Beyond, next steps
Table of Contents (Click here to return to the full Table of Contents on the Home Page)
Funeral / Celebration of Life arrangements
Prayers, hymns and music
Obituaries, eulogies and memorials
Coping with grief and getting on with life
Financial assistance and survivor benefits
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Note that the legal requirements, advice and customs vary by jurisdiction, and you will need to check the suggested resources against your local circumstances.
Funeral / Celebration of Life arrangements
1) Source: Government of British Columbia, Canada
This page offers guidance on planning a funeral or memorial in British Columbia:
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Finding a funeral home
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Types of memorials
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Moving the person's body
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Writing an obituary
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Burial
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Paying for a funeral or memorial / financial support
Links:
2) Source: The Good Funeral Guide, UK
The Good Funeral Guide is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to support, empower and represent the interests of dying and bereaved people living in the UK.
Among the guides available are:
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Choosing a funeral director
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Planning the funeral
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Do it yourself
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Looking after the body of a person who has died
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Your legal rights and responsibilities
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The paperwork of death
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Funerals for babies and children
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Natural burials
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Direct cremation
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Coffins and home funerals
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Hearses
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Marking the spot – memorials
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Grief
Link:
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Prayers, hymns and music
1) Source: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is an assembly of the hierarchy of bishops who jointly exercise pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Links:
2) Source: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), UK
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current state with its current name on New Year's Day 1927.
Songs of Praise Conductor Simon Lole has given some background on each of the following hymns and why they are a good choice for the funeral service:
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Abide With Me
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Amazing Grace
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Be Not Afraid
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Lord And Father Of Mankind
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Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer
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How Great Thou Art
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I Watch The Sunrise
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It Is Well With My Soul
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Jerusalem
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Lead Kindly Light
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Lord Of All Hopefulness
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Lord Of The Dance
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Love Divine All Loves Excelling
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Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace
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Morning Has Broken
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O God Our Help In Ages Past
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The Day Thou Gavest Lord Has Ended
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The Lord’s My Shepherd
Links:
3) Source: Untangle Grief, UK
Untangle Grief Limited is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Untangle is a friendly, safe space for those who have lost loved ones to share their feelings, ask questions and meet others who relate
There is a very thoughtful page on what and how to choose funeral songs:
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Things to consider when choosing a funeral song
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Songs and stories from our community
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The UK's most popular funeral songs
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Funeral songs for dad
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Funeral songs for mum
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Funeral songs for the older generation
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Modern funeral songs
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Uplifting funeral songs
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Funny funeral songs
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Do I need to obtain copyright for music played at a funeral?
Links:
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Obituaries, eulogies and memorials
1) Source: Vancouver Sun newspaper, British Columbia, Canada
Links:
2) Source: Untangle Grief, UK
Untangle Grief Limited is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Untangle is a friendly, safe space for those who have lost loved ones to share their feelings, ask questions and meet others who relate
Links:
3) Source: AgeWise Colorado, USA
AgeWise Colorado is a mission-driven organization created to meet a real public service need by filling the significant information gap for older Coloradans and their families who are struggling to find reliable information and helpful, trusted, resources when (or before) aging-related issues arise.
Links:
Coping with grief and getting on with life
1) Source: Griefline, Australia
Australia - Griefline is a national not-for-profit that has been serving the community for more than 30 years. It offers a variety of services that provide help-seekers the opportunity to access free grief support and resources, no matter where they are or what time of the day it is.
Links:
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Resources - Articles featuring information, tips and tools to help you manage grief and loss
2) Source: AgeUK, United Kingdom
AgeUK is a well-known charity organization in the UK. Among the resources offered is a guide for coping with bereavement.
Links:
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3) Source: Untangle Grief, UK
Untangle Grief Limited is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Untangle is a friendly, safe space for those who have lost loved ones to share their feelings, ask questions and meet others who relate
Links:
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Financial assistance and survivor benefits
Many jurisdictions provide financial assistance or supplements to pay necessary funeral costs if the estate of the deceased person or any responsible person doesn’t have the financial resources to meet these costs. This assistance typically covers basic funeral costs, such as burial or cremation, as well as related expenses like transportation and burial plot. Eligibility criteria and coverage vary, so individuals should inquire directly to determine the requirements in your area.
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1) Source: Government of Australia, Service Australia
The page, what help is available, outlines potential financial assistance and help for survivors.
Links:
2) Source: Province of British Columbia, Canada
In British Columbia, a supplement may be provided to pay necessary funeral costs of any person who dies in BC if the estate of the deceased person or any responsible person has no immediate resources to meet these costs.
Link:
3) Source: YourEurope, European Union
This is an official website of the European Union
A survivor's pension is a monthly allowance corresponding to a percentage of the pension the deceased received/would have received, and it is paid to their closest surviving relatives. It is granted by the same authority that granted/would have granted their pension. The amount payable is calculated in the same way as for an old-age pension.
You have to apply for a survivor's pension to the pension authority in the country where your deceased relative last lived or worked. The national authorities will then review your claim and forward it to the EU country responsible. Not all EU countries have a survivor’s pension.
If you don't meet the national requirements to receive a survivor's pension, you may be able to receive a widowhood allowance.
Death grants - A death grant is a one-time payment after the event of death. Not all EU countries pay death grants. The requirements for receiving a death grant or survivor's pension vary from one EU country to another – there is a drop down menu for EU countries
Links:
4) Source: Nordic Co-operation
The Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Council are the main forums for official Nordic co-operation, which involves Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. The drop down menu provides information on death, inheritance and bereavement benefits in the members of the Nordic Council.
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