Funerals Matter. A guide to assist with options available to Islanders

Transcription

1 Funerals Matter A guide to assist with options available to Islanders

2 This publication is available in Large Print Contact the Jersey Consumer Council or Disclaimer Every effort has been made to ensure the information provided in this guide is accurate and correct at the time of going to print, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or misleading statements. Please note the information in this guide could be subject to change. You will be able to download an updated version from the Jersey Consumer Council s website: Contents Introduction to Funeral Matters... 3 Expected Death... 4 Unexpected Death or Sudden Death... 4 Person Passing Away off the Island... 6 Notifying Friends & Family... 7 Funeral Homes... 7 Things to Consider When Arranging the Funeral Service... 8 Keeping Costs Down...10 Registering a Death...10 Taking Care of the Deceased...11 Choosing a Coffin...12 Burial or Cremation...12 Disbursements...14 Pre-paid Funeral Plans...15 Advantages and Disadvantages of Pre-paid Funeral Plans...16 Alternatives to Pre-paid Funeral Plans...16 Expression of Wishes...17 Community Bereavement Service...18 Afterword...18 Appendix Appendix Useful Contact Details...21 Notes Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier JE1 1BB Telephone: / info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je /

3 Introduction to Funeral Matters The death of a loved one is a difficult and emotional time for every family. People are left at their most vulnerable and so trying to fathom what needs to be done to arrange the funeral, the range of choices and cost involved can be daunting. Funeral directors are available 24 hours a day 365 days a year to help you and are only a phone call away. Their contact details can be found at the end of this booklet. The Consumer Council has produced this guide to clarify the choices available to Islanders. We have worked closely with the three Funeral Homes on the Island and have ascertained the key areas that you will need to consider. We found that the Funeral Homes can help to tailor a funeral around anyone s requirements. A memorable funeral doesn t necessarily have to be an expensive funeral and our booklet plan has been put in place to help guide you through a difficult process. Death should not be a topic which we all avoid discussing it is best to talk about death regardless of your age. remember it is a fact of life. Twitter: Facebook: / Facebook: 3

4 Expected Death If someone is terminally ill at home, Nursing home, or in Jersey Hospice this is classed as an expected death. When someone passes away, you or the nursing staff will need to contact a doctor to attend to verify the death, this may not be your normal GP but must be a doctor. Once the doctor has certfied the death, your selected Funeral Home will need to be informed, so that they can take the deceased into their care. It is not necessary for this to happen straight away, as family members may wish to spend time with their loved one. Please discuss this with your Funeral Director. If the expected death happens 1 in hospital, the person will be taken to the Hospital Mortuary and, after the necessary paperwork is completed, they can be conveyed to your chosen Funeral Home. Please inform your Funeral Home at the earliest opportunity. Funeral Home contact details, including telephone numbers can be found on page 19 of this booklet. 1 The Funeral Director is the Funeral Home s key person who will look after all of your loved one s funeral arrangements. Each Funeral Home will have more than one Funeral Director - this person is your choice - make sure you feel comfortable with your Director. Unexpected Death or Sudden Death If someone dies from any cause other than an illness or disease, for which he or she has been seen and treated by a doctor, the death has to be reported to the police. The police are obliged to make enquiries regarding the circumstances of the death and make a report to the Viscount. In some cases a post-mortem may be undertaken. In these cases the body will not be released to the Funeral Home until this has been concluded. Upon release, the funeral arrangements can go ahead as normal. If the death was due to violence or misadventure or in circumstances which require further investigation, the Viscount will hold an inquest into the death. This is a hearing held in public to establish who the deceased was and where, when and how he or she died. Your Funeral Home will provide you with further information under these circumstances. In most cases, however, the death has to be reported, because the precise cause of death is unknown 4 Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier JE1 1BB Telephone: / info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je /

5 or a doctor has not treated the deceased recently, therefore a death certificate cannot be issued. Whether or not an inquest is held, it is probable that the Viscount will order a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death, or to gain information to assist the inquest. A post-mortem is undertaken by a Pathologist, who is a doctor who specialises in the laboratory study of illness and diseased tissue. Will The Funeral Be Delayed? Funeral arrangements may need to be delayed as some post-mortem examinations are very complex. In all cases, the Viscount s Department is in regular contact with the Funeral Director appointed by the family. As soon as the post-mortem report has been completed a copy is sent to the GP, who will meet with the family and explain the results. Similarly, if the death was in a hospital, the Consultant who was in charge of treatment will be happy to explain the results. The Pathologist is also available to speak to relatives and can be contacted through the hospital. Twitter: Facebook: / Facebook: 5

6 Person Passing Away off the Island Repatriation of the deceased, whilst administratively straight forward can, on occasion, be subject to delays. The paperwork is processed by the bereavement offices in UK hospitals. If the person is sent by Jersey Hospital to the UK for treatment and passes away, the Jersey Hospital will pay up to towards the cost of repatriation. On most repatriations, the Funeral Director will need to get permission for embalming to take place. The Funeral Director will also need to apply to Jersey s Deputy Viscount for permission to bring the body back to the Island but this is normally just a formality. Repatriations from Jersey worldwide are straightforward, but this does attract a fee. Registering a death in the UK is different to Jersey it is the responsibility of the family to register the death, when someone passes away. Jersey Hospital has agreements in place, where the bereavement office at the hospital can do this on your behalf. When making arrangements to obtain a Death Certificate, it is worth bearing in mind that you will need multiple copies the Funeral Director will need certificates to repatriate the body and a copy is also given to Social Security for the application of the death grant. The deceased s bank(s) will also require copies for probate. If you are with someone and they suddenly die there are different rules for different countries. Your holiday company, tour guide or Embassy staff will help you initially, once you have contacted home liaise with your chosen Funeral Home as they can take care of the administration and technicalities involved. 2 Cost as at January Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier JE1 1BB Telephone: / info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je /

7 Notifying Friends & Family Funeral Homes As soon as you feel able to, you will undoubtedly want to notify close family and friends of your loved one s death. Family and friends can assist you in making plans for the funeral and support you in your grief. If it is an expected death, keeping phone numbers handy for easy reference will help at the time of the death. The next stage, in most cases, is to choose the Funeral Home. How to choose Your family may have a long-standing relationship with a Funeral Home, or the bereaved may have had the opportunity to preselect a Funeral Home and possibly even a Funeral Director. The deceased may have left funeral instructions or special service wishes with a Funeral Home and this may help your decision making process. The Jersey Consumer Council recommends you arrange a visit to meet the Funeral Director and look around the Funeral Home where your loved one is going to be cared for, to make sure you are happy and feel comfortable. Funeral Directors will take away a lot of the administrative stress associated with planning a funeral and will also take care of other requirements, such as the removal of a body to the chapel of rest; arranging transport and a variety of funeral disbursements. It is important to remember that every aspect of the funeral is your decision and if you want something to happen in a certain way, the Funeral Director should try his/her utmost to tend your needs and requirements. At every stage, your Funeral Director will advise you of how your ideas, decisions and suggestions can Twitter: Facebook: / Facebook: 7

8 or cannot be implemented and the costs involved. Whilst you may find it difficult at the time, it is important to review the services and prices that each Funeral Home provides. You should be given with a price list at the time of arranging a funeral and a confirmation with a quotation, within a few days of the arrangements being made. This sometimes within a day of the funeral as timings is often very tight. Therefore, the Council recommends that you use our Funerals Aide Memoire to monitor your costs (see Appendix 1) to avoid any sudden shocks You may find one will charge more for professional charges (e.g. administrative costs and support), whilst another has higher supplementary services (e.g. caring for the deceased/personnel required to conduct the funeral). Any jewellery or personal effects should be receipted when the deceased is taken into the care of the Funeral Director. He/she should ask if you wish the jewellery to remain with the deceased for the burial or cremation. Certain items are unsuitable for cremation; your Funeral Director will be able to advise you on this matter. It is possible to add items to the ashes casket after the cremation. Things to Consider When Arranging the Funeral Service Detailed below are the main features of a burial and a cremation. The cost of each will vary so please ask your Funeral Director for a quotation for each option. In some cases you will be costing the deceased funeral services. You will need to consider:- Where and when would you like the service to take place? You have different choices; a church; the crematorium or a non-religious venue. The crematorium is limited to 150 seated guests. Although people can stand outside, this is weather dependant and those outside may not feel as involved with the service, as they can only hear, rather than see it. Who will lead the service, a Minister; a Civil Celebrant; a friend or family member? What form of transport would you like for your loved one s special journey? For example, motor hearse; motorcycle hearse; horse drawn 8 Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier JE1 1BB Telephone: / info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je /

9 hearse or lorry. You will also need to consider how family and very close friends are to be transported to the service. What would you like to be said and by whom? Is there a family member/friend who could read a bible reading or tribute? Would you like hymns; recorded music; live music or, perhaps a piper? Your Funeral Director will advise you, as certain venues have specific rules regarding music. Would you prefer only the family to give flowers and ask other mourners to offer donations to a charity in memory of your loved one? Would you like an order of service, attendance cards; memory cards and or Mass cards produced? Do you want an announcement in a newspaper (local, national or a UK local paper)? Would you like to greet guests at the beginning or end of the service or would you prefer to leave the venue straight away once the service is finished? Would you like family members/friends to bear the coffin? If so, they will receive a training session prior to the funeral. (You should note that you will still incur a cost, as there will be Funeral Home staff on hand to guide you through the process). If you are planning a cremation, do you wish the coffin to remain in the crematorium until all mourners have left, or would you like it to move through the doors at the time of committal? If the service is in church followed by a cremation or burial would you like just the family to go to the crematorium? A church funeral service is normally anything from 30 minutes to an hour depending on content. A service at the crematorium is 25 minutes. Friends and family can help you to arrrange a gathering or wake after the service and you can pass on your thanks in the order of service. Some churches will allow a slideshow (during or after the ceremony) remembering and celebrating the deceased s life. It should be noted that slideshows are not possible at the crematoriurm. Twitter: Facebook: / Facebook: 9

10 Keeping Costs Down Detailed are a few suggestions as to how you can make a funeral memorable, whilst keeping your costs down: Vehicles Use your own instead of additional limousines. Chapel Visits Check whether you are charged extra for visiting the bereaved out of office hours. Flowers Use simple bunches of handpicked blooms from the garden. Ceremony If your service is at the crematorium, you could ask a family member to be Master of Ceremonies someone who can call on other speakers and introduce choices of music, for example. Please note that time is very limited and strictly managed at the crematorium. Order of Service Create your own with a computer. Catering It is common for friends and acquaintances to make contact after a death, asking if there is anything they can do to help. If they do, perhaps ask if they can rally round and give a hand with refreshments at the wake. On extremely rare occasions people opt to manage the funeral process themselves. However, it should be noted that this is extremely challenging and complex process. Registering a Death Death Grant and Special Payments from Social Security In Jersey there are 12 registrars, one in each parish. Once the Funeral Director has the Doctors Death Certificate, the Funeral Director will arrange for the death to be registered. The Funeral Director will receive the number of Death Certificates you have requested and will forward one on your behalf to Social Security. The Certificate will be returned to you with a Death Grant application form and once you have completed and returned it to Social Security they will issue payment of this Grant. You can also arrange for the grant to go directly to the Funeral Director who will offset it against your invoice. You will also receive 3 1the remainder of Death Certificates from the Funeral Director. More can be obtained at any time. However, if it is a sudden death which requires an inquest, the Deputy 3 Please note that you will be charged for each copy of the Death Certificate. You can make additional copies but they will need to be certified by an appropriate person for example a Doctor, Lawyer Civil Servant etc. Check who will charge you for certifying the copy. 10 Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier JE1 1BB Telephone: / info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je /

11 Viscount will issue interim certificates. If burial he will advise Judicial Greffe so you can go through probate process. If there is no money to pay for a basic funeral, you can apply to Social Security for a special one off payment of up to 1, which is means tested. Taking Care of the Deceased The body of the deceased will be transported from the home; care home; Hospice or hospital and placed into the care of your chosen Funeral Home. Family and friends can pay their respects and arrangements can easily be made to visit them in a chapel of rest. Embalming is the preservation of a body from decay and and it may be offered as a service at the Funeral Home. It isn t always necessary the Consumer Council recommends that you always check as embalming is invasive and is costly. Embalming is essential in most circumstances where the body has to be repatriated. However, embalming may also be necessary if a post-mortem is required, or if there is to be a delay between the death and the funeral, for whatever reason. If you wish your loved one to remain at home, this can be arranged, but the Funeral Home will need to carry out additional treatment before this can happen. The family must give permission for any embalming treatment to be carried out. 4 January 2104 Twitter: Facebook: / Facebook: 11

12 Choosing a Coffin There are many choices of coffin and costs will vary according to the type of coffin you choose. When selecting a coffin and its fittings, it is sensible to check the prices, so that it fits within your budget. It should also be noted that if you are considering a cremation, there is a range of coffins which are specifically suitable for cremation. Burial or Cremation You will need to consider whether a burial or cremation is best for you and your family - this decision is mainly down to personal preference; family tradition and/or religious beliefs. Cremation The cost of a cremation, as of January 2014, is and the trends show that costs are rising all the time. Cremations can only take place on certain days of the week, which may affect your final decision. The Consumer Council recommends that you check with you Funeral Director if it is possible to scatter the ashes, with or without permission. There are no restrictions on the movement of ashes in or out of the Island. You can inter the ashes into a grave within a cemetery, depending on the cemetery regulations. The ashes may need to be placed in a casket or, in some cemeteries, they are poured in loose. Prior to internment, it is worth checking the cemetery rules on grave marking. If required, there are some more unusal ways 12 Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier JE1 1BB Telephone: / info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je /

13 in storing the deceased s ashes - for example, encapsulating them in a bespoke piece of jewellry or even being released within a special firework. Check with your Funeral Director if this is something you would like to pursue. Unlike burial, you will need two medical certificates for cremation (this is to verify, beyond all doubt, that the person concerned has died and that there is no foul play, suspicious circumstances or neglect involved). There is a range of coffins which are specifically suitable for cremation. Burials In Jersey, bodies may only be buried in approved burial grounds and the charges incurred for a burial plot differ from parish to parish. If you wish to be buried in a parish that you don t currently abide in and do not have a grave already you will have to apply as some parishes only accept people who live, or are ratepayers in the parish, or have strong connections to the parish. Please note the cost may be significantly higher if you are not a ratepayer within the parish. Your Funeral Director will help you through this process. Graves are normally dug for three people and the Funeral Director can find out who is in the grave. Once a grave is full you may still be able to put cremated remains in them. Memorial stones on existing graves will normally have to be removed for further burials to take place. They can be replaced once a further inscription has taken place or the family request it. Opening the grave and engraving headstones attracts costs that you need to take into account. The Funeral Director can arrange all of this for you but it will add to your final costs. There are no significant factors against either method and, whilst both cremation and burial have their advantages and disadvantages, it all comes down to personal choice. It may be an uncomfortable discussion, but having this conversation with your family members or writing your preference down in your will, it could prevent potential conflicts in the future and you will have a better idea of the costs involved. Twitter: Facebook: / Facebook: 13

14 Natural Woodland Burials St Clement s Parish cemetery have a Woodland Natural Burial area available to all, opening in This will allow for burials to take place away from a cemetry and a tree will be planted in memory of the deceased. No grave or ash markers will be permitted, instead you can lay flowers in memory of your loved one. Burial at Sea It is possible for people to choose to be buried at sea. Whilst this can be arranged in Jersey, it should be noted that it is weather dependent and only a limited amount of people can attend the burial. Normally you would have a church service first, then burial at sea the following day. A burial at sea is complex and costly but can be done. The scattering of ashes at sea, however, can be an easier process to arrange. Speak to your Funeral Director for further information. Memorials in a Cemetery Rose Garden All cemeteries have different regulations regarding grave markers, so it is well worth discussing this option with your Funeral Director before proceeding. You are not allowed any markers at all in the Crematorium Rose Garden. Disbursements Disbursements are costs that are out of the control of the Funeral Home. Depending on the sort of funeral chosen, the disbursements can end up being more costly than the basic funeral elements. The Consumer Council advises you to check the prices of disbursements as you proceed with your arrangements. Listed below are items and activities, which are classed as disbursements: Flowers Service sheets Cremation Fee (this cost has risen by 214 % in the space of nine years) Doctors Certificates (two required for cremation) Minister/Verger Church Organist Grave purchase/re-opening 14 Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier JE1 1BB Telephone: / info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je /

15 Newspaper notices Wakes and social gatherings Gaining an estimate on costs is of paramount importance, as it is all too easy to accumulate a bill that you weren t anticipating. Funeral Homes will provide a written quotation before the funeral and a letter confirming arrangements. The Consumer Council recommend keeping a note of estimated and all planned expenses - using our aide memoire page 19 Pre-paid Funeral Plans Pre paid funeral plans have become increasingly popular in recent years and there s good reason behind it according to recent statistics (published by Sunlife, 2013) the average cost of a funeral in the UK rose from 1,920 to 3,456 from 2004 to The key to pre-paid funeral plans, is that they allow you to organise and pay for your funeral up front (and most importantly at today s fixed price). Funeral costs have historically been rising faster than inflation and the plans are marketed as a financially practical method to planning your own funeral they claim to freeze funeral costs. Plans can be bought either from a funeral plan provider or a local Funeral Director, but it is important to check what s included (they may not cover many of the disbursements you require). Twitter: Facebook: / Facebook: 15

16 Advantages and Disadvantages of Pre-paid Funeral Plans Alternatives to Pre-paid Funeral Plans Benefits: Those closest to you can focus on mourning your death, rather than worrying about the costs and logistics of arranging and arranging your funeral. You will have control over most of the details of the service. You will be able to determine exactly how much money is spent and rest easy in the knowledge that your survivors won t spend too much or too little. You can change details as you go along however, any changes may incur a cost. Risks: The plan may be non-refundable (steep cancellation fees can occur after the 1st month). Always read the small print and ask lots of questions. Some will not cover the costs of disbursements, but give a contribution instead. If pre paid plans aren t right for you, remember that you can always put money aside yourself for funeral arrangements and then specify your wishes in your will. Life Insurance Policies Also known as over 50 plans Pay out a lump sum on your death Unlike pre-paid plans, your family will have the responsibility of arranging the funeral. You can spread the cost, but you could end up paying much more in monthly premiums than the policy will pay out. Premiums increase the older you are when you take out a policy. If you die within two years, policies don t tend to pay out the full amount. Savings accounts Alternatively, you can set up your own savings account for the cost of your funeral. Get an estimate of the cost of your chosen funeral from a Funeral Home, in order to give you an indication of how much you will need to save. Talk to your bank, building society or credit union about opening a 16 Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier JE1 1BB Telephone: / info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je /

17 savings account with a high interest rate. Decide how much you want to save each week or month and keep this account separate from your everyday account. Tell your family about the account and what its purpose is. You will need to consider how long it will take to release monies from this account, as the the length of time to release monies as the process of probate will need to be considered. Expression of Wishes Lasting wishes / Letter of wishes You can take the reins of your own funeral plans by simply putting your wishes down on paper. All three Funeral Homes in the Island conduct this service free of charge and it is a useful method in shaping and organising your own send off. This could also help in keeping control of costs - after your plans have been set out, a Funeral Home can provide you with an indicative quote. The Funeral Home will give you a copy of your wishes, whilst a second copy can be given to your solicitor, family member or friend. Twitter: Facebook: / Facebook: 17

18 Community Bereavement Service This service is available to adults and children of all ages who might be in need of support whilst coming to terms with the death of a friend or relative, regardless of the nature of their bereavement. The service is free of charge and the Jersey Hospice volunteer support workers are fully trained. This service aims to give you an independent space to talk and share your feelings. Please contact Jersey Hospice for further information (see page 22 for contact details). Please note: The Consumer Council is currently compiling an additional booklet which deals with the administration required following the death of a loved one. It will cover areas such as:- dealing with probate; closing bank and utilities accounts and removal from from the electoral register. Please contact us for further information. Afterword Organising the funeral for a close friend or relative is always an upsetting responsibility and with funeral costs continuing to surge, it is becoming an increasingly expensive commitment. It is all too easy to become overwhelmed by the emotion of the situation, to start ordering unnecessary extras and which the situation and order additional extras, which can quickly add up. Contacting the people who were closest to the deceased is an important part of dealing with the death of a loved one, but it is not an easy task to undertake - why not ask someone appropriate to help you? Furthermore it is important to acknowledge that many Funeral Directors are extremely well-practised at offering crucial, professional support to families at difficult times. Arranging a funeral doesn t necessarily have to be an expensive process in order to create a lasting memory and we at the Consumer Council hope that this booklet has provided you with some useful information and helped to clarify what, to many is a rather complex responsibility. If you would like to contact us concerning this booklet, do not hesitate to call us on or us; jcc@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je. 18 Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier JE1 1BB Telephone: / info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je /

19 Appendix 1 We have attached this Funeral Costs Aide Memoire to help you manage the costs of the funeral. List Quoted costs My comments and notes Death certificates Funeral Home / Administration costs Coffin Embalming Repatriation (if necessary) Crematorium costs Burial costs Parish costs Order of Service Hearse(s) Newspaper notices Flowers Minister Organist Headstone/Urn Memorial expenditure Miscellaneous costs Twitter: Facebook: / Facebook: 19

20 Appendix 2 Standards you can expect from Funeral Directors Complaints If you are unhappy with any part of a Funeral Home s service, please speak to the Manger of the business in the first instance. If you are still not happy then contact the National Association of Funeral Directors All Funeral Directors in Jersey are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors and follow their code of conduct. For more information please contact: National Association of Funeral directors 618 Warwick Road Solihull West Midlands B91 1AA T: E: info@nafd.org.uk 20 Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier JE1 1BB Telephone: / info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je /

21 Useful Contact Details List of Local Funeral Directors Maillard s Funerals 34 Great Union Road St Helier JE2 3YA T: Pitcher & Le Quesne Ltd 59 Kensington Place St. Helier JE2 3PA T: De Gruchy s Funeral Services Bagatelle Road St Saviour JE2 7TY T: Jersey Hospice Care Community Bereavement Service Clarkson House Mont Cochon St. Helier JE2 3JB T: E: bereavement@jerseyhopsicecare.com Jersey Consumer Council Liberation Place St Helier Jersey JE1 1BB T: E: info@jerseyconsumercouncil.org.je Twitter: Facebook: / Facebook: 21

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