When to Contact Wathall’s

If your loved one has passed away at home, you firstly need a death certificate signed by a GP.

Arrangements can be made before the funeral is registered, but they need to have registered before the funeral takes place.

We are on duty 7 days a week and 365 days a year to answer your call – Tel: 01332 345268.

Our team of highly qualified funeral arrangers will support and guide you through the whole funeral arranging process to ensure that the wishes of you and your loved ones are our top priority.

The information we need to discuss with you include:

• Details for the deceased – age, date of death, home address, place of death, marital status, occupation and G.P’s name.
• Where you would like the place of worship to be.
• If you would like a burial/cremation and where you would like this to be.
• If you have chosen burial, we need to know if there is an existing grave or if a new grave needs to be purchased.
• If there is an existing grave, we will need to know the owners details if reopening and if the existing headstone needs to be removed.
• If you would like a temporary grave marker.
• If you have chosen cremation, we will need to know if you wish for the ashes to be scattered at the crematorium or if you wish to collect them for private scattering.
• What address the funeral is to leave from.
• The number of cars (6 people per vehicle) you would like.
• If you would like to use our bearers or if you wish to provide your own bearers.
• If you would like the funeral to return to the same address or a different venue.
• If you have a specific minister that you wish to use.
• Which hymns and music you would like during the service.
• If you would like printed service sheets (samples will be provided to help you choose).
• If you would like catering.
• What type of coffin you would like (we have brochures that you can look through).
• If you would like the deceased to wear a funeral robe or their own clothes.
• If you would like to visit your loved one in the chapel of rest.
• If you would like to publish an obituary notice.
• If you would like to publish an acknowledgement notice.
• If you would like the jewellery that the deceased is wearing to be kept on or taken off and handed back to the family.
• What kind of floral tributes you would like, e.g. bouquet, coffin spray, letters, etc.
• If you would like us to provide funeral attendance cards.

To download a printable copy of this list, with space for your own notes, please click here.

If your loved one has passed away abroad the process is slightly different.

If a loved one dies abroad, most families will go through the process of bringing the body or ashes home for a funeral in the UK. This process is known as repatriation.

There are instances where people prefer a burial abroad, which would mean repatriating the remains from the UK.

Here’s a breakdown of how to begin the body repatriation process for your loved one:

1. Notify British authorities – you will need to inform the nearest British embassy of your loved one’s death before you can begin repatriating their body.
   
2. Register the death – do this at a register office where your loved one died. Then, you’ll need to get the Death Certificate translated and liaise with the coroner. They’ll be able to give you permission to repatriate the body.
   
3. Find out if your loved one has repatriation insurance – repatriating a body can be costly. There are considerations such as embalming expenses and shipping costs. This is why it’s important to check your loved one’s insurance policy. Many travel insurance companies will include body repatriation as part of their policy.
   

Once you have all the relevant documentation and permissions granted, you’ll be able to repatriate your loved one’s body back home. Whether you’re repatriating a body to or from the UK, our full repatriation service will help address your requirements and provide guidance.