As promised Funeral Director here (waves)

[Not asking for sympathy]

The FD who buried my Dh was pretty awful, mainly because he didn't listen. Having said that, he was brilliant at the ceremonial walk in front of the car which was a lovely moment. What are your favourite parts of the job, and which do you think you are best at? Do you delegate other bits?

Thanks ooh, I’d probably like a wee service

Can I ask about not embalming? If this isn’t done how long would the body last (I presume you have cold storage and just get the body out for viewing)
I recently went to see my grandparent who had been dead for three weeks and had been embalmed, but not for a few days after death in hospital. He looked perfect, obviously dead but just perfect. I presume this would not be the case had he not been embalmed?
I think I want a woodland burial. Would this mean I could not be embalmed? Thanks for this thread, like the crematorium one I think it will be really helpful

Hi mummy - and others who have been asking about ashes and cremation - you may want to have a look at this thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/3264486-crematorium-technician-here?msgid=78311481

@Ilovekermit kindly answered many queries and @oohnarna joined in and it was suggested that a FD thread may be of interest too

What proportion of funerals have open coffins, in your experience?

Also, have you ever arranged for a body to be waked at home?

Following.

Do we get the correct ashes? How does the crematorium assure this? What about cross contamination?

my brother died, my mum was in sickness benefit art he time. she couldn't get help.
she ended up in £3500 worth of debt that took her 10 years to pay off.
left her with many mental health problems thanks to grief, depression, anxiety and stress.

screw that.
I'll be making it known I want no fuss at all. Chuck me in the canal with a breeze block tied to my boots. don't want my family saddled with debt.. but then I'll plan my own and put for it.

Can I ask you to detail what happens when someone dies at home , an expected death and the family ring you ? This is something that occurs quite often in my job and I would like to have a bit of knowledge of the other side of things. I always try to tidy people up so they look presentable in case other family members are going to visit to pay their respects .I always talk to them and handle them as though they are still with us. One thing I have always wondered is how long from the family ringing you is it until you come to collect the deceased person ?

Can ashes be buried in a coffin? I have my daughter’s ashes at home but want them to be buried with me so it would be a double burial at the same time with only one coffin. Would that be ok? Would her ashes be checked to make sure or confirm that is what they are or would she be left alone in her urn and tucked in with me?

What happens if the clothes relatives give do not fit the body? My daughter was a newborn when she died and I always worried that the sleepsuit was too small. Would they have cut the feet to make it fit or just tucked it round her?

What happens when the deceased has no known living relatives?

What does it mean when someone is embalmed?

Also, at the end of the film Amadeus, a reusable coffin with a flip open end is used for the burial and he just shoots out into the grave. Do you know if that is possible in the UK? Burying a coffin seems such a waste.

If on benefits or family broke, how do you afford to die? I was saving money for the future then realised that "nest egg" will likely pay for my parents funeral. What are the cheapest they-were-loved-in-life-lets-not-make-a-fuss-in-death type funerals? I wouldn't mind dirt cheap. No frills. No extras. Just get a hole and stick them in like pets. Of course they want to be burnt up, short of putting them on a bonfire not sure how I can afford any of it. They will die but hopefully not for a LONGGGGG time.

Thank you for doing this.

Is it true that you have to get special permission to move a body across different counties - if so, is this ever refused?

Really interesting reading these. What actually is the process of embalming? And what is it for?

Wait OP, tell us about the spooky things you have seen, more details please!

The coroner was involved when the police stood guard at his room door in the home but I've no idea why. I assumed it was some normal procedure. I was with him when he died along with my brother and a care worker so no reason to think his was a suspicious death. He had Alzheimer's and died of natural causes