Independent Burial Service
INTRODUCTION

We are often requested to give information about funerals and their arrangement. This can be difficult because many correspondents know little about funerals and do not make it clear whether they intend to use a funeral director or not. Other requests are about making funerals less formal and more a celebration of the life of the deceased, or about being more natural and "green".

In response to these requests, the enclosed notes set out the routine followed by a funeral director using our services, to which matters of interest to all the bereaved are added. This, it is hoped, will help the bereaved understand their rights and complete as little or as much of the funeral arrangements as they wish, even to carrying out the funeral without a funeral director.

The completion of these notes is intended to widen choice and help the bereaved and others obtain a satisfying funeral. Sunderland City Council does not wish to promote any particular type of arrangement or choice and it is hoped that these notes do not imply this. The Council does not provide a funeral directing service and cannot collect bodies and convey them to the cemeteries that they operate.

Funerals can be arranged from anywhere in the Country without difficulty, although the distance can increase costs. If you use a funeral director, you can choose one from your locality or alternatively, contact one in Sunderland. Some funeral directors are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors (N.A.F.D.) and have a Code of Practice. Under this code, they should offer you a price list, at your request.

PROVISIONAL FUNERAL BOOKING

Initially, you need to arrange the funeral by telephone on 0191 5531687 during normal office hours:-

The funeral will then be provisionally booked, and we will require the following information over the telephone:

(1) Funeral place - one of the ten cemeteries under our control..

(2) Funeral date and time - this will be when the funeral will arrive at the cemetery gates. A member of staff will be waiting to supervise your time in the cemetery, until you leave. We need a minimum single working days notice in which to get the grave excavated and ready.

(3) Details of deceased - name and address

(4)Grave Number - this is indicated on the grave deeds, if you already have a grave. You need to say whether this is the first , second or third burial in the grave. If you do not have a grave, we can allocate a new one or you can visit the cemetery to choose from those available. You can choose a lawn type grave, or a 'common' grave. Ask for details about these grave options if you are unsure which you require.

(5) Coffin size - you may not know these details at this early stage. If not, you will need to notify us so that we can ensure the grave is dug to the correct size.

(6) Funeral type - this will depend upon how your funeral is organised. If you have a funeral service elsewhere than the cemetery, you will simply go "direct to grave" when you arrive. The grave will be prepared and a small "committal" service can take place, or any such service as you require.

If you prefer to have a small service at the cemetery, this can be held in our chapel free of charge (Bishopwearmouth, Southwick, Sunderland, Mere Knolls). The funeral will then go directly to the chapel for the service, then walk or drive to the graveside and proceed with the "committal" service and burial. Religious or non religious ceremonies can take place in the chapel.

You could hold the entire service outside the cemetery and send only the body, possibly with one or two attendant relatives, to the cemetery for burial. There are no legal requirements related to the service and you have free choice over this decision.

(7) Religion of deceased - certain cemeteries have specific areas set aside for different beliefs. This information also helps us to anticipate the type and length of service, and graveside requirements.

(8) Person who is arranging funeral - this can be a private person or funeral director, who must also pay the fees we require.

This completes the telephone arrangements and you must now proceed as follows :

ARRANGING THE FUNERAL

(a) Registration - the death must be registered with the Registrar of Deaths, who will require a Certificate of the cause of death issued by a Medical Practitioner. The Registrar will issue a Certificate for burial. The Certificate must be passed to us as soon as possible as without it, the funeral cannot take place. If time is short the Certificate could be handed to us when the funeral arrives at the Cemetery gate. The above Certificate will not be issued in some cases i.e. cause of death not known, no medical attendant, accident, sudden death, etc. which may result in the Coroner being involved. If this occurs, the Coroner will issue an alternative Certificate, which again must be passed to us. In this instance, a post-mortem may be required, or other investigations, which may delay the funeral by a day or two.

(b)Notice of Burial - you must complete and sign a formal application to us for the burial. This can be obtained by post from us. This form confirms your telephone booking and completes a binding contract over the funeral. It must reach us at least 24 hours before the funeral is due to arrive.

This will complete the legal requirements and you must now consider the funeral.

(c) Coffin - The coffin must be interred with the body and must be acceptable environmentally and biodegradable, without using lead, zinc or such metals. The coffin must be clearly identified with the name of the deceased. It should be noted that fluid can leak from a body, particularly when the funeral is delayed. The use of plastic sheet/and or wadding can prevent or minimise this.

The coffin must be lowered into the grave when the burial takes place. The grave will be between 5'0" and 9'0" deep depending on the number of previous interments in the grave . As it is neither safe nor sensible for anybody to enter a grave, in order to help a body being lowered, tapes must be used for lowering from the grave sides. We have tapes available for this purpose. You need to provide sufficient bearers to carry the body and lower the body into the grave.

Biodegradable and standard coffins may be available from this section. Please check for details.

(d) Conveyance - any form of transport can be used to convey the body to the cemetery, as well as a hearse. An estate car or van would seem suitable, depending upon how easy it is to slide the body and container in and out of the vehicle. It may be possible to hire a hearse from a local funeral director, and do the remainder of the funeral yourself.

This completes this summary of funeral arrangements. A few other helpful details now follow:

(e) Location - simple directions to each Cemetery and Ward Plans are available on-line or from the Cemeteries Office.

Interview - these details outline the arrangements necessary without going into fine detail. If you need help or advice, please contact us and if necessary, you can arrange an interview with a member of staff. This can be arranged at short notice, on most occasions.

(g) Fees - a table of fees can be requested. The particular fees you need to consider are:

(i) Exclusive Right of burial - this gives you the deed of Right of Burial for 100 years. This, in effect makes the grave "private" instead of being an "unpurchased grave". These rights can be bought in advance, thereby saving the higher cost that will arise as charges increase over years.

(ii) Burial fee - this is for excavating the grave, dressing the surface with timber and grass mats, re-filling the grave and leaving it neat and tidy, with any flowers carefully placed over. Lowering tapes are provided The fee includes the services of a member of staff to supervise the burial. The burial fee can only be paid at the time of the funeral. If you do not reside within the boundaries of the City of Sunderland, the fee is increased (doubled) to compensate for you not paying rates to Sunderland City Council.

(iii) Erection of memorials - a fee is charged for registering the memorial, checking the inscription and ensuring the memorial is placed on the correct grave. An additional fee is charged for excavating the foundation for the memorial.

Memorials cannot be placed on 'unpurchased' graves.

If you arrange a funeral directly with this section, only the fees mentioned above will be charged. These cover administration, registration and all other costs.

The cost of the coffin, conveyance, Flowers, obituaries, etc. will be your responsibility.

All fees are due before the funeral takes place, payable to Sunderland City Council.

(h) Flowers - you can provide your own funeral flowers or alternative i.e. Rosemary for remembrance, dried flowers, garden flowers, etc. without using a commercial florists.

(i) Obituaries - if you require these in local newspapers then you need to make these arrangements yourself, or through your funeral director. Due to hoax calls, the newspapers may not accept telephone entries. If you call at their offices, you should take some evidence of the death to prove you are genuine.

(j) Services - you may wish to devise your own funeral service, provided you or somebody else can deliver it at the funeral. If you or your funeral director arrange a minister to take the service, it is courteous to ensure that any arrangements you make are acceptable to him or her.

CONCLUSION

For those who wish to consider the subject of the funerals and dying, the Natural Death Centre offer a range of services. They are located at 6 Blackstock Mews, Blackstock Road, LONDON N4 2BT.
Tel:  020 7359 8391  Fax 020 7354 3831W: www.naturaldeath.org.uk E: ndc@alberyfoundation.org They issue a handbook which explains the difficulties of obtaining coffins and organising funerals, in a new and innovative way, as well as much other detail. Request a leaflet on the Natural Death Centre if you require further details.

Many other publications are available, often through the Natural Death Centre. The recent book "The Dead Good Funerals Book" was recently launched in Carlisle. This was produced by Welfare State International, an arts group based in Ulverston, Cumbria. It offers many innovative and sensitive ideas about arranging funerals.

CHARTER FOR THE BEREAVED

We provide our service and offer the 33 rights specified in this Charter. This was launched on the 2nd September 1996 and copies of this are free of charge. The 80 page Reference copy is also available upon payment of a refundable deposit, and offers extensive and factual information about all aspects of funerals. There are free Charter leaflets available called "Information on using a funeral director" and "Information on Embalming".

This leaflet is intended to offer guidance and no responsibility can be accepted for the fact that these details cannot be correct in every case.

Independent cremation.