Planning a funeral

How do I choose the right funeral director for us?

Not all funeral directors are the same. Choosing a funeral director isn’t always an easy decision. You should never feel pressured into choosing a funeral director. All funeral directors are different, so it is important to choose someone who feels right for you to ensure you receive the best possible care.

If you don’t know which funeral director would best meet your

needs we would recommend taking some time to consider

your options. There is no requirement to choose a funeral

director who lives close by, if you don’t feel that they are right

for you. I’d suggest looking at a few local funeral directors

online and considering the following points:

J Do they show their prices online? If not, why not? You

should easily be able to get a rough idea of the cost and not

receive any “surprises” when it comes to receiving a bill. If

the cost looks too good to be true, it usually is! On average,

a funeral will cost between £3-4k so if they are advertising

a funeral at £1k, you can expect there to be lots of additional

“extras” that you need. A good funeral director should be

able to tailor a funeral to meet your budget.

J Can you see who would be looking after the person who

has died? Will it be the same small team throughout the

whole process or will you be dealing with someone else on

the day of the funeral? You should usually be able to see

this if you look on their website.

J Do they offer any further services such as bereavement

support or help with financial support paperwork?

J Will they offer to work with you rather than provide you

with a standard funeral package, where your choices are

limited and not bespoke?

J Are they a member of a trade body such as the NAFD

or SAIF? Both of these trade associations hold their

members to a set of standards that aims to ensure a level

of trust and reliability. Do they have genuine reviews or recommendations via word of mouth? Perhaps they have

awards or recognition from independent bodies? This is

usually a good indicator of the quality of the funeral director.

J Are they accredited by any independent organisations,

such as the Good Funeral Guide? The Good Funeral Guide

and other organisations exist to support and empower

the interests of dying and bereaved people and can offer

valuable guidance in this area.

J Maybe you could ask them how they work and how they

will support you? Do you get a “good feeling” when you

speak to them and confidence that they genuinely care

about you and your family?

J Can you visit the chapel of rest at any time or will there be

additional charges for out of hours? Can you visit as many

times as you’d like?

J Will the funeral director meet with you at your home if you

prefer?

Kelly Bowsher is the first female funeral director at Tom Owen and Son – an award-winning, family run, independent community Funeral Director situated in the beautiful setting of Llandudno. As Funeral Directors based in Llandudno for over 90 years, they have a wealth of experience and have been serving the local and neighbouring communities for many years. For more information, please get in touch with one of the team by calling 01492 860 280 or visit www.tomowenandson.com.