Funeral Questions

 

Below is a list of our most Frequently asked questions, we hope they are useful, if you have any other questions that you would like to ask just contact us.

NOTE: These questions and answers are really only applicable to undertaking in Ireland, so if you’re in another country the answers will differ due to different laws and practices.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

• Who should I contact first when it is time to arrange a funeral?

  As the undertaker will make all of the arrangements on your behalf, liaising with the hospital or doctor, the Church, the newspapers, the cemetery or crematorium, it is best to contact the Funeral Director first and all of the arrangement can be channelled through him. This will save you time and possibly some distress at such a difficult time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

• Is it possible to delay the funeral for a few days?

      With today’s modern embalming techniques it is possible to delay a funeral a considerable length of time.                                            

• What is a Post Mortem/PM-Autopsy?

  Where a deceased has not been attending a Doctor or there is no history of illness it will be necessary to perform a Post Mortem to ascertain the exact cause of death.                                                                                                                                                       

• Can I object to a Post Mortem?

  If the post mortem has been ordered by the Coroner you cannot object or stop a post mortem taking place If the coroner orders a Post Mortem in most cases it means that there is no Doctor willing to issue a cause of death cert and therefore it would be impossible to obtain a death cert. If the Hospital authorities ask your permission to perform a Post Mortem you are quite entitled to refuse provided that there is a Doctor willing to issue a cause of death cert.                               

 

• What are the deadlines for the national newspapers?

      For all of the editions of the evening newspaper it is necessary to have the notice in from the night before. It is possible to         make the very last edition of the evening paper up to 11a.m on the day of publication. For the daily or morning papers it         is necessary to have the notice in before 9.30 p.m the evening before publication.                                                                      

 

• If I insert a notice in the morning paper will it be automatically included in the evening paper?

      No, each insertion is treated as a single item.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

• Do I have to pay the Church offerings, cemetery fees, organist, gratuities etc?

  This is optional but most people find it less stressful to leave payments to the undertaker who will give you an itemised bill at a later stage.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

• Is Cremation cheaper than a burial type funeral?

  No two funerals are the same therefore no two funerals cost the same. With cremation you do not have to purchase a burial plot so therefore there is a saving there. But should you decide to inter the ashes in the cemetery there is a charge for that If you already own a cemetery plot you will find that the cremation cost are similar to the grave opening fees In general similar type funerals be they burial or cremation will not differ greatly in price.                                         

 

• Is the coffin used in cremation?

      Yes it is.