Can you help me plan my own funeral?
We have worked with many people who find themselves facing terminal diagnosis and wish to maintain as much control as possible regarding their funeral.
We are available to meet with you and discuss all the options to help you make informed decisions based on what matters most to you. And equally to ensure that what you definitely don’t want is avoided.
There are some major decisions to be made, such as the option of cremation or burial and any specific funeral or reception venues. There are also many personalised choices that you may wish to specify, such as the style of funeral, music to be played or even the coffin.
Regardless of your situation or age, it is always helpful for anyone to plan ahead to make it easier for those left behind. For this reason we have created our useful My Funeral Wishes document to help you keep a record of your wishes.
Do you have a Chapel of Rest?
We do not have a chapel located at our office or at our private mortuary as there isn’t the space.
If you wish for private time with your family member, to see them resting in their coffin, or with the coffin closed, we hire the chapel in our local church instead.
This gives you privacy and peace away from the bustle of the outside world.
There is an additional charge to cover costs for the chapel hire, transportation and preparation of your family member (see our funeral pricing page).
What does a funeral director do?
A funeral director’s role is to make all the practical arrangements needed, as well as providing you expert advice on the choices available to you.
We will care for your family member at our secure mortuary, ensuring that they are in a temperature controlled environment and regularly checked to make sure they are kept clean, dry and comfortable.
Our friendly staff will liaise with the funeral venue, officiants, florists, musicians and any other third parties involved, to make any necessary bookings and ensure nothing is missed.
You will be able to choose from our selection of coffins which we will prepare.
We will manage any transportation requirements you may have, both for transporting the coffin and also any family member transport to the funeral venue.
The funeral director will ensure that all statutory application forms are properly completed and submitted in a timely manner.
We will pre-programme your music choices, any audio visual tributes to be displayed such as photos or a slideshow (that we can create for you) and live streaming of the service if needed.
We also design and print elegant Order of Service booklets to be handed out to those attending the funeral. An online funeral notice can be created to help you share the details of the funeral and reception, which can also include an RSVP option.
We will also be there on the day of the funeral to manage everything and provide any support you may need. We can collect the ashes from the crematorium and provide a choice of urns for ashes if required.
Our approach is to make things as easy as possible for you, providing calm, knowledgeable and friendly support to help guide you through.
What geographical area do you cover?
We help families arrange funerals across SW London and Surrey. Families may be based locally or anywhere in the UK or abroad.
Most cremation and cemetery burials take place fairly locally, however we also travel to natural burial grounds across the South East of England.
Meetings can be held in person at our main central Twickenham shop or private meeting room in Teddington (by appointment only), however we are equally happy to arrange a funeral via a Zoom meeting or telephone if more convenient.
What is a typical timescale for arranging a funeral?
A typical timescale for arranging a funeral is typically 7 – 10 working days from when you register the death. This means that a funeral will typically take place around 3 weeks after the date of death.
We generally advise to take the time you need, so that nothing feels rushed, however it is advisable to avoid exceeding more than 21 days from when your family member is brought into our care.
Where will my family member be cared for?
Our private mortuary is 12 minutes drive away from our Twickenham office and is a high tech clinical facility that we have invested significantly in.
Each family member is respectfully cared for in a temperature controlled environment and monitored weekly by our qualified mortuary technician for complete hygiene control. How a body responds after death is always subjective. Gentle non-invasive care is our priority, and your family member will be gently cared for to ensure they are clean, dry and gently wrapped.
We do not advocate embalming unless critically essential as it is a highly invasive procedure, using formaldehyde. Its process is also toxic to the environment. This may have been appropriate in times gone by, but is rarely necessary these days – especially with the high tech facilities we have invested in.
Who is behind White Rose? Are you independent?
White Rose Modern Funerals was established in 2018 by husband and wife team, Nick and Jacqui Taimitarha, after personal experiences of funerals that felt impersonal and driven by convention rather than individuality.
When faced with arranging Nick’s mother’s farewell, we created a private cremation followed by a Celebration of Life, which was deeply personal, comforting, and memorable.
This inspired us to offer families a refreshingly modern approach to funerals – transparent on costs, focused on choice, and centred on creating heartfelt goodbyes that reflect the life lived rather than just the loss.
We remain fully independent and family-owned, supported by our small team of arrangers and operatives. White Rose is proud to be an accredited member of the Good Funeral Guide.
Is embalming required?
We do not advocate embalming and there is no legal requirement for it to take place.
It is a highly invasive process that is intended to delay the decomposition process by removing all body fluids and replacing them with a pink coloured dye and formaldehyde. It is not environmentally friendly and may alter the look of the body, beyond what you are used to.
Embalming may be required in certain situations, for example if there is a long gap between the date of death and the funeral or if the person who died is to be repatriated overseas.
It is important to note that natural burial grounds will not accept a body that has been embalmed due to the toxic nature of the chemicals involved.
At White Rose Modern Funerals, we find that our hi tech temperature controlled mortuary facility combined with regular care from our experienced mortuary technician ensure more than adequate preservation of the body in most circumstances.
Should I provide clothes for dressing my family member?
It is not essential to provide clothes as we use a soft coffin sheet to gently wrap the body – minimal movement is kinder.
Should you wish to send a specific outfit, there will be a small dressing fee as detailed in our pricing information.
What paperwork is needed to arrange a funeral?
There are a number of legal and official application forms required to arrange a funeral, depending on whether it is to be a cremation or burial funeral.
The medical paperwork is handled by the hospital or medical practitioner who last attended to the person who has died. A document called the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is sent to a Medical Examiner who will check that everything is in order. It is then sent to a Register Office, at which point you can make an appointment to register the death.
If the death was referred to the Coroner and there is to be a post-mortem or inquest, then there will not be an MCCD. The Coroner will email relevant paperwork to the funeral director and you may be issued with an Interim Death Certificate for use until such time as they allow the death to be formally registered.
It is helpful if you bring any ID documentation belonging to the person who died for the Registrar. The Registrar will issue you with the official Death Certificate. They will also send a form called the Certificate for Burial or Cremation (also known as the ‘Green form’) to the funeral director. We will then submit this to the crematorium or cemetery.
For a cremation funeral, there are two sets of paperwork to be completed. One is a statutory form called Cremation Form 1 which needs to be completed and signed by the Applicant for the cremation. The other is the specific crematorium’s forms, typically called Service and Ashes Instruction Form or Preliminary Application Form.
For a burial funeral, the cemetery will have a Notice of Interment form to be completed. The cemetery will also ask for proof of residency in order to qualify for the residents’ rate. Natural burial grounds will have their own specific form.
The paperwork process involved can seem daunting, especially as it may well be the first time you are having to arrange a funeral. Rest assured that the helpful team at White Rose Modern Funerals will handhold you throughout. We will prepare any official paperwork for you which can usually always be digitally signed to make things easier for you.
Do I have to hold a funeral in a church or a crematorium?
Churches and crematoria are traditional venues for a funeral service, however they are not the only option. We often arrange funerals at non-funereal venues such as Pembroke Lodge, Chiltern Park or one of the many natural burial grounds across the South East.
The difference with an alternative funeral venue is that you have far more privacy, avoiding the ‘conveyor belt’ feel that a busy crematorium may have. It also feels less sombre, as these venues are typically surrounded by nature with beautiful views and birdsong.
Another advantage of alternative funeral venues is that most of them can also host the reception or wake afterwards, making it far easier for those attending and a cost effective way of organising everything.
Alternative funeral venues can accommodate both cremation and burial funerals. The cremation may take place at a crematorium as either an unattended direct cremation – or if you wish to be there, it can be arranged for the following morning. For burials, the natural burial or cemetery interment may take place immediately after the service.
Can I get financial help with funeral costs?
There are a few sources for seeking financial assistance to help pay for the cost of a funeral.
Government assistance
Funeral Expenses Payment
If the next of kin is receiving qualifying benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) then they can apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment (also called a Funeral Payment) to help pay towards the cost of a funeral for a partner, immediate relative or close friend.
This can help towards the cost of burial or cremation fees and up to £1,000 towards other funeral expenses such as the funeral director fees, coffin or flowers.
The Funeral Payment will be deducted from any money you get from the deceased’s estate (excluding the transfer of a primary residence to a spouse).
For more information regarding the Funeral Expenses Payment visit www.gov.uk/funeral-payments or contact the Social Fund to check if you’re eligible – telephone: 0800 169 0140
Children’s Funeral Fund for England
There is also support for child funeral costs through the Children’s Funeral Fund for England for a funeral for a child under 18 or a baby stillborn after the 24th week of pregnancy. For more information regarding this visit www.gov.uk/child-funeral-costs
Bereavement Support Payment
The UK Government also offers a Bereavement Support Payment for when your partner has died which is not means-tested. The amount will depend on a few factors, including how close to your retirement age you are. For more information regarding this visit www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment
Quaker Social Action Down to Earth
Quaker Social Action is a UK-based charity project that helps people on low incomes to arrange affordable, meaningful funerals.
You can seek financial assistance and practical advice from Quaker Social Action.
Do you offer pre-paid funeral plans?
We don’t currently offer pre-paid funeral plans, as we haven’t found a provider we’re confident recommending. Instead, many families find it simpler to set aside savings, as banks will usually release funds to cover funeral costs directly from the deceased’s account.
What matters most is leaving clear guidance on the type of funeral you would (and wouldn’t) want. We provide a free My Funeral Wishes document to help record your preferences, which we can also keep on file if you wish.
If you already have a plan naming White Rose Modern Funerals, we will honour it in full.
How can I keep down the cost of a funeral?
There are many ways to help minimise the expense of a funeral by eliminating unnecessary costs, whilst still creating a respectful farewell.
For example, rather than using a traditional hearse to transport the coffin, we can use our own informal hearsette vehicle (the cost of which is included in our funeral director fee).
These days families are often happy to drive themselves or arrange their own private hire transport, rather than booking traditional limousine transport.
For services at a crematorium or alternative funeral venue, we can often dispense with the services of professional pallbearers by simply pre-placing the coffin in the venue before inviting everyone to enter – or you could opt for family and friends to carry the coffin.
If you wish to keep things simple with the minimum of fuss, then you can take advantage of a discounted pre-10am morning booking at a crematorium. This can also allow you to opt for a family-led funeral service, rather than employing the services of a minister or professional celebrant, and you could even bring your own flowers.
Embalming is rarely required, but still included by default or advised by many larger traditional funeral firms (you may even find it subtly disguised in their fees using ambiguous terminology such as ‘hygienic preparation’ or ‘cosmetic preparation’).
There is no requirement to ‘view’ or have your family member dressed unless you specifically wish to do so – we use a soft coffin sheet to gently wrap the body, so clothing is not needed.
At White Rose Modern Funerals, you only pay for those elements of a funeral that you really need. We have a lean business model that allows us to offer a complete range of options, without the need for us to maintain an expensive fleet of vehicles.
Our pricing for funerals is fully transparent and you will find our coffin choices highly competitive without compromising on the quality (in fact, we opt for sleek wooden handles on our coffins rather than the shiny ‘gold’ plastic ones that you may have typically seen).
Our No Fuss Farewell is a low cost funeral option for those wanting to minimise the cost of a funeral or simply don’t wish to have a large ceremony.
What is the average cost of a funeral service?
There are many factors that determine the cost of a funeral. For example, for a burial the cost of buying a plot can significantly increase the total cost. And the choices for transportation, coffin and venue will all influence the final cost.
As a rough guide, a simple No Fuss Cremation Funeral can cost as little as £2,750 as we help minimise unnecessary costs and take advantage of the discounted early morning rates at a crematorium.
If you have more than 15 – 20 people attending and wish for a touch more ceremony and options, then a Personalised Cremation Funeral will typically cost around £4,000 – £5,000.
A traditional cemetery burial will cost in the region of £3,000 – £5,000 plus the cemetery fees – these depend on the choice the cemetery and residency status, but typically can be around £3,500 to purchase the plot and £2,000 for the interment fee.
For those who wish for a more eco-friendly option or the privacy and beauty of being surrounded by nature, then a Natural Burial can be from £4,300 to £8,000+ including the plot and interment fee.
Direct Cremations, which are unattended, have risen in popularity as the cost is just £1,595 – however this option can feel rather detached and impersonal. In our experience, families appreciate the option of a No Fuss attended service to allow them to be at the crematorium.
At White Rose Modern Funerals, we can talk through the options with you and provide a personalised Fee Summary to show you a breakdown of the costs. We can also help minimise unnecessary expenditure, for example by using our informal hearsette vehicle instead of a traditional hearse and having the coffin pre-placed in the chapel before we invite you to enter.
HM Coroner
A Coroner is an independent judicial officer who looks into deaths that are sudden, unexplained or violent in nature.
If a coroner becomes involved, the funeral cannot take place until the coroner has completed any necessary investigations, such as a post-mortem or inquest. Once this is done, the coroner provides the legal documents needed so that the burial or cremation can go ahead.
Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is the official document completed by a doctor that records the cause of death. It provides the legal basis for registering a death and is required before a funeral can take place.
The attending doctor will usually prepare the certificate, which is then reviewed by a Medical Examiner (unless the death has been referred to a coroner). Once the MCCD has been confirmed and sent to the registrar, the family can register the death.
After registration, the registrar issues the Death Certificate and a Certificate for Burial or Cremation (known as the “Green form”), allowing funeral arrangements to proceed.
Medical Examiner
A Medical Examiner (ME) is a senior doctor who independently reviews the proposed cause of death and the care given beforehand, unless the case has been referred to a coroner. Introduced in 2024 to improve the accuracy of death certificates, the process helps ensure reliable information and gives families the chance to raise any concerns.
The attending doctor suggests a cause of death, which the ME checks against medical records before sending it to the registrar. Once the registrar receives it, the five-day legal timeframe to register a death begins. After registration, the registrar issues a Death Certificate and a “green form” for burial or cremation, usually sent directly to the funeral director.
If you have concerns about the cause of death, you can speak with the ME. In some cases, the death may be referred to a coroner, who investigates deaths that are unnatural, violent, unexplained or linked to industrial disease.
