High quality funeral services Stevenage UK: With 13 offices across Hertfordshire, we are extremely proud to be the highest rated funeral directors in Hertfordshire, as can be seen from over 1000 5* reviews we have received on Trustpilot. Whenever you need us we are here for you – in person, day and night, 365 days a year. From the minute you first contact us, our compassionate, caring staff will guide and support you every step of the way. Whatever your requirements, we can help you plan the perfect Hertfordshire funeral; from a traditional service to something perhaps a little more unusual. Discover even more info on funeral directors Harwood Park.
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.)
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.
Humanist celebrants are non-religious and focus on making the funeral service a positive reflection of the person who has died. Civil celebrants lead funerals with or without religious content, creating an occasion for mourning or a celebration of life according to the wishes of the deceased person (if known) and their loved ones. It’s important to choose a celebrant whom you feel comfortable talking with and who listens, understanding your questions and requirements. Ask for testimonials from previous clients, and look for mentions of listening, writing and presenting skills. How they managed the service and liaised with the family are also important. At Austin’s family funeral directors, we work with several funeral celebrants. If you would like their details, please let us know.
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.
Direct cremation is an increasingly popular funeral option, with demand more than quadrupling in the last four years. The number of burials has remained consistent throughout this period. However cremations, traditionally the most popular funeral choice, has become split between traditional and direct cremation options. A direct cremation is the simplest option available: one without any service or ceremony with no congregation and a very simple coffin. Demand has increased from just 2% in 2018 to 18% in 2022. (Sunlife Cost of Dying Report 2023) Discover even more information at austins.co.uk.