Arranging a Funeral
What to do after a death
- From 9 September 2024, the Medical Examiner is legally required to scrutinise all deaths that have occurred unless it is one which required investigation by the Coroner.
- A death cannot be registered, nor can a burial certificate be issued, until the Registrar has received a valid Medical Certificate for Cause of Death from the Medical Examiner.
- The Medical Examiner or Coroner’s office will inform you when the paperwork has been sent to the Registrar and advise you how to book an appointment to register the death.
- If the death is one which requires investigation by the Coroner, it will be the Coroner that will issue the burial/cremation certificate not the Registrar.
If your faith requires a quick burial, i.e. Muslim, Jewish and Gypsy/Roma you will need to follow to guidance on arranging an urgent burial from the links above.
Contacting the funeral director
- You will need to contact the Funeral Director as soon as possible about the death and burial/cremation plans so they can start preparations and timetable you into their schedule.
- Bereaved family members will want to go through the grieving process with dignity and respect for the deceased, and all services in place will support you to enable this to happen. We urge you during these difficult times to make arrangements with your Funeral Director for the funeral to take place as soon as is possible. Your Funeral Director will advise you on how to proceed with this, with the upmost care.
- If your faith requires a quick burial, i.e. Muslim, Jewish and Gypsy/Roma you will need to ask for a Short Notice Burial.
How to find a funeral director
Many families may choose to use a particular funeral director due to previous experience with them or due to pre-paid/planned funerals.
There is a free online resource that may help people in Rotherham find a funeral director. Funeral Choice is a free online service to help people planning a funeral. You can use it to find a local funeral director, compare prices and read how-to guides about planning a funeral. The website has been designed with the needs of bereaved people in mind and has lots of useful information.
Visit the Your Funeral Choice website
Contacting your local place of worship
- Your local place of worship may be used for the funeral service.
- You may also wish to contact your local place of worship so that arrangements can be made for a priest to attend the funeral at the cemetery or crematorium.
Performing of ritual body washing (GHUSL)
- The ‘Ghusl’ is ritual body washing after a person has died where an individual is of the Muslim faith.
- Guidance can be given by your faith leader and Funeral Director on how and where this will take place if required.
- If aspects of faith or beliefs include close contact with the deceased, you should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) under the supervision of someone who is trained in the appropriate use of PPE and follow the guidance on care of the deceased. Your faith leader and Funeral Director will give guidance on who has been given this training.
- HSE guidance on Managing infection risks when handling the deceased
Cemetery and crematorium policies and procedures
- Please follow these protocols and procedures to ensure a consistent approach is used throughout. This will ensure all requirements are met sympathetically and protect religious rights and beliefs.
- The policies and procedures are in place to ensure a fair and consistent service is provided to all cemetery and crematorium users and contains measures to help ensure health and safety measures are followed by visitors.
Family representative
- One immediate family member must be chosen as a point of contact between the council, place of worship (if applicable) and the Funeral Director throughout the process.
Who can attend the cemetery or crematorium
- A Minister of Religion to lead the religious rites (appointed by the family) or the attendance of a celebrant to lead the service.
- A funeral celebrant.
- Funeral director.
- A maximum of 161 mourners in the crematorium chapel for services.
- No restriction on the number of mourners allowed at grave side burial.
If you expect a high level of attendance at a funeral whether at a graveside or in the chapel at East Herringthorpe, please ensure the crematorium office are notified in advance.
Backfilling of the grave
Once the body is lowered into the grave, the mourners may perform the backfilling of the grave. This should be arranged with the cemetery office and funeral director in advance where mourners wish to do this themselves.
The grounds staff routinely undertake the backfilling of the grave and this is either done by hand or by using machinery where appropriate. Any remaining mourners are requested to stand back at a safe distance while this is taking place.
Once backfilling is complete the family can shape the grave and conclude the final religious rites.