Making funeral arrangements?

We will inform you of the choices and work with you to design and arrange a funeral which reflects and honours the life of the person who has died.
Working together with you we will make even the simplest, the most traditional or the most detailed funeral special, and all those present will feel it.

If there is something that you would like to talk about that is not listed below then please contact us on 01453 767769.

Traditional Funerals

Traditional burial: Typically, a service at the church or cemetery chapel led by a minister, with a traditional coffin brought in a hearse, followed by burial in the churchyard or the local cemetery.

Simple cremation: A service led by a minister or independent celebrant in the crematorium chapel, with a traditional coffin brought in a hearse, followed by the cremation.

Green Funerals

A green funeral usually involves a coffin made of natural, biodegradable materials and burial in a natural burial ground or on private land. 

This involves a less formal ceremony led by a minister, friend or celebrant, followed by burial in a natural or woodland burial site, or on your own land.

All materials would be biodegradable. For example, the coffin would be made from cardboard, woven willow, woven bamboo. No embalming of the body (done very rarely anyway). Local, seasonal flowers with no oasis or plastic.

A family wanting a green funeral will often want to be more involved in the different parts of the process. Your choice entirely!

Alternative Funerals

Together we will find many small ways to make the funeral uniquely personal to the one who has died. This way, you can give them a ‘farewell’ a bit more like they themselves might have wanted, as well as feel good about what you have done for those left behind.

For example:

Burial at sea – The funeral service can be held locally, to then be followed by burial at sea in full maritime tradition a day or so later. The nearest port of embarkation is in Lymington in Hampshire, about 17 miles east of Bournemouth. We then sail out to the ‘Needles’, West of the Isle of Wight for a service on the boat followed by the burial.

We will work with you to design and arrange exactly the type of funeral that you and your family feel is right for the person who has died.

Ideas for making the funeral special

We have a lot of experience in tailoring funeral arrangements to help make the day more personal to both the family and the person who has died. For example:

1) If you do not have a particular religious faith, you may have a family friend who can lead the ceremony. Otherwise, we can put you in touch with an independent civil celebrant who – with your guidance – will create a beautiful ceremony.

2) Members of the family and friends of any age – men and women – can carry the coffin.

3) Double time can be booked at the crematorium for £200-300 extra.

4) Candles can be used in many locations.

5) The service can include your own choice of special music, whether recorded or played live. You can also have a time of silence in between tributes; songs; poetry; letters and memories spoken by friends, colleagues and family members – including children. The service is yours to design as you want. 

6) Family and friends can decorate the coffin beforehand; plain manila-coloured cardboard makes an excellent blank canvas. We can weave small-leaved ivy onto the sides of a woven coffin, or people can bring flowers from their gardens to put on the coffin, or to line the grave. Instead of being left at the crematorium, flowers can be taken to the gathering afterwards, or we can take them to a local care home or hospice.

7) There is a wide range of possibilities for ashes following a cremation and we would be pleased to work with you on any of these.

A hands-on farewell

“It does not seem almost a month ago that we all gathered to say goodbye to J. Family and friends still agree that it was a strangely beautiful day, and beneficial to all of us in our various states of …

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S.D

Frampton on Severn

A hands-on farewell

“It does not seem almost a month ago that we all gathered to say goodbye to J. Family and friends still agree that it was a strangely beautiful day, and beneficial to all of us in our various states of shock and grief. K (J’s friend) thanked us for ‘the proudest moment of his life’ – and it was clearly important to many others that J. had a ‘hands-on’ farewell. Thank you for that.”

S.D

Frampton on Severn

A beautiful funeral

“It was a beautiful funeral; I know that if you had not been so flexible and had so many good ideas it would not have been like this. We’ve had lots of feedback from Mum’s friends about what a g…

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Q

Stroud

A beautiful funeral

“It was a beautiful funeral; I know that if you had not been so flexible and had so many good ideas it would not have been like this. We’ve had lots of feedback from Mum’s friends about what a good funeral it was.”

Q

Stroud

Incredible…splendid

“Incredible, yesterday. Most splendid funeral I have ever attended, and unfortunately I have attended many. Thank you again. I know you made my granddaughter happy. She is a different girl today, mu…

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R

Stroud

Incredible…splendid

“Incredible, yesterday. Most splendid funeral I have ever attended, and unfortunately I have attended many. Thank you again. I know you made my granddaughter happy. She is a different girl today, much more positive, and going back to college next week. Your “send-off” for her mother did something wonderful for her.”

R

Stroud

Profound and beautiful

“Thank you. Thank you for making what could have been a nightmare very beautiful. You inspired us to be creative and to truly celebrate our daddy openly, and we are all very grateful to you for that…

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H.B

Bath

Profound and beautiful

“Thank you. Thank you for making what could have been a nightmare very beautiful. You inspired us to be creative and to truly celebrate our daddy openly, and we are all very grateful to you for that. It is profound and beautiful to turn sad introspection into theatrical celebration – and that was in fact the essence of our father. He would have loved it! Thank you for your patience and kindness.”

H.B

Bath

A beautiful and fitting service

“Our family cannot thank you enough for ensuring that we created a beautiful and fitting service yesterday. The flowers, which have travelled beautifully, were the most extraordinary collection ever…

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J.T

Stroud

A beautiful and fitting service

“Our family cannot thank you enough for ensuring that we created a beautiful and fitting service yesterday. The flowers, which have travelled beautifully, were the most extraordinary collection ever, the coffin too, and the format was perfect. Like you, I have a very grim memory of my father’s funeral and know how badly these things can go, so we are all very grateful and ever in your debt. It is encouraging and wonderful to know that there is such care in the community.”

J.T

Stroud

A wonderful send-off

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for giving our mum the most wonderful send-off. The way you spoke about her was as if you had known her yourself for years. You gave the eulogy with suc…

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L.B & S.W

Cashes Green, Stroud

A wonderful send-off

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for giving our mum the most wonderful send-off. The way you spoke about her was as if you had known her yourself for years. You gave the eulogy with such tenderness and respect for her. It was a beautiful service; we would not have changed anything about it. The whole experience offered by you and Jane from start to finish was just perfect. What a way to be remembered. Everyone needs a Family Tree funeral; thank goodness my sister found you.”

L.B & S.W

Cashes Green, Stroud

Compassion, love and empathy

“I wanted to just let you know from the bottom of my heart how much I appreciate all the help, guidance and practical support you have given me over the past weeks since my dad died. Everything you do i…

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M.G

Horsley

Compassion, love and empathy

“I wanted to just let you know from the bottom of my heart how much I appreciate all the help, guidance and practical support you have given me over the past weeks since my dad died. Everything you do is with true compassion, love and empathy and it truly shows. Without you it would be so much harder to bear.”

M.G

Horsley

Heartfelt understanding

Thank you again for all your heartfelt understanding and guidance during the funeral arrangements for Dad. You helped to make a very difficult time a little more bearable. I am grateful and appreciative f…

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L.L-B

Nailsworth

Heartfelt understanding

Thank you again for all your heartfelt understanding and guidance during the funeral arrangements for Dad. You helped to make a very difficult time a little more bearable. I am grateful and appreciative for this.

L.L-B

Nailsworth

Understated and dignified

Unbelievably, I felt elated and so happy that with Family Tree’s guidance and creativity we had choreographed a perfect bespoke last day for Barbara and myself, and for the family there was the knowledge that B had not been alone bu…

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R.V-S

Malmesbury

Understated and dignified

Unbelievably, I felt elated and so happy that with Family Tree’s guidance and creativity we had choreographed a perfect bespoke last day for Barbara and myself, and for the family there was the knowledge that B had not been alone but had remained a free spirit to the end!
I can’t thank you both enough for what you have done and how you achieved it in such an understated and dignified manner. Now at home, I am able to reflect upon the day and marvel at what a beautiful and intimate experience it was.

 

R.V-S

Malmesbury

I wholeheartedly recommend them

“Family Tree dealt with my mother’s funeral from the first moment of contact to the last with great sensitivity and professionalism. All arrangements, including the service in Surrey, were org…

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D.E

Randwick

I wholeheartedly recommend them

“Family Tree dealt with my mother’s funeral from the first moment of contact to the last with great sensitivity and professionalism. All arrangements, including the service in Surrey, were organised with a personal touch on my behalf and to my bespoke requirements. I can wholeheartedly recommend them.”

D.E

Randwick

Your kindness, thoughtfulness and compassion

“On behalf of my mother and my wife, I sincerely thank you for all your kindness, thoughtfulness and compassion shown to us all before, during and after Dad’s funeral. It was a deeply emotional ti…

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L.T

Cashes Green, Stroud

Your kindness, thoughtfulness and compassion

“On behalf of my mother and my wife, I sincerely thank you for all your kindness, thoughtfulness and compassion shown to us all before, during and after Dad’s funeral. It was a deeply emotional time for us and your personal assistance helped us enormously. The planning for Dad’s funeral was so trouble-free, all thanks to you. We all had no doubts that everything would run smoothly on the day with you at the helm, and as we thought, it did. The layout and contents of Dad’s service sheet just added the final touch to making Dad’s funeral so memorable for us. Thanks again for all your support.”

L.T

Cashes Green, Stroud

An experience of great calm and peace

“I am so glad to have had your kindly and helpful support over the past couple of years whilst I have been preparing for Mum’s death. My sister and I found your gentle, low-key, but professional p…

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Dr B.W

Malvern

An experience of great calm and peace

“I am so glad to have had your kindly and helpful support over the past couple of years whilst I have been preparing for Mum’s death. My sister and I found your gentle, low-key, but professional presence during the closing of the coffin – and throughout the funeral – very reassuring, and we both thank you most sincerely for making the experience one of great calm and peace.”

Dr B.W

Malvern

Dignified and intimate

“We were all extremely happy with your arrangements for Mum’s funeral. She left clear instructions for some of the main details and I believe we complied with them in a dignified and intimate way….

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D.O

Kings Stanley

Dignified and intimate

“We were all extremely happy with your arrangements for Mum’s funeral. She left clear instructions for some of the main details and I believe we complied with them in a dignified and intimate way. I have not attended many funeral ceremonies in my life but I believe we all felt that we could not have done more to make it a more meaningful occasion and one in which we all could make a personal contribution. I think it can be too easy to be a superficial participant. I thank you again for your discrete participation.”

D.O

Kings Stanley

All were honoured

“Once again a big thank you from me and from all in the family, especially the old man! It really worked for him! This morning he said, “I wonder what the stuffy people thought of it!” with a mischi…

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L

All were honoured

“Once again a big thank you from me and from all in the family, especially the old man! It really worked for him! This morning he said, “I wonder what the stuffy people thought of it!” with a mischievous chuckle, giving it his approval. We managed to bring the opposites together and all were honoured.”

L

We would never ever have done it like this without you

“We would never ever have done it like this without you.”

S.R

We would never ever have done it like this without you

“We would never ever have done it like this without you.”

S.R

Gentle and supportive

“It was a deeply emotional time, a time of healing through which you guided us in the most gentle and supportive way. We are most grateful.”

I.C

Gentle and supportive

“It was a deeply emotional time, a time of healing through which you guided us in the most gentle and supportive way. We are most grateful.”

I.C

Compassion and sympathy

“My family and I would like to thank you and your company for the way that you handled the interment of my wife’s ashes on Monday last. It wasn’t a day that I had been looking forward to, but after …

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Compassion and sympathy

“My family and I would like to thank you and your company for the way that you handled the interment of my wife’s ashes on Monday last. It wasn’t a day that I had been looking forward to, but after I felt at ease that it had finally been done. K and I both agreed that your resume of E’s life and character was done with compassion and sympathy, although you hadn’t met her; also the reading of the poem was perfect, and seemed to reflect the spirit of the day. Our thanks again, and we hope to see you on perhaps a happier occasion.”

A great funeral

“A rather belated note to say thank you for your help in arranging Mum’s funeral. You listened to all our requests, and responded sensitively and accurately; you helped us make decisions when we dithe…

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C.G

Kings Stanley

A great funeral

“A rather belated note to say thank you for your help in arranging Mum’s funeral. You listened to all our requests, and responded sensitively and accurately; you helped us make decisions when we dithered, and were very patient. On the day, your organisation was well planned and unobtrusive. Your choice of other members for your team was great. It was a great funeral. Thank you.”

C.G

Kings Stanley

A magnificent occasion

“From the first few words we exchanged on the telephone, it was clear that Family Tree were the people to take care of everything. They dropped round a few minutes later, very quickly understood what I had in mind, and artfully made th…

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W.R

Stroud

A magnificent occasion

“From the first few words we exchanged on the telephone, it was clear that Family Tree were the people to take care of everything. They dropped round a few minutes later, very quickly understood what I had in mind, and artfully made the necessary arrangements. Without their reassuring presence, sensitivity and professionalism, the celebration would not have been the magnificent occasion that it was.”

From his published tribute to B’s life “Then Shall You Truly Dance”

W.R

Stroud

A remarkably special day

“Thank you again for looking after us so beautifully as we arranged Dad’s funeral. We could not have been in better hands. We were able to put all our trust in you and you made it a remarkably special…

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J.C

Avening

A remarkably special day

“Thank you again for looking after us so beautifully as we arranged Dad’s funeral. We could not have been in better hands. We were able to put all our trust in you and you made it a remarkably special day.”

J.C

Avening

Quiet guidance

“Instead of it being a very sad and stilted occasion, it seemed to me a very natural progression from a very happy life to a well-earned rest. Your kind way of steering us all in the right direction, an…

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V.C

Nailsworth

Quiet guidance

“Instead of it being a very sad and stilted occasion, it seemed to me a very natural progression from a very happy life to a well-earned rest. Your kind way of steering us all in the right direction, and ensuring that things ran smoothly without a lot of fuss was very much appreciated. It was very pleasing for us all to be able to play our part under your quiet guidance.”

V.C

Nailsworth

Care, support and concern

“Thank you once again for all your care, support and concern during the past couple of weeks.”

V.W

Chalford

Care, support and concern

“Thank you once again for all your care, support and concern during the past couple of weeks.”

V.W

Chalford

A personal tribute for our daughter

Many thanks to Jane and Catherine. You made such a difficult time more bearable and we are very grateful for your understanding and help with all the little touches you were able to do for us to make it such a personal tribute f…

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JS & BS

A personal tribute for our daughter

Many thanks to Jane and Catherine. You made such a difficult time more bearable and we are very grateful for your understanding and help with all the little touches you were able to do for us to make it such a personal tribute for our daughter. I cannot praise you enough.

JS & BS

Contact us at any time for funeral assistance

We will work with you to design and arrange exactly the type of funeral that you and your family feel is right for the person who has died.

Our aim is to work with you to make it special, and then make it all happen smoothly.

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