Dignity Funerals

Dignity Funerals

Advice for local people organising a funeral

Cottingham branch: A Shepherd & Sons

April 2020

How coronavirus has changed funerals
The Government’s rules on social distancing are having an effect on every aspect of our lives, including on funerals.

Funerals are one of the few types of social gathering that the government has said can continue, but with some restrictions.

The team at A Shepherd & Sons Funeral Directors in Cottingham is continuing to do its utmost to help you organise the funeral that you want for your loved one. But some things have had to change.

If you’re in the unfortunate situation of having to organise a funeral, here are the things you need to know.

Am I going to be able to give my loved one the send off that I want?
While you may not be able to have everybody you want there at the moment, you can still organise the funeral you want for your loved one. Your loved one can be buried or cremated. We are able to arrange flowers, although some florists have limited ranges at the moment. You can have readings, music and a hearse. 

Chanterlands Crematorium and Haltemprice Crematorium are still holding funeral services. Although many churches and other religious venues are closed, Priests, Ministers and Imams continue to conduct funerals.

Most importantly, you will have the time you need to pay your respects. And, in a few months time, you may choose to have a further memorial service to remember your loved one at which everyone who wants to attend will be able to.

Can I visit the funeral director?
Yes, we are still seeing people face to face at A Shepherd & Sons Funeral Directors in Cottingham.

But we would strongly urge you to ring the branch first to make an appointment. If you have questions you want to ask out of hours you can visit the Dignity website where we have a number of FAQs or call our 24 hour client service centre: 0800 456 1047

If you have been affected by Covid-19 or are self-isolating we have procedures that will allow us to arrange a funeral with you, but please call first before coming into a branch.

How many people can attend a funeral?
Most crematoria, including Chanterlands Crematorium and Haltemprice Crematorium, have set a limit of 10 people who can attend the funeral. The Church of England is no longer holding funerals in its churches – services are being held either at the crematorium or at graveside. Different venues will have their own restrictions, but your funeral director can find out what they are for you.

There is the option to live stream a funeral, in order that other mourners can see the service from wherever they are. Availability of this will depend on where the funeral is held, but Haltemprice Crematorium does has a live streaming capability.

How will I get to the funeral?
In order to keep in line with the Government’s social distancing guidelines and to protect both our employees and our clients we are not offering a limousine service to take people to the funeral.

We are well aware of how much important this can be to people and we did not take the decision lightly.

This means you will have to make your own arrangements for travelling to the funeral.

Despite some things changing during the coronavirus outbreak to help protect people, all of our professional funeral staff at A Shepherd & Sons are working hard to help customers and provide them with a high quality service that ensures they can arrange the funeral they want for their loved ones.