Death and Bereavement

At such a difficult time for relatives and friends, it's important to make the process as easy as possible. Here are some useful links which may help you plan and prepare.

Registering a Death
A death must, by law, be registered within five days.  Our Registrars can help during this difficult time.  For more information, go to /community/birthsdeathsandmarriageregistration/deathregistration.htm or call the Registrar on 01472 324861.

Funeral Directors
Our Registrars provide a list of funeral directors in the North East Lincolnshire area at /community/birthsdeathsandmarriageregistration/funeraldirectors.htm.
Alternatively, you could contact the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors at http://www.saif.org.uk/website/index.html which supports small, independent and family-owned firms.

Organising the Funeral Yourself
It is possible to organise a funeral yourself, without employing a Funeral Director.  A guide for the public, which sets out everything you need to know an contains useful contact information, is available from our Crematorium Office.  Call 01472 324869 or 324868 or go to the Crematorium on Weelsby Avenue (open Monday to Thursday 9:00 - 5:00 and Friday 9:00 - 4:30) to pick up a copy.

Cemeteries and Crematoria
A list of cemeteries and crematoria in the area, including contact numbers and opening times, is available at /community/burials/cemeteries/.

Natural Death and Green Funerals
The Natural Death Centre helps those people who would like a green funeral, or who would like to organise the funeral themselves.  Go to http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/, call 0871 288 2098 or write to The Natural Death Centre, 6 Blackstock Mews, Blackstock Road, London, N4 2BT.
A list of woodland burial sites in the UK can be found at http://www.igreens.org.uk/woodland_burial_sites_uk.htm.
Biodegradable coffins, made from cardboard, are available from the charity Environ.  Go to their website at http://www.eco-coffin.co.uk for a list of styles and prices.
Willow coffins are available from a basket-weaver in Norfolk.  Call Tony Carter on 01953 457893 for more information.

Alternative Funerals
Peace Funerals offer alternatives to the traditional funeral service, including green and woodland burials, railway funerals, environmentally-friendly cardboard or painted pine coffins and horse-drawn hearses.  Go to http://www.peacefunerals.co.uk for more information.

Non-religious Ceremonies
The British Humanist Association offers non-religious funeral services, conducted by one of their registered officiants.  These services can be tailored, through the addition of words, music, speakers and time for quiet reflection and prayer, to suit your preferences.  Go to http://www.humanism.org.uk for more information.

Burial at Sea
Burial at sea is allowed in certain areas of the UK, however, a licence is required.  More information can be found at http://www.mceu.gov.uk/MCEU_LOCAL/FEPA/FEPA-burial-main.htm.

General Advice
The BBC's website has some very useful advice and links about death, bereavement, and funerals at http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/bereavement/practical_funeral_options.shtml.

Bereavement Care and Support Groups
CRUSE is a charity which specialises in supporting people through the bereavement process. Anyone can contact Cruse if they want to talk about themselves or someone they know who has been affected by a death. Their website at http://www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk provides information for the bereaved and advice for their friends and family.  You can contact the CRUSE Helpline on 0870 167 1677 or alternatively, send an e-mail to helpline@crusebereavementcare.org.uk.
The Child Bereavement Trust is a charity offering support to children and young people who have lost someone close.  Their website is at www.childbereavement.org.uk.
Compassionate Friends, at http://www.tcf.org.uk, offer support to bereaved parents and their families.
SANDS, at www.uk-sands.org offer advice and support to parents whose baby has died at or soon after birth.