Types of funeral

 
 

Choosing a type of funeral is very personal and is a matter for the person who has passed away and his or her close family. The final choice can be influenced by a number of things including personal preference, family tradition, religion and perhaps even cost.

Burial

Woman looking wistfully across the graveyard at a funeral

If you decide on a burial, you will need to think about where this will take place. We can check local regulations and availability for you. If there is a grave already there that you would like to use, perhaps part of a family plot, we can arrange that for you. We will simply need the deeds of the grave or any documents relating to it. If you don’t have these, don’t worry, we can help you find them. We will also check that there is space for further burials.

Cremation

Beautiful funeral urn with three dolphins on top of the lid

 If you choose a cremation, you have to decide what sort of service you would like and where to hold it. You could have it in the crematorium or hold the service somewhere else, like a church and then have a shorter service called a ‘committal’ at the crematorium.

If you would like a particular item to stay with the person who has died, we will be able to advise you. There are some restrictions about what may be cremated, for example, certain materials such as metals, rubber and plastic are forbidden.

Woodland Burials

Woodland burials are becoming more and more popular as a beautiful alternative to a traditional cemetery or graveyard. Woodland burial plots are set amongst trees and wildflowers, and you can bury or scatter the ashes of a loved one within the peaceful meadows or tranquil wooded areas. We can arrange a green burial in Kingsthorpe Cemetery.
 

Religious Funerals

In modern Britain, we have a diverse and multicultural society with people sharing a variety of different cultures, social and religious backgrounds, faiths and beliefs. Naturally, people from these differing backgrounds pass away and their families and friends will require, at the very least, an appropriate and culturally sensitive funeral service.

Symbol of Buddhist religion

This demands a particular level of awareness, understanding and tact on the part of the funeral directors. That’s why, at Kevin Matthews Funeral Services, we are extremely proud to have arranged ceremonies for local Church of England, Catholic, Jewish, Sikh and Hindu communities.
 

Non-Religious Funerals

We are experienced in arranging both religious and non-religious funeral services. Also known as ‘humanist’ ceremonies, these non-religious funerals may be led by a humanist officiant, or family and friends of the deceased. These funerals tend to focus solely on the person who has passed away, and celebrate their life, their personality and their achievements through music, words, flowers, or simply unique coffin decoration.