Has anyone been to a Public Health Funeral?

[MixedFeelingsNoFeelings]

If so, what was it like? My siblings and I are about to arrange one for our father, NC for 50 years. I can't find out much about them. If I/we attend it'd be good to have some idea what to expect, practically and emotionally. Thanks.

Guess that's nobody then!

in Scotland the cremation or burial takes place either at beginning or end of the day so prob 9am or 5pm. There will be no service and no celebrant - the local anuthority person organising it can say whether there will be an opportunity to say some words. People can attend but it will be carried out quite quickly.

Sorry for your loss.

Yes, hosted them too (church). Generally it's early, 9am or so and they pay for the duty clergy, person's own clergy or independent celebrant from the list up to a certain price, smallest chapel at the crem, most basic coffin, no cars, flowers etc. (In our case the church has funded a small spray of flowers, basic printed order of service and waived our church charge).

Different local authorities may have different rules, this is just what mine funded

Sorry for your loss. You might find this info helpful
https://www.simplicity.co.uk/advice/paupers-funeral#:~:text=What%20happens%20at%20a%20pauper's,and%20date%20for%20the%20funeral.

I myself did not attend as I wasn't close to the deceased, but a family member went to one. It was a cremation. They said it was a desolate sort of sending off.

There was no music except recorded generic organ music, no oratory, no flowers, no personal touches of any kind.

The coffin was brought into the Chapel, it rested there for a few moments then was loaded onto the conveyor belt and slid behind the curtain. That was it.

Local authorities arrange public health funerals and they have some discretion within the law to do different things. So it might be worth contacting the council who will do your df's and asking for details about how it will go.

Condolences. Bereavements are not easy, even if you're estranged.

I've paid the council back for arranging one after my uncle died, had no contact with him for a long time, didn't find out he died for years, found him through an old neighbour and the council. They provided a simple funeral with cremation and it was attended by a priest and the nice council lady who organised it, she had also tried to organise for his ashes to be placed in his parents grave but it wasn't allowed and his ashes were already scattered by the time I came along

Thank you. 'A desolate sort of sending off' is what I imagined. I think I might be the only relation there.

I can also imagine feeling a little embarrassed/judged maybe... who gives their Dad a pauper's funeral after all, however bad he was? But he was so against sentimentality of any kind, it really is 'what he would have wanted'!

I attended a couple as a social worker. Just me and a council lady. It was fine, quiet, a few words spoken by the celebrant.

That's decent of you @LadyAlariasTrumpet.

The council lady sounds lovely. It's a world we know nothing about isn't it. I guess there's people in this line of business all over the country, quietly finding ways to try and commemorate someone who's died alone.

That does sound more elaborate than average @mitogoshi, and very caring of your church.

Thank you. Makes sense it would be at the least popular times I guess!

Much appreciated. That website is more helpful than GOV.UK.

No problem. I wish you all the best.

Do you mean a Pauper's Funeral (where there are no funds to pay for a funeral) or a Direct Cremation (no ceremony, just disposal of the remains).

Public Health Funeral is what the coroner's office call it when they ring me. Costs are paid out of the estate if there is one. First time I saw it used interchangeably with Pauper's Funeral was when I went online. I haven't heard of Direct Cremation.

my late fil said to us no one apart from me and dp ever visited him in the home he was in for 3 years so he said he did not want them weeping and wailing round his graveside.
Our local firm dealt with it; we had a chance to see dad beforehand plus left a spray of flowers. they took Dad early one morning before official opening for services so to speak to the Crematorium then they brought the ashes back later so we could pick them up when we wished.
a good funeral director will guide you but if you wish to have a paupers funeral as they are known due to no funds the local council will help