FAQs
Common Questions
What steps should I take when a loved one passes away?
If your loved one passes away at home, contact your doctor. Once medically certified, we’ll transfer your loved one from our funeral home. In hospitals or nursing homes, medical certification occurs automatically. In unexpected deaths, the doctor may inform the coroner.
What comes next in the process?
We’ll connect with the next of kin in charge of arranging the funeral. They will assist you through every step of the process at a time and place convenient for you.
Do you handle all the necessary arrangements?
Certainly. We take care of all aspects.
Can you offer transportation for the funeral service?
We can organize a funeral vehicle upon your request, with each car accommodating up to seven individuals.
Is a death certificate required before proceeding with the funeral?
No, the death certificate can be acquired after the funeral from the local Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages. In the event of an unexpected death, the coroner will issue an interim death certificate, allowing the Executor to proceed with the affairs of the deceased.
What is the process if a death happens overseas?
Repatriation can be intricate and time-consuming, but be assured, we will handle all the details, including coordinating with coroners, embassies, airlines, and more.
Do you offer condolence books?
Certainly. Condolence books are available at our funeral home, church, or crematorium.
How much can a funeral cost?
Just as each person is unique, so is the funeral that commemorates their life. The expense of a funeral varies based on the chosen arrangements. We provide support in selecting a funeral that aligns with the family’s preferences and fits within their specific budget.
How can I organise the Headstone for the grave?
We’ll connect you directly with someone in the headstone biusiness, and they’ll assist you in making decisions about installing a new headstone or, alternatively, adding an inscription or cleaning an existing one.
Cremation Questions
What occurs during a Cremation?
Attendees assemble outside the chapel. As the funeral cortege arrives, the coffin, followed by the family and mourners, is carried into the chapel, accompanied by an entrance piece of music. Throughout the service, the coffin remains prominently displayed at the top of the chapel. Towards the conclusion, the curtains gently close as attendees bid their final farewell, often accompanied by music or prayer.
What is the duration of the service?
If a church service has occurred, the cremation service typically lasts for 15 minutes. However, if no preceding service has occurred, families have the option to conduct a complete funeral service at the crematorium, which may extend up to an hour. This option is usually scheduled for the afternoon.
Is the coffin directly subjected to cremation?
Certainly. The ashes cannot be securely introduced into the cremator without the use of the coffin.
How will I know that I will receive the ashes of my loved one?
Each cremator can only accommodate one casket at a time. Following the completion of each cremation, the cremated remains are then transferred to an urn or casket, each uniquely identified.
When can I collect the ashes?
Typically, ashes are ready for collection within three to five business days after the cremation service. As part of our service at James Fox Funeral Directors, we gather the ashes on your behalf and keep them until the next of kin is prepared to decide on the final resting place for the ashes.
What do I do with the ashes?
This is a highly individual choice. Ashes can be: interred in a family plot, housed at home in an urn or keepsake, positioned in a memorial wall, or scattered at a location of your preference. Indeed, a combination of these options can also be chosen.
Is the cost of cremation higher than that of a burial?
Typically, no. However, the ultimate expense will be influenced by various factors, such as the chosen location for the ashes’ final resting place and the availability of a family plot. Feel free to reach out to us for a more detailed discussion of your options.