As promised Funeral Director here (waves)

[oohnarna]

I am ready for your questions!

I will do my best to answer, I have a few bits I am doing at home but will answer regularly throughout the evening as much as I can.

What happens if a relative dies overseas where they have no family?

Toad of sadness - I can't speak for all FDs but we would make him as presentable as possible, if needed we would sew the wounds for him or we might call a specialist embalmer in to assist. We would be guided by the family also.

Our miracle - if cremation on one of the legal forms it is asked 'have all near relatives been informed of the cremation'

Burials not so many forms as the coffin ca be exhumed it needed.

Thank you.

How do you seal the mouth?

Holiday insurance would likely pay for repatriation. Lots of people with no family have funeral plans in place and a representative to over see the funeral arrangements.

Sorry, I should have clarified - they live overseas.

@FVFrog

We suture the mouth. Using a needle and thread. This is the best method. Some FDs use glue but this doesn't look as natural.

Having recently been through a bereavement, I'd like to know what happens to the body from when it is collected from a house until it's taken to the crem please. How do you move the body from a bed to the ambulance - in a bag or covered in sheets? And then what happens when the body arrives at the FDs? Thanks very much

Do you need permission to move a body from one county to another within the UK? Who grants this - is it ever refused and what would you do then?

I live near a county border with the Funeral Directors in the nearest town being in the next county. Do the FDs need permission to move the body from home/ hospital to their building and back again for the funeral?

If a family have specifically said that they won't be viewing a body do you still prepare them in exactly the same way ie. ensuring that they look natural, suturing the mouth etc.

Are there ever female pall bearers at funerals if the deceased doesn’t have any male relatives that can carry the coffin? Are coffins a standard weight or does it depend on the type of coffin, weight of the person etc?

I thought I’d read once that children’s funerals were done for free, yet I see lots of crowd funding requests for help with costs.
Do you tend to get people shopping around for a fd?
Can you ‘hire a coffin as I don’t see the point of buying one for it then to get burnt. Surely it makes more sense for them to be reused.

Hi coffee - sorry for your loss. We use stretchers (a bit like an paramedic would use) the person it wrapped in a dignified manner and taken back to our premises where they are transferred to a clinical rack, where they remain covered and secure. Upon clearance we then get them washed and dressed and placed in their coffin. All is done with dignity and respect.

Sorry if this is insensitive or too much.
I heard that dead bodies 'leak' is this true? Where do they leak from and what do they leak? Sorry again if this question is too much.

Oh my god - yes always still get them washed and dressed unless the family specifically said they didn't want us to.

What would happen if a relative hasn’t been informed of the cremation? Is it fraud to knowingly not disclose information on those forms?

You can't recycle coffins. One coffin per person! They are made to measure to.

Children's funerals as a rule are free, however some celebrants and ministers still charge and the free funeral would be a standard funeral so horse drawn, dove release, upper range caskets would be payable.

Bodies do have fluid that can leak yes.

I don't want to be too graphic but 'wadding' is used to compact orifices to ensure fluids do not leak - however when deterioration starts leakage can happen.

All funeral homes will be different. Common place is one room with racking.

@needle the church do not charge a fee for there part of funerals for children but there are many other associated costs.

When a funeral director is asked to remove a deceased person from their own home what sort of vehicle is used to collect the body? I was a bit shocked recently when a deceased neighbour was removed from his home and carried out in a coffin and put into a hearse. I always thought it would be like, a black van or black ambulance-type vehicle.

The racking is only for those not dressed and ready. Once they are washed and dressed they will not rest on the rack but will be in their coffin. The coffin rests on a set of wheels (biers) until they are placed in the hearse for the funeral.