Knowledge Base

Funeral plans are a way to set money aside to pay for a funeral in the future. They can provide peace of mind, knowing that the financial burden of a funeral has been taken care of. Find out about our pre-paid funeral plans options here.

Caring for your family member at home during their final days can be hugely comforting. We have shared some useful guidance on planning ahead for this and what to be aware of that we hope you find useful.

Here’s a guide to what you need to do immediately following a death in the home, where the death has been expected. Once the death has been verified, call White Rose Modern Funerals on 020 3281 1045 to arrange for us to bring your family member into our care.

For sudden or unexpected deaths in the home, call 999 and ask for an ambulance and police – in these cases, the person who died will be under the care of HM Coroner until the cause of death has been ascertained.

Here is what you need to know if your family member has died in hospital. The main point of contact will be the hospital bereavement team (also known as Patient Affairs or Bereavement Office).

All deaths should be registered with the register office that is most local to the place of death, ideally within 5 days – but in practice it is often longer. This is done via an in-person appointment with the registrar (during Covid restrictions it was done via a telephone appointment).

The Coroner will investigate any deaths that are unexpected, sudden or violent in order to ascertain the cause of death. This will delay the death registration process and impacts on the paperwork requirements, all of which we at White Rose Modern Funerals can help you navigate. The funeral cannot go ahead until HM Coroner has granted permission, however we can begin to plan ahead and make arrangements.

Arranging a funeral can be daunting, especially if you have no prior experience. Here is a useful guide on where to start and things to think about, however at White Rose Modern Funerals we will run through all this with you in person.

Funerals where there is no third party official (e.g. Celebrant or Minister) leading the service, with family and friends taking the lead, can be the most personal and intimate. Here’s what to think about and how to structure a family-led funeral service.

Should you choose a Minister, Celebrant or Humanist? Here’s a handy guide to help you understand the options.

Music, whether pre-recorded or live, gives atmosphere to a funeral service, allowing those attending time to reflect. Most funeral service venues have a specific music system with an unlimited music library. At White Rose Modern Funerals we can also recommend live musicians, including singers, organists and instrumentalists.

Pallbearers are the people who carry the coffin from the hearse into the funeral service venue. These may be our team of professional pallbearers – or you may prefer for family and friends to act as pallbearers, in which case we will instruct and guide them throughout. Here are some useful tips for anyone who wishes to pallbear.

For a cremation funeral, you will need to make a decision regarding what to do with the ashes. You don’t need to decide immediately, but it’s good to have an idea of what you may wish to do. Here we explain the main options for ashes, including interment in a grave or scattering on land or water.

White Rose Modern Funerals are a small, independent team of funeral directors with a fresh, contemporary approach to funerals. Every service is bespoke and our pricing is transparent. Find out more about the White Rose difference and read feedback from the families we have helped.

You can meet with the White Rose Modern Funerals team either via a Zoom online meeting or in person at our office. Our main office is in Teddington, however we also have private meeting rooms at other locations.