Funeral

[aka pixi]

Is it possible to have a funeral without any religious stuff coming into it at all? Also is it possible to have the funeral conducted by someone who isnt a member of any religion?

[BrookeBond]

i believe that humanist funerals are non-religious and just a celebration of the person's life rather than bringing God into it. You may want to google them?

[squarebear]

Yes you can have a civil funeral just like you can have a civil marriage. Ask the local registrar for more details.

[aka pixi]

Thanks BrookeBond I would have had no idea what to google :D


Thanks squarebear I think I will do that when Im next in town :)

[bensmum]

The last two funerals I went to (unfortunately they seem to occur more and more regularly) had no religious content. One was conducted by a friend with some input from the family and had a piece of the deceased's favourite jazz played for a period of refelection. This sort of funeral is becoming more common nowadays.

[Jugglering]

Yes, you can have a *Humanist* service - a celebration of your friend's life, with no religious connotations whatsoever. Here's the link to the Humanist Association - they can help you find a local member in your area who would be able to carry out the service:-

http://www.humanism.org.uk/site/cms/

I have been to quite a few funerals *conducted* by them and thought they were wonderful people. The services were lovely and we all felt they were a great way to help those left behind deal with their loss, in a non-religious way.

[aka pixi]

Thanks bensmum thats the kind of thing I was hoping for.

[aka pixi]

thanks for the link juggerling it was a great help. I am so glad you can do this I honestly thought everyone had to have a religion based funeral.

[Octavius]

Non-religious funerals are legal, and funeral directors and crematoriums and cemeteries are accustomed to arranging them.

Funeral directors are able to make arrangements with trained officiants in their local area.

[blackrosie]

Not sure about what other people have said, but my mother and father did not want a religious funeral, however, to buried in the cemetary they HAD to have a vicar to commit them to the ground. There was no church service, just the vic saying his bit. It had the old age saying ashes to ashes etc.... If my father knew, he would be "turning in his grave"
Don't know about crematoriums though....

[weggiewabbit]

I believe it�s quite legal to bury someone in the garden (in a cardboard box if you wish), and you could conduct your own service ... you�d probably need a permit, but where from I don�t know.

[aka pixi]

Thanks Octavius I didnt realise it was so common.

I can understand your dad turning in his grave rosie. I have never believed in god and would be really annoyed to have religion even in the slightest form at my funeral.

ta for that weggiewabbit, my dad has always said to bury him in the back garden, oh how I would love to be able to carry out his wishes (hopefully not for a long time though)