Articles

Guide to non-religious funerals

Whilst many funeral services are traditional and include religious aspects, this is no longer the only option available. Many people now opt for a non-religious funeral instead, focussing on remembering the person and celebrating their life. Readings from religious texts, singing hymns or saying prayers are taken out of the service and replaced with non-religious alternatives. Whilst there are no strict rules or customs to a non-religious funeral, they tend to follow a similar format to the more traditional religious services, with a few major changes. Here ...Read More
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A parent’s guide to talking to children about death

Children can be extremely strong and resilient. However, having to tell your child that someone close to them has died can be a terrifying prospect. Parents can feel overwhelmed and may not know how much information to divulge, how to tell them, or when they should do it. We understand how difficult this situation is, especially when children are involved. Here is a parent’s guide to talking to children about death. Following the death of a loved one, anyone can ...Read More
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A Guide to Different Types of Grief

Grief may be a universal emotion; however, we all experience it in completely different ways. There is no time scale to grief or an "average" experience. Whilst we will all inevitably face grief in our lifetimes, we may not be aware that there are several types of grief. All are valid and we may experience several of them at different stages. Here we describe the different types of grief.  What is grief? Grief is one of the most misunderstood emotions, ...Read More
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Social Distancing and Grief

Grief is always a challenge, however, it is currently even more difficult due to the social distancing measures that have been put in place to help stop the spread of COVID 19.  With changes to funeral services, especially limits on how many people can attend and who you can see, it is now more challenging than ever to perhaps receive the help and support you need. Here we share some advice regarding social distancing and grief. Seek support in new ways and reach out  Of ...Read More
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A Guide to Digital Legacies

Over the past few decades we have all become dependent to some extent on technology and the digital world and have ended up with a number of digital assets. These assets are part of your property and therefore, there is a lot of discussion about what happens to them after someone has died. Here, we discuss in detail what digital legacies are, what happens to them after someone dies, and what can be done to protect them.  What is a digital legacy?   We will ...Read More
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Misconceptions about grief

Grief is universal and something everyone will experience at some point. However, there are some aspects that remain misunderstood. These misconceptions can end up being dangerous to some. Here we discuss what some of the most common misconceptions about grief are, and which elements of them are actually based on fact. Everyone grieves in stages   Although grief is a process, not everyone follows the same rules. Many people use the 5 stage process developed by Dr Kubler Ross. These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, ...Read More

Stages of Grief- Understanding the Grief Process

Grief is universal yet everyone grieves differently and there is no correct way of grieving. However, psychologists have noticed some common stages that many people experience after a loss. Although these stages of grief have been acknowledged, people may experience the various stages of grief in any order. They may also experience the stages a varying number of times. Grief is not a linear process that can be predicted. We are all individual and therefore we experience grief in unique ...Read More

Dealing with special occasions after the loss of a loved one

Grief affects us all in different ways and there is no specific time period that it takes to stop grieving. The loss of a loved one will be with you for the rest of your life, but whereas some days you will cope fine, other days will be a struggle. It is common for some days to be particularly emotional and sad if it is spent celebrating a special occasion. Whether it is the birthday of your loved one, a ...Read More

The changing trends in funerals

Thinking about funerals is never a happy task. Whether you have lost someone close to you, or are thinking about your own funeral plans, you might find it difficult to consider all the different elements of a funeral. It can be overwhelming to understand what type of funeral you would like to organise. Nowadays, there is not just one way to have a funeral. So many elements of funerals have evolved over the years.   In Victorian times, a funeral ...Read More

What to consider when choosing funeral music

  There was a time when choosing funeral music meant picking from a list provided by the funeral director, which contained a limited selection. Usually these songs were traditional and either instrumental or hymns. Times have now changed. We now have the choice to play pretty much any song, so the options are completely up to you and how best to celebrate the person’s life. Choosing music for a funeral helps create a personalised service that pays tribute to a ...Read More