Lodge Brothers Pre Paid Funerals

FUNERAL MYTHS

The funeral industry is surrounded by urban myths. Some people believe that crematoria remove the body for burning and return the coffin to the funeral director for re-use, or even that everyone is cremated at once and each family is given a portion of the mixed ashes. Neither of these are true. Here are the facts:

Do they really cremate the coffin?

Yes they do. The cremators are constructed in such a way that the body needs to be in a container with a solid flat base in order to move through into the heat.

Do they cremate lots of people together?

No they don’t. The aperture (door) of a cremator is sized to accept one coffin at a time. Much of the cremation process happens out of sight of the mourners, which naturally leaves many of us with questions, however most crematoriums, if requested, will allow a mourner to witness the cremation of their loved one

Do we have to pay to take a deceased person through each county or parish?

This was true once in time, but the practice ceased long ago. Funeral directors will charge a fee to transport a deceased person across the country if required, but the amount is merley to cover the costs of the vehicle, the fuel and the wages of two staff to take them wherever they need to go.

Do you still put pennies on people’s eyes?

NO, this was an old practice. We now use perforated eye caps which keep the shape of the eye and hold the eyelids closed for when you visit.

Do you still tie their toes together?

Definitely NOT, however we do attach a toe tag for identification purposes.

Does it cost money to donate your body for medical research?

There may be a charge for transporting the deceased to the local medical school.
If it is your intention to donate your body for medical research, you must make sure you register – full details can be found here https://www.hta.gov.uk/donating-your-body

Donors should ensure that they have an alternative funeral plan should their body donation not be accepted when the time comes.

There are many reasons why medical schools may decline the offer of a donation, for example if the deceased had certain medical conditions or has had a post-mortem examination. Also, medical schools are usually unable to accept donated bodies over bank holidays, and sometimes they are simply “full” and don’t have the capacity to receive any more donations.

Will The Government pay for my funeral?

Local Councils view Public Health Funerals (previously known as Paupers’ Funerals) as a last resort and won’t take on the task of paying for your funeral if there is an alternative. If it’s not possible to pay for the funeral from the deceased’s estate, family or friends are expected to pay for it. The Council will try to find a relative who can pay for the funeral. If a relative is unwilling or unable to pay, they may be asked to sign a written statement explaining their reasons.

What if I don’t want a funeral service?

People who opt out of funeral services usually do so for personal rather than financial reasons. The alternative is a Direct Cremation which is unattended and no ceremony takes place. It is quite simply the disposal of a body. However, this can cause long term distress for those left behind, as the funeral service is generally seen as a vital part of the grieving process.

Funerals can...

Give testimony to the life of the deceased and allow us to remember their importance. Provide stability and balance in a time of chaos and suffering. Allow mourners to acknowledge the reality of death and bring a partial sense of closure. Enable us to express our grief and sorrow in a positive, cathartic way. Also provide a support system for those mourning and give courage and hope to the living.

Can I still be saved by the bell?

Many years ago, if you could afford it, you could be buried with a piece of string in your hand which was attached to a bell at ground level. Just in case you were not actually dead and had been buried alive, you could pull the string to ring the bell. The idea of being buried alive may well have been plausible once upon a time, but now advances in medical technology prevent this, and the practice no longer exists.

Will a Pre-paid Funeral Plan cover the cost of my funeral?

Our Funeral Plans ensure that everything specified in your Funeral Plan will be covered. Your loved ones will never have to make any additional payments for the services included in your Funeral Plan. However, this is not true of all Funeral Plan providers, so be sure to read the small print carefully when making comparisons!

I’ve found my funeral plan cheaper with someone else and they have told me I can use you?

Many funeral plan providers are not Funeral Directors, they simply act as a broker. They will sell you a funeral plan and then nominate a Funeral Director to conduct the funeral on their behalf. In some instances, the Funeral Director will not receive all the money you have paid to the Funeral Plan company. You may also find that the Funeral Director nominated is not as close as you would like. Lodge Brothers took the decision not to carry out funerals covered by plans from other providers, as they do not include the same level of detail and service that we work to, which can sometimes leave us asking families for additional funds. This did not sit comfortably with us and for that reason we no longer accept them.

Funeral Plans are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)?

The FCA will be regulating Funeral Plans in the future but currently there is no government regulation of funeral plans. If a Funeral Plan company tells you they are regulated with the FCA, this is simply not true.

The Funeral Planning Authority (FPA) are the only current regulators of funeral plans. You should always try to use an FPA registered provider.

OUR PROMISE

We promise to help you plan the funeral you want with care, respect and reassurance. We are here to listen, advise and guide you through all your options – every step of the way.

We guarantee there will be no additional costs at the time of the funeral, to either the Funeral Plan or fees as specified in your plan paperwork, no matter how much funeral costs and fees may increase. However, if you were to move from the address stated in the Plan, additional fees may apply. Unfortunately, some of these fees are outside our control. In this event, you would be entitled to a full refund (less the membership fee).

Lodge Brothers do not conduct funerals on behalf of any other funeral plan provider.

About Lodge Brothers Funeral Plans

OUR FUNERAL PLANS INCLUDE:

Professional guidance on the registration of death and completion of statutory forms for cremation

Taking the deceased from a local address to our nearest premises

Care of the deceased prior to the funeral including the use of the Chapel of Rest for visiting*

A choice of traditional or contemporary coffins

Provision of a hearse from a local address to the place of worship for the funeral service, before proceeding to the local cemetery or crematorium

Funeral Director and bearers for the funeral service

Counselling on religious ceremony and advice on notices for insertion in local newspapers

Listing of floral tributes or managing charitable donations in lieu

*Not included in all Funeral Plans. Please see our Funeral Plan Packages for clarification.