On Monday 19 September, many funerals will go ahead as planned, others are moving to a different date at the request of the bereaved families involved.
In addition to some families asking to move a pre-booked funeral to avoid it taking place at the same time as the State Funeral, the fact that Monday has been declared a bank holiday means there will be vastly reduced public transport and other public services and schools will be closed – all of which will have an impact on mourners’ ability to attend a funeral. At the heart of every funeral service is a community of family, friends and neighbours coming together to mourn, to share stories about the person who has died and to support the grieving family. Therefore it is understandable that some families want to move to another date to make sure they can have the funeral they want for their loved one – and everyone who wants to be there can attend.
The NAFD and other trade bodies in the funeral sector have guided their members that that these decisions should be led by the needs and wishes of the bereaved families. The vast majority of family wishes are being honoured with funerals going ahead or being moved to a new date. If a chosen crematorium or cemetery has taken a decision to close, for whatever reason, funeral directors are working with families to find another date, or another venue, that they are happy with. We are aware that some crematoria are now closing as all funerals planned for the day have been moved at the request of families (and no new funerals are being booked on that date).
Funeral directing is a 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year role and all bereaved families deserve and receive the same compassionate and professional care from a profession that is never off duty, no matter what day it is. It is important to remember that there will, sadly, be families who lose a loved one on Monday 19 September, or who have a loved one that has recently died and is already in the care of a funeral home, in addition to those with a funeral arranged for that day. Funeral directors are balancing the needs of all these families in their planning for the day of the State Funeral – as well as the needs of their employees who wish to observe the funeral, or who may have caring responsibilities as a result of closures elsewhere. The door of the funeral home may not be open for the whole day, in line with other high street organisations, but funeral directors and arrangers will definitely be working and will be contactable if families need their support.