Funeral Services in Newcastle - FAQs & Useful Links

No. We can help you plan the funeral as soon as you feel ready. Again, you won’t be able to make the final arrangements until the death certificate has been issued.

It is up to you how soon the funeral takes place. Many people find that waiting for a few days enables them to reflect better on the options available to them, and there is no hurry. Do whatever feels most comfortable for you.

Yes. We are here to help and guide you every step of the way. You are assured of our personal and compassionate attention at all times, and we are available 24 hours a day.

It is up to you who leads the service – a member of the clergy, a humanist celebrant, or even a family member or friend. But we will able to recommend, and introduce you to, a suitable celebrant and to liaise with them on your behalf.

This depends on the type of service you choose, and where it will take place, for instance at the crematorium, in a church or at the graveside. Our prices pages give a guide to our individual funeral plans, but we can if requested, provide you a detailed estimate.

Yes. A cremation tends to be less expensive than a burial, primarily because of the cost of the grave. However, costs will vary depending on your individual wishes. We will be available to discuss the options with you, either at our offices in Gosforth, or at your home if you’d prefer.

A viewing in one of our chapels of rest can be a precious and comforting time, enabling you to say goodbye in peace and privacy, and to see your loved one at rest before the funeral. It gives you an opportunity to express your thoughts and feelings, and to leave a small keepsake, if you wish.

There is no expectation on you to have a viewing if you don’t want one, but you may wish to consult family and friends about their own wishes.

The eulogy is the opportunity to reflect on the life, character and personality of the deceased. It can be serious or more light-hearted, and can contain all sorts of memories and anecdotes.

What to include in a eulogy is a very personal choice, and it will help if you speak to family members and friends so that you can include their thoughts too. The most important thing is to be yourself and to speak from the heart.

It can be very difficult to know what to say to someone who has been bereaved; it can feel as though words are simply not enough, and there are no ‘right’ things to say. You will be of huge comfort if you can simply be there to offer your support, in any way that’s needed.

There are several options. You can choose to have them scattered in the garden of remembrance at the crematorium, or to scatter them in a location that was precious or important to the deceased. Alternatively you can bury them in a family grave or a cremation plot in a cemetery. Ashes can also be placed in an urn and kept at home, or buried in the garden.

We offer a wide range of options for alternative funerals, including woodland burials at a number of sites across the North East. We can also advise you on the choice of a coffin made from environmentally friendly materials, such as wicker, bamboo, linen, wool or cardboard.