Help with funeral costs after my brother died suddenly

[Missm68]

my brother passed away today suddenly , he had really bad COPD only 55 he's got no savings for a funeral nor have I or my siblings. so can we get a grant from somewhere to help. with his funeral. never had to do that before ,I'm so heartbroken.

no he didnt work due to his COPD.

no he passed away at home and he's now in chapel of rest.

i would call the funeral director whose chapel of rest it is, today.

we have to wait incase he needs a PM, but the saddest thing of all was his dog curled up to my brother on the sofa 💔

I’m confused - if it was a sudden unexplained death he would have been taken straight to the hospital mortuary and a post mortem likely carried out. An undertaker can only take the deceased once the relevant paperwork has been completed by the doctors.

That depends on the medical examiner/ coroner

So what is it you’re asking for? You could have a pauper’s funeral and still all meet up in the pub afterwards.

You can still have a public health funeral but organise a memorial service for him remember, with photo in front, still with a eulogy

The first answer gives the info on funeral costs, although you and your siblings would have to be eligible, ie on certain benefits.

@Missm68 - I’m afraid you will need to be more communicative here if you need advice.

Either you have the money for a ‘good send off’ or you don’t. Can you please clarify?

(Because otherwise readers might suspect this of being a clumsy attempt at online begging.)

So sad about the dog, is it ok?

It sounds tough but you don't have to spend additional money. It doesn't matter how well known someone is, you can still all raise a cup of tea to him. The caring is what matters.

I would also suggest you be clearer about what you want lest it come across as fundraising.

How many people do you expect to attend? We had my mums wake at home , ordered platters of sandwiches , which cost about £100 iirc,

Well it is coming across that way. If my DB died im not sure the first thing id think of doing is posting on MN.

Ah I’m sorry for your loss!
This happened to us last year, we did a GoFundMe and we raised the money in 24 hours. My Mum was a very loved person and people (us included) were so shocked and saddened.

You could always do a direct cremation and then hold a nice wake for him?

Firstly, i am sorry for your loss.

However, I agree with other people. You can't "give someone a good send off" - if, by that, you mean fancy funeral, cars, flowers, big 'do' afterwards - if the person had literally no money and the relatives that are left have no money between them all.

But you can still give someone a "good send off" if you mean an opportunity to come together with people to remember their friendship with him.

I think what you mean by those words, might be different from what I mean by those words. I'm a member of a Church and have attended really 'good send off's for many people over the years, that have been a service in our Church and a cup of tea afterwards. That side costs very little, especially shared between you and your siblings.

I've managed to apply for a funeral grant.one of my brother's gave us £500. I've another brother and two sisters basically told us tuff luck and they won't be helping us. my mother would be spinning in her grave. the costs soon mount up don't they.its not gonna be mega send off but they best we can do he was only 55 had bad COPD but has to have a PM.😭💔 he was my baby brother...

I don’t think the dog angle will increase the susceptibility to this scam. As much as you’d like it to pull on the MNer heart-strings.

Those who’ve gone 😢 about the “dog” - please see my post above and have a think. 🫤

2 months after he died…which he will have already been well buried by then!

Because of he had income he might have some savings. and I don't believe op

The coop used to let you pay off a funeral in instalments so it may be worth checking if they still do if that could help .