churchyards, etc., prior permission must be sought and any local rules or regulations obeyed. 7
Q. What are the Gardens of Remembrance at a Crematorium? A. The Gardens of Remembrance consist of areas set aside for the disposal of cremation ashes. Ashes are strewn or buried without any spot being reserved to any one person nor are individual memorials permitted in such gardens to mark the spot. Q. What happens at the crematorium on the day of the funeral? A. The coffin is usually brought into the chapel followed by the mourners in procession. While it is being placed on the catafalque, the mourners take their seats and the service proceeds. At the moment when the committal of the body takes place, the coffin may be obscured from view by means of curtains closing round the catafalque or it may be lowered from the catafalque and descend into a committal room below. The method varies at each crematorium but the most common method today is the use of curtains, there is also a voil curtain (see through type of material) available at some crematoriums, this still allows sight of the coffin once the service is finished. At the end of the service the mourners leave the chapel and may inspect the floral tributes before leaving. Q. What happens to the coffin after the committal? A. It is withdrawn into a committal room where the name plate of the coffin is checked with the cremation in order to ensure correct identity. The coffin is then labelled with a card prepared by the crematorium giving all the relevant information. This card will stay with the body from now on until the final disposal of the cremation ashes. Q. What would you recommend to people about leaving items of jewellery on a body? A. The best advice is that it should be removed after death unless it is intended that it should be cremated. Once the coffin has been placed in the chapel there is no way of recovering such items. Q. Is the coffin cremated with the body? A. Yes. The Code of Cremation Practice requires that nothing must be removed from the coffin after is has been received from the chapel and it must be placed into the cremator exactly as received.
Q Does the cremation take place immediately or are the coffins stored up until a number are ready to be cremated? A. Where possible the cremation will follow immediately after the service. The Code of Cremation Practice which is adhered to by the members of the Federation of British Cremation Authorities requires that the cremation shall take within 72 hours of the service taking place, and that each coffin shall be cremated individually. Q. What happens about the handles and other coffin fittings? A Crematorium regulations require that all fittings shall be of combustible material and normally the handles and name plate are made of hard plastic today. Ferrous nails and screws do not burn and stay with the ashes until they are withdrawn from the cremator when they are subjected to a magnetic field which removes them. Q. What about precious and other metals? A. The temperature at which a modern cremator operates (between 800°C and 1000°C) is such that metals are usually fused with other material so that they are not recognisable. The Code of Practice states that any metallic material resulting from a cremation should be disposed of in accordance with the instructions of the cremation authority and recommends that this should be done by burial at a depth within the crematorium grounds.
to the cooling tray. The ashes then go to the preparation room, and the card stays with them, finally being placed in the urn which contains the prepared remains. As each cremator will only accept one coffin and the ashes must be withdrawn before the cremator is used again, all cremation ashes are kept separate throughout the process. Q. If I wanted to know more about cremation and perhaps inspect a crematorium, how should I go about it? A. Telephone or visit your local crematorium and discuss the matter with the manager there, who will be pleased to answer your queries and show you around the crematorium.
CEMETERY INFORMATION Locations of Cemeteries Doncaster Council manages 13 Cemeteries throughout the borough:O
O
O
Q. Is more than one coffin cremated at one time in a cremator? A. No. The only exceptions permitted to this rule are in the case of a mother and baby or twin children when the next of kin requests that the two be cremated together. Q. Can relatives witness the committal of the coffin to the cremator? A. Yes. Normally two persons are permitted to attend and Bereavement Services should be advised in advance of this wish.
O
O
O
O
O
Q. How do I know I shall get the right cremation ashes? A. As explained, each coffin is identified on arrival and the identity card is placed on the outside of the cremator as soon as the coffin is placed into it. The card stays there until the ashes are removed and it is then transferred
O
O
Rose Hill Cemetery Cantley Lane, Cantley, Doncaster Arksey New & Old Station Road, Arksey, Doncaster Askern Campsall Road, Askern, Doncaster Campsall Ryecroft Road, Campsall, Doncaster Conisbrough (Chapel) Sheffield Road, Conisbrough, Doncaster Denaby Tickhill Square, Denaby, Doncaster Mexborough (Chapel) Cemetery Road, Mexborough, Doncaster Redhouse Redhouse Lane, Adwick Le Street, Doncaster Rossington Wadworth Lane, Rossington, Doncaster Warmsworth Guest Lane, Warmsworth, Doncaster 8
O
O
Windmill Balk Windmill Balk Lane, Woodlands, Doncaster Doncaster Old (Hyde Park Cemetery) Carr Lane, Doncaster
All records for the above Cemeteries are kept at the Rose Hill Office with the exception of Doncaster Old Cemetery whose records are being held by the Archives Department, King Edward Road, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 0NA, telephone number 01302 859811.
Service books are available at all times and individual song sheets are available on request if available. An organ is available to use, although arrangements for the organist must be made in advance with your Funeral Director. Toilets:Toilets are based at the following cemeteries: Rose Hill, Redhouse, Conisbrough and Mexborough but are only open for funerals. There are disabled toilets at Rose Hill and Redhouse Cemeteries.
Graves The Exclusive Right of Burial (see page five for definition) can be purchased for a period of 50 or 75 years. This means that the owner has control over the burials in the grave and the right to place a memorial. The ground itself is still in the ownership of the council.
Cemetery Chapel
General Information Vehicles In order to preserve the tranquil environment in our cemeteries, vehicles are only permitted within the grounds when they form part of a funeral cortege or for disabled access. If you hold a Blue Disabled Badge and require access into the cemetery, please contact the Bereavement Services Office for more information. For safety purposes the speed limit within all cemeteries is 10mph. To maintain the appearance of our grounds, we request that you do not drive on grassed areas. Dogs We do allow dogs into the cemeteries but only under the strict control of the owners and on a lead. Owners are advised to be aware that in order to maintain the appearance of our grounds dog fouling laws apply. Facilities Available: Chapels:There are two chapels in use within the 13 Cemeteries managed by Doncaster Council. (Rose Hill, Conisbrough and Mexborough). A wide variety of music is available which includes choices from the cemeteries own selection of CDs. Families’ own music can be played on request. 9
After a period of time you can ‘top up’ your Exclusive Right period. You would need to speak to Bereavement Services Staff to enquire about this. Most graves allow for two burials, one above the other. As each burial takes place, you will be charged an additional interment fee, to excavate and backfill the grave. What happens if the Grave Owner dies? Ownership of the Exclusive Right of Burial in a grave can be transferred from a deceased owner via that owner’s estate. The means of transfer can be complex and while there is a set procedure to follow, each case must be looked at individually. If you need to transfer ownership, please contact Bereavement Services, where staff will assist you in arranging for a transfer to take place. A transfer will not need to be completed for the burial to take place, as it is the right of the owner to be buried in the agreed grave. However, before any memorial work can begin, a transfer of rights will need to be carried out. Reserved Grave Space Graves can be reserved in advance. However, the Exclusive Right of Burial is only purchased for a 10 year period, should the grave not have been used at the end of this period then the owner will have the opportunity to purchase the Exclusive Right of Burial for a further period. Should the grave be used within the 10 year period, the Exclusive Right still needs to be purchased, the remaining years of the initial lease will then be added to the Exclusive Right.
Rose Hill Cemetery Grounds
Religious/Non Religious Sections These include O
Church of England
O
Roman Catholic
O
Orthodox (Rose Hill Only)
O
Child’s
O
Jewish (Rose Hill Only)
O
Muslim (Rose Hill Only)
When a grave is being excavated, a wooden stage is built for the spoil to stand on. Unfortunately the situation sometimes arises where we cannot avoid putting the stage onto someone else’s grave. We can only apologise for any inconvenience or distress that this may cause but can ensure you that this work is carried out as soon as possible, and the area will be left clean and tidy. Please note that any queries should be directed to the cemetery office rather than to the grounds men or grave digging team. Woodland Graves / Meadowland Graves (Rose Hill Only) These burials are also known as ‘Green Burials’ as they take into account the natural environment more than traditional burials.
We have set aside an area within the Rose Hill Cemetery site for both woodland and meadowland burials. The area for woodland burials is situated in an area where there are already some well established trees. Woodland graves offer the opportunity for those departed to “return to nature” and help contribute to the formation and preservation of natural woodland. The area for meadowland burials is situated in a secluded part of the cemetery away from the traditional burial area. To protect the natural environment of these areas, we do not allow marking of graves or placing of memorials of any type. All graves are recorded on a plan and each grave will have a numbered concrete block or chip reader placed just beneath the surface of the ground ensuring that graves can be found as the area develops. No other memorials or tributes will be permitted. A will be placed on the stage informing families of the date in which the stage will be removed. Grass cutting is also kept to a minimum in this area and the ‘neat and tidy’ appearance of our cemeteries will therefore not apply to this area. An increasing number of people are choosing to be buried in an environmentally-friendly way. Using bio-degradable (cardboard) coffins. These can be chosen to ensure that the woodland and meadowland remain as natural as possible. However, if you would like a more traditional coffin, then we will respect your choice. Please speak to the office about coffin choices. We do not insist on the use of coffins. You may choose a shroud and something practical to carry or contain the body to the burial site, for example a wicker basket or home made coffin. As with all private graves in the cemetery, we grant the Exclusive Right of Burial for a set period of time. Exclusive Rights of Burial are currently available for periods of 50 and 75 years for woodland and meadowland graves. We do ask you to be aware that the woodland and meadowland burial areas are multi-denominational and is not reserved for a specific religion or belief. Cremated Remains may be scattered in a designated area in the woodland and meadowland sections although the exact location will not be recorded. If cremated remains are to be buried in a container then it will be necessary to purchase
10
a grave space. Burial or scattering of cremated remains shall not take place without permission of Bereavement Services or presence of a member of staff. Public Graves (un-purchased graves) Public graves are provided for people who want to be buried but cannot or do not want to buy the Exclusive Right of Burial. The graves are for three; once the grave is full. The details on the stone include the name and date of death of the deceased as given on the Notice of Interment.
Applications for Memorials You will need the permission of the Bereavement Services Manager to erect any memorial or memorial surround within our cemeteries. The installation of new memorials, renovation of existing memorials, and addition of inscriptions to memorials are carefully controlled by the council to ensure that: O
O
Work is only carried out with the authority of the registered owner(s) of the Rights of Burial. Memorials comply with the council’s regulations applicable to the erection and maintenance of memorials, and work is carried out in a manner that will ensure that all health and safety regulations are adhered to.
For information regarding what size of memorial is permitted, please contact the Bereavement Services Office.
Meadowland Burial Area
Applications for memorial work will need to be submitted in writing to the Manager for approval. A fee is willapplicable be charged erection forfor all the applications of new memorials. For further information, for the erection of new memorials. For further please contact the Bereavement Services information, please contact the Bereavement Office. Office. Services Maintenance of Memorials Registered Owners should be aware that it is their responsibility to keep memorials tidy and safe. The council will not accept liability for repairs to memorials which collapse, or memorials damaged by any adjacent memorials. Please be aware that any emergency work necessary in connection to this will be recharged to the holder of the Exclusive Rights. Please also be aware that the council will remove any memorials that become dangerous.
Woodland Burial Area
Memorials Choosing a Memorial Mason Bereavement Services has a Memorial Mason Registration Scheme. Only those Memorial Masons who are on our register are eligible to work in cemeteries under our control. Memorial Masons on our approved list have agreed to fit memorials in line with the latest guidance and to a high standard. They are also required to provide a minimum guarantee for all works carried out. A list of approved Memorial Masons can be requested from the Bereavement Services Office. The Memorial Mason will assist you in completing the necessary application form. 11
The council reserves the right to re-fix, move, line up or otherwise alter the position of any memorial in a cemetery as may be required. Kerb Set Graves Kerb Set Graves are similar to lawn type graves with the addition of a Memorial around the edge of the grave. All kerbs must be securely fixed to concrete bearers. Cremated Remains Plots All cemeteries, apart from Hyde Park Cemetery, offer Cremated Remains sections. Each cemetery plot can hold up to four sets of remains. On the day of interment a concrete slab is placed on the plot which has a flower container incorporated. To place a memorial on the plot, you would need to contact a qualified stonemason. Please be
aware that plaques will need to be removed then replaced for any further interments. The plots can be reserved; please contact the Bereavement Services Office for more information. Cremated remains can also be interred in existing graves, in all our cemeteries. A grave will hold numerous amounts of cremated remains. You must always have the permission of the grave owner to bury the remains within any grave. All cremated remains are interred in either bronze urns, polytainers, environmental containers (cardboard containers) or caskets which are constructed of approved hardwood and suitably weatherproofed. There are other types of containers available, for information on these contact Bereavemnt Serveces Office. Remains can also be buried loosely or scattered on the serface of the grave you choose, however this must be done under the supervision of an autherised member of sraff. Memorabilia permitted on Graves & Plots – Cemeteries & Crematorium Our aim within Bereavement Services is to create a tranquil, respectful place where people can visit and feel comforted by the surroundings and where they can experience a period of personal reflection and private contemplation. Everyone is different and bereaved relatives often remember their friends and family in a variety of ways with messages, or memorabilia. As well as considering your individual feelings for your loved ones, we also must be sensitive to the wishes of all our visitors and keep the cemetery grounds safe and appropriate places for everyone. With this in mind, we respectfully ask that:-
t Memorabilia can be placed within the confines of the headstone base or within a kerb surround: - 8ft (213cm) long and 3ft (91cm) wide for adult graves - 5ft (152cm) long and 2.6ft (79cm) wide for children This allows us to cut the grass and keep the cemetery tidy. t Man made kerbs are permitted, however they must be level with the ground and must be no larger than the dimensions above. Any items placed within the kerbs must not be above 12” (30cm) high, or made of glass or ceramic. t Items on metal stakes, sticks or hooks to be placed in the flower container provided, and must not exceed 12” (30cm) in height. t No items made of glass or ceramic are permitted.
Memorial Inspections Every memorial will be subject to an inspection at least every five years. All defaults following inspection are to be rectified by the grave owner. Bereavement Services retains the right to make safe any memorial in the most appropriate manner. The inspection involves checking the memorial for damage as well as carrying out a simple risk assessment. Appropriate action will be taken on any memorial considered to pose a significant risk. We will always seek to contact grave owners to notify them of the reason this action was taken and request that the memorial is reinstated to the required standard within a given period of time. Family Research Bereavement Services receive many requests from people researching their family history. The registers for the Cemeteries and Crematorium are held at the Crematorium Office at Rose Hill, with the exception of Hyde Park Cemetery (Doncaster Old Cemetery). The records are stored at the Archives on Victoria Road, Balby Doncaster, Tel: 01302 859811. Bereavement Services staff will undertake searches on your behalf, however a small fee is payable. When contacting the office please try and have as much information about the search as possible. Floral Tributes The Council will remove floral tributes four weeks after the burial and then seed the graves as soon as it is practically possible following the burial. Garden graves are permitted and can be planted with annual bedding, providing the height and width do not exceed 10” (25cm) from ground level at any time. The Council reserves the right to lawn over garden graves if they become neglected, or to prune or remove shrubs if the height or width exceeds 10” (25cm) and recharge any costs incurred.
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Frequently asked questions about Burial Q. Are graves filled in straight after a funeral or are they left to the next day?
Q. What happens when the lease expires, on a
The grave is filled immediately after the A. mourners have departed the graveside.
A. When you buy a grave, you purchase the
Q. I’ve got a lawn grave. When will I be able to put a memorial onto it?
A. Most graves now provide a concrete grip,
which the headstone sits on, if there is no concrete grip then the headstone will be fitted at the head of the grave where the land is solid. There is no waiting time for the headstone to be fitted; this can be done soon after the burial.
Q. Why have I only been sold the grave for a set period of time? I want the grave forever. A. The law stipulates that graves cannot be sold for more than 100 years. The set period of time the grave has been sold for can be extended, should you wish therefore can remain in the family.
Q. I own the grave - can anyone else be buried in it if I don’t want them to? A. No. Graves cannot be opened without the permission in writing of the registered owner of the grave. The only exception to this is where the burial is to be that of the registered owner in which case no written authority is required.
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new grave for 50 or 75 years? Exclusive Rights of Burial in that grave for a set period of time. Should you not renew your lease options, the Exclusive Rights of Burial will expire. The registered owner will be written to and offered the option to extend the length of lease.
Q. What happens if or when all the owners have died? A. Ownership of the Exclusive Right of Burial in
a grave can be transferred from a deceased owner via that owner’s estate. The means of transfer can be very complex and while there is a set procedure to follow, each case mustbe looked at individually. If you need to transfer ownership when all owners are deceased you will need to contact us.
Q. Why can’t I have what I want on the grave? A. When a new grave is purchased it is not the
ownership of the land itself that is purchased, but the rights to have burials take place in that grave. These rights are sold, or to be exact, ‘granted’ together with the rights to erect a memorial on the grave in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Cemetery. Prior to a memorial being erected on a grave space, the written authority of the owner of the grave must be given on the permit form, authorising the proposed erection. Memorials need to conform to cemetery regulations with regards to size and fixings, and the memorial also needs to be checked for stability under health and safety regulations. There is a charge made for the ’right to erect a memorial’.
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Our Ourhospice hospiceisisundergoing undergoingaa Our is undergoing a £1.8 million £1.8hospice milliontransformation transformation £1.8 million but aatransformation funding butwe’ve we’ve fundinggap gapof of but we’ve a funding gap of £500,000. £500,000. £500,000. The scheme will transform our hospice to benefit
The scheme will transform our hospice to benefit Doncaster people who faceour life limiting to illnesses. The scheme will transform benefit Doncaster people who face lifehospice limiting illnesses. Doncaster people who face life limiting illnesses. Full details of our appeal are at: Full details of our appeal are at: http://aq.be/de044e Full details of our appeal are at: http://aq.be/de044e http://aq.be/de044e Or you can scan our QR code: Or you can scan our QR code: Or you can scan our QR code: For more information call us on 01302 796600. For more information call us on 01302 796600. For more information call us on 01302 796600.
If you would like to make a donation here’s If you would like to make a donation here’s how can do it: make a donation here’s Ifhow youyou would you canlike do to it: how you can do it: • Visit our Just Giving site: • Visit our Just Giving site: • www.justgiving.com/St-Johns-Hospice Visit our Just Giving site: www.justgiving.com/St-Johns-Hospice www.justgiving.com/St-Johns-Hospice • Text HKOK98 to 70070 followed by the • Text HKOK98 to 70070 followed by the for example £5 followed to 70070by the • amount, Text HKOK98 to 70070 amount, for example £5 to 70070 amount, for example £5 to 70070 • Deposit cash in our collection tins or visit us • Deposit cash in our collection tins or visit us the Hospice. • at Deposit cash in our collection tins or visit us at the Hospice. at the Hospice. • Send us a cheque, payable to St John’s Hospice • Send us a cheque, payable to St John’s Hospice Appeal, Weston Road, Balby, • Development Send us a cheque, payable to St John’s Hospice Development Appeal, Weston Road, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 8JS Development Appeal, Doncaster, DN4 8JS Weston Road, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 8JS
Our development appeal is running until October 2014. After this time, donations will be used in the Our development appeal is running until October 2014. After this time, donations will be used in the continuation and development of our work including theAfter provision of specialist equipment. Our development is running until October 2014. this time, donations will be used in the continuation and appeal development of our work including the provision of specialist equipment. 15continuation and development of our work including the provision of specialist equipment.
Follow Followus uson: on: Follow us on:
com/stjohnsappeal com/stjohnsappeal com/stjohnsappeal
@stjohnsappeal @stjohnsappeal @stjohnsappeal
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Useful contact Information Registering a Death A death must be registered by the Register of Deaths for the district in which the death occurred. Doncaster Register office is located at Elmfield Park, South Parade, Doncaster, DN1 2EB Tel: 01302 364922 E-Mail: registrars@doncaster.gov.uk Open Hours 8:45am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday and Saturday morning by appointment only
Childhood Bereavement Network Tel: 0207 843 6309 E-mail: cbn@ncb.org.uk Web: www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care Tel: 0870 167 1677 E-Mail: helpline@cruse.org.uk Website: www.cruse.org.uk
Samaritans Helpline: 0845 790 9090 E-Mail: jo@samaritans.org Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
Natural Death Centre Tel: 0871 288 2098 Website: www.naturaldeath.og.uk
National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) Tel: 0845 230 1343 E-Mail: info@nafd.org.uk Website: www.nafd.org.uk
Sands Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Charity Tel: 020 7436 5881 E-Mail: helpline@uk-sands.org Website: www.uk-sands.org
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