A unique and Personal tribute

Abbotts experience extends across all religious denominations and faiths through to non-religious and humanist funerals, the list is quite long but be assured most requests can be accommodated.

The choice of music or poetry, whether burial or cremation preferred, whether ashes are scattered or buried, the choice of flowers, the obituary and so on are all things to be considered.

We have provided some information which we believe will be helpful when planning a unique funeral:

Coffins

Coffins are becoming a popular medium for expression. A coffin made from cardboard indicates one's environmental concern and there is an expanding market for these, for both burial and cremation. The surface lends itself to decoration with painting, collage or signatures that can impart a truly individual style.

Wooden coffins are sometimes painted, for example, in the colours of a football club.

Veneered coffins

We offer a variety of coffins and caskets to suit a range of budgets and differences in personal choice. Wood Veneer Coffins are our elegant basic coffin, made of a strong wood composite material veneered in oak or mahogany. We can also offer Panelled Wood Veneer Coffins which are considered more elegant.

Solid wood coffins

Always traditionally individually hand crafted to meet the highest standard. Hardwood is a slow growing wood timber, with a tight "hard" grain. Coffins are available in Oak, Walnut, and Mahogany. The wood is only chosen from sustainable accredited forests.

Environmentally friendly coffins

Elegantly made by skilled weavers our willow coffins are golden brown in colour. They are suitable for burial  or cremation.

Colourful Coffins

As a way of adding a unique personal touch to a funeral, a Coffin decorated in the deceased favorite football team colours or depicting a national flag or picturesque scene maybe a consideration. Caskets are also available in many themes. Colourful Coffins are available through Abbotts Funeral Directors and more information can be found at www.colourfulcoffins.com

Caskets

We can offer you a range of Caskets all made from the finest materials and including great attention to detail.

To help you choose the most suitable Casket or Coffin for your loved, one you may wish to arrange an appointment with Abbotts.


Hearse

Our vehicles

At Abbotts our funeral vehicles are very important to our business. We invest in a modern fleet including our hearse and limousine, which guarantees a smooth and dignified journey for both mourners and the deceased.

Horse Drawn Hearse

Should you require a funeral with a little more elegance and style, a horse drawn hearse and coachman can provide that extra touch of distinction, to any procession.

Motorcycle Hearse

At Abbotts we recognise that every funeral is a unique celebration of a life, we can provide the only UK Industry standard hearses, this includes flower rails, clear view of the coffin and secure fittings construction around actual motorbikes. The 'experience' of a last ride by the side of the deceased provides the ability to sensitively say goodbye.

Traditional Handcrafted Memorials

The most popular materials for headstones in the UK Cemeteries and churchyards are Granite and Marble. Granite is usually the shiney polished headstone material and comes in a variety of colours. The white unpolished headstone material is marble.

Marble is very good for carving and so headstones made of this can be very elaborate. The down side to marble headstones is that they weather over the years and so can not be looked upon as everlasting.

Floral tributes

Flowers generally dress the hearse and coffin, or if there are too many, they travel on or in following vehicles. Timing is everything at a funeral and the flowers must be in place in good time for the cortege to set off, either from the funeral home, the deceased's home or elsewhere.

The Florist will liaise directly with the Abbotts to ensure the timing is right, but if you're commissioning the florist yourself make sure we are kept fully informed.

The gentle beauty of flowers helps you offer feelings of sympathy and comfort at a sensitive and emotional time. We are pleased to recommend Cottage Garden & Greycourt Florists both of Kempston. They can also supply beautiful wreaths, posy arrangements, oasis sprays and large tributes made to your personal specifications. Should you prefer, they will visit you at your home to discuss what flowers would be suitable for your requirements:

• Coffin Sprays
• Open Heart Tributes
• Based Hearts
• Prayer Books
• Single or Double Ended Oasis Sprays
• Posies
• Funeral Wreath Rings, Double or Single Ring
• Crosses
• Baskets
• Personal Tributes
• Children's Tributes
• Tied Sheafs

Any named frames or designs can be catered for.

We can make organise your floral tributes directly, alternatively you can contact Cottage Garden on 01234 851 975 and they will be delighted to assist you.
E–Mail: enquiries@cottagegarden.uk.com
Address: 95 High Street, Kempston, Bedfordshire MK42 7BS
Website: www.cottagegarden.uk.com

Or Greycourt Florists on 01234 851230
E-Mail: keith@greycourtflorists.co.uk
Address: 134 Bedford Road Kempston Bedfordshire MK42 8BH
Website: www.greycourtflorists.co.uk

Music

The Funeral Service can be further personalised by the playing of a personal selection of music. Most crematoria (as well as churches) have an organ, and they also increasingly have facilities for playing tapes and CDs.

Musicians can play during a service, at the graveside or at the gathering. Scottish pipers, New Orleans-style jazz bands and string quartets can perform at funerals.


Eulogy or Readings

Writing a Eulogy (If family or friends wish to do so)

Writing and giving a eulogy is a way of saying farewell to someone who has died that, in a sense, brings the person to life in the minds of the audience.

For the majority of us writing and giving a eulogy is something we have no experience of and therefore we find it difficult to know where to start.

Your minister is best placed to offer you advice, but as a helpful guide when writing a Eulogy, the following may be of assistance in preparing a Eulogy:

• When and where was the deceased born
• Nicknames and/or names known to others
• Parents names - where they met and married
• Brothers and Sisters
• Early childhood - localities and interests
• Schools attended, awards gained
• Academic or trade qualifications and achievements
• Some interesting items about childhood days
• Details of any war or military service
• Details of marriages, divorces, children, significant relationships
• Details of grandchildren/great grandchildren
• Details of any Club memberships, position held
• Details of sporting achievements
• Details of any hobbies or interests, travel, crafts etc.
• Details of historical significance
• Preferences, likes and dislikes
• Details of activities e.g. music, theatre etc.
• Any special stories, sayings, qualities that are significant to others

Readings

Think about individual contributions such as an address from a member of your family this could be in the form of a religious reading, a poem or perhaps a favourite story.

Carrying the Coffin

This can be discussed when making the funeral arrangements.

Involving Friends & Family

Encouraging mourners to take an active part in the ceremony is another way of personalising. Ask them to bring a token, a flower, note or card, and lay it on the coffin.

Writing an obituary / Death Notice

If you're called upon to write an obituary, we can help you with this when making the funeral arrangements and will be happy to support and offer you advice.

Placing the notice

The placing of press notices is one of the tasks that we can fulfill as your funeral director. We will simply require all the relevant information about the deceased. Alternatively, if you wish to take care of the notices yourself, the notice should be written/typed out and taken to the newspaper office together with a copy of the death certificate.  Newspapers will not accept an obituary given over the telephone.

You might also like to place a notice in one of the national broadsheet newspapers. This will put the information before a wider audience if the deceased had a high profile or was nationally recognised.

If the deceased person was a member of a professional society or club with a journal, then the editor may be interested in publishing an obituary.

It's the practice in some parts of the country to place notices in the deaths column that are tributes in the form of epitaphs or poems. Writing these is often a family affair with several people contributing thoughts, and composing them can be quite therapeutic.


Finding a reception venue

The funeral reception serves a practical purpose, to refresh mourners who may have travelled some distance and are in need of sustenance, and to provide an opportunity for family and friends to congregate and reminisce.

A function room in a public house, hotel or community centre may be chosen for a reception, and sometimes a residential home will have facilities. There will be a charge for the use of such places, but it may be worth it to avoid the hassle of preparing food, and tidying up afterwards, at home. However, having friends and relatives in your home can be more relaxing and comforting, and there will usually be some willing hands to help with serving drinks and the washing up.

If you're planning a reception, make sure invitations are extended to include it, and transport to and from the venue is laid on. As always we are happy to make suitable recommendations in the local area.

We strongly recommend you allow time to consider all the options and discuss them with your family.