Arranging a Funeral
As your appointed Funeral Director, we are here to help and advise you in whatever way we can. Our role is to gently guide the families we look after through the different stages of arranging a funeral.
Coronavirus Update – September 2020
The pandemic has affected everyone and not surprisingly funeral services, since the outbreak, are somewhat different to what they were previously. Regulations requiring people to socially distance has caused additional distress to many families having lost a loved one, compounded by limitations on the numbers of mourners permitted to attend funerals, along with the recent requirement for everyone to wear face masks in chapels and churches.
We are always available – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, looking after the needs of each family who come to us. Face-to-face meetings at our offices to make arrangements are possible now, but with face masks needing to being worn. Alternatively, we can arrange a funeral over the telephone, or via a ZOOM video meeting, which offers multiple family members to be part of the arranging process for a funeral, irrespective of where they live.
The health and safety of our staff is of our highest concern, as well as being able to continue looking after families requiring our services. As a result of the ongoing situation our internal procedures, along with those decided at Government level, are regularly being reviewed. We have different procedures for those deceased either tested or suspected as being Covid-19 positive. Whilst this in no way affects how we look after families generally and the arrangements for a funeral, it can result in certain differences, such as the use of certain additional PPE by our staff.
The disruption of the pandemic has in fact lessened the burden on families having to travel to collect the Death Certificate and visit a Registrar to formally register a death. With the introduction of the electronic transfer of key documents, the speed of processing formal paperwork has become somewhat quicker.
Due to social distancing regulations crematorium chapels and churches have introduced ‘local’ rules. The number of mourners permitted to attend a service is entirely down to each crematorium authority or individual minister to set, based upon the size and layout of each chapel/church, but singing by mourners is not being allowed at the services. Our staff will explain the various ‘local’ rules in more detail. Listed below are the current maximum numbers currently permitted in different crematorium chapels we go to regularly:
Some crematoriums offer live webcast viewing of funeral services online, with a 28 day watch again facility. This option has proved popular, enabling family and friends not able to attend to view the funeral service via the internet.
Whilst in the early months of the pandemic, we were not able to offer our limousine our vehicle has since been fitted with a hygiene screen, thereby allowing 5/6 mourners to be conveyed to and from a funeral. Additionally, our Chapel of Rest which we had to close is now open again, allowing families to spend time with their loved ones. This latter option we regret is however not possible should the deceased be identified to be, or suspected of being Covid-19 positive.
We respectfully ask for your continued support in these challenging times for everyone. We are making every effort to provide our families with as normal a service as is practically possible, however, we can only do this in line with the rules and guidelines that makes everything as safe as possible for everyone. Thank you for your ongoing understanding.
Heathfield Funeral Service is an independent, family-owned, funeral directors, based in the bustling market town of Heathfield. Since acquiring the business in 1991 our relationship with families throughout Sussex has been valued over many decades, with our care and attention to detail being renowned as being of the very highest quality.
On a daily basis Wendy Mitchell manages the Heathfield office. Dorothy, Tim, Jacky, Clare and Charles Waterhouse, supported by their loyal and experienced team, endeavour to provide traditional, bespoke or simple funerals, reflecting not only the person who has died, but with the key aim of exceeding the expectations of each family we care for.
As your appointed Funeral Director, we are here to help and advise you in whatever way we can. Our role is to gently guide the families we look after through the different stages of arranging a funeral.
To find out about funerals we are looking after, or to make a donation in memory of someone where donations have been requested by the family of the deceased, please click here.
The cost of funeral expenses concerns many people and you may wish to sorting your financial and other arrangements out in advance, thus ensuring your loved ones will be spared much of the burden of organising and paying for your funeral.
