funeral directors Hitchin UK with Austins: Austin’s Funeral Directors is one of the oldest and most prestigious companies in Hertfordshire. (We’ve been helping Hertfordshire people for over 320 years.) Each year, the directors choose a local charity to support. As a family business working closely with members of the community, we carefully select charities helping local people. During 2024, Austin’s chosen charity is Feed Up Warm Up, a homeless charity based in north Herts. Feed Up Warm Up offers food and friendship to homeless people in our community who need support. However, it is not a traditional food bank or homeless shelter. Instead, Feed Up Warm Up provides a safe, welcoming space, one evening a week, where guests can pop by to enjoy a hot meal and a chat, hear some live music and find practical and emotional help. Discover extra details at https://austins.co.uk/making-arrangements/funeral-charges/.
Funeral celebrants often work closely with funeral directors, family members, and other relevant people. This ensures the funeral or memorial service is a fitting tribute to the life of the deceased. They aim to create a meaningful and uplifting experience that helps the bereaved celebrate the life of their loved one and find closure during a difficult and emotional time. How to choose a funeral celebrant – Choose a funeral celebrant who you feel can help you make the funeral process as calm and meaningful as possible. Providing guidance and support to the family throughout the funeral planning process.
Scattering Ashes – This is an increasingly popular option and usually involves a few words spoken as a send off or final goodbye for your loved one. Relatives usually choose a place that was meaningful to their loved one. Alternatively, you can choose somewhere picturesque or peaceful. In the UK, ashes can be scattered anywhere with the landowner’s permission. Creative Options – There are several creative ways in which you can use your loved one’s ashes. Increasingly, people have jewellery made using ashes. Another art-orientated choice is to use the ashes within a painting, sculpture or glass artwork. For music lovers, ashes can be used to make a vinyl record. Some people choose to grow a tree using the ashes. It’s important that this is done using a tree pod. (Cremated ashes can harm plant life if interred on their own due to the acidity involved in the embalming process, but tree pod burials prevent this from happening.)
It remains important to acknowledge someone’s death. This is becoming increasingly personalised and experience based. Some people would rather avoid the stress of the funeral service, whereas others find this an important comfort and opportunity to mark the start of a new chapter in life. Above all, it’s important to remember that regardless of the type of funeral, it’s important to reflect the wishes of the deceased person and their loved ones. The team at Austin’s Family Funeral Directors can guide you through the choices available with compassion and expert knowledge. We’re here to help. Read additional info on austins.co.uk.
It’s essential to be relevant and honest … to speak from the heart. You can ask others for their input or any memorable stories they would like included in the eulogy. Before the funeral itself, practice reading the eulogy aloud. This helps you to feel more confident when reading it during the funeral service. Writing and reading the eulogy can be an emotional process and it’s acceptable to show your emotions during this time, from crying to laughing! The team at Austin’s is here to help with guidance about the timing involved with funeral services and eulogies. If you’re arranging a funeral and writing a eulogy, please contact us with any queries.
You can buy a plan for you or for someone else. The funeral plans offered below are designed to cover the funeral director’s own costs. As long as they carry out the funeral and the requirements don’t change, neither you nor your family will be asked to pay more for these costs, regardless of when the plan is needed or what happens to costs in the meantime. The plans below also include a contribution towards third party costs, which are based on today’s cost of a funeral. These costs, however, are not guaranteed.