Funeral museums around the world
Recent research by Safe Hands shows that the taboo around discussing death may be lifting, with 30% of us prepared to think more about our own death and funeral planning. What better way to do this than with a trip to a museum? With many established museums around the world specialising in the history of […]
Lockdown funeral: what you need to know
A lockdown funeral is becoming in the norm for those wanting to say goodbye during the current pandemic. Organising a funeral for loved ones can be a daunting process at the best of times and recent restrictions due to government attempts to contain COVID-19 have made this even harder, not only for individuals involved, but […]
A memorial plaque to remember loved ones
A memorial plaque is a popular way of creating a lasting mark of a loved one. A very British place to put a plaque is on a garden or park bench – click here for our article on how to create one. However, if you’re looking for something slightly different, there are many other places […]
Creating a memorial bench for a loved one
Most of us will have had the experience, whilst on a walk or trip to a park, of sitting on a bench that has a plaque commemorating dearly departed. As a garden and green-space-loving nation, it is a particularly British way of marking the loss of someone close. Sitting on a memorial bench with a […]
What to do with the cremation ashes
For many of us, the ashes remaining from a cremation are a precious reminder of a departed loved one. Some people like to keep them in an urn on the mantelpiece of hidden away with other treasures. But there is an increasing demand for more creative ways to retain those memories. In this article, Safe […]
Should I take flowers? Your guide to attending a funeral…
If you haven’t been to a funeral for a while, or indeed, ever, then you might be unsure of what to take with you. Funeral Flowers? A card? Tissues or a handkerchief at least? This brief guide will help you know what to take when attending a funeral. First – take a friend. Unless the funeral […]
Understanding a Sikh funeral
If you’ve been invited to a Sikh funeral but you’re not sure about the etiquette involved, this short article will help you. You may be close to a Sikh family, but the rituals and beliefs might not be something you’ve talked about – and that’s normal. What’s also normal, is to be a little […]
Understanding a Muslim funeral
Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity – The word ‘Islam’ in Arabic means submission to the will of God, and the followers of Islam are called Muslims. While the Islamic faith holds some beliefs to be common, there are many different sects so the rituals and beliefs about death can vary. If you’ve been invited to […]
Letters of administration – what are they?
In short, a letter of administration is a document that’s issued by the Probate Registry to let someone to act as the administrator of your estate, after you die. If you’ve appointed executors, in a will, there won’t be need for letters of administration – your executors will need to apply for a ‘grant of […]
Pallbearers – what do you need to know?
In a traditional funeral setting, four to six pallbearers will usually carry or escort the coffin from the funeral director’s hearse, into the funeral venue. If the person is being buried, then the pallbearers will also accompany the coffin to the graveside – it’s an honour to be asked, but you might not be sure […]