How do you define ‘a good death’? It’s tricky because what’s considered a good death will be different for each of us and depend on our circumstances at the time. The concept of a good death is often debated in hospices and palliative care settings, where a person is nearing the end of their life.
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Many funerals around the world share common characteristics with traditional funerals in the UK, but there are some funerals around the world that are unique. Take for example a jazz funeral, a funeral procession common in New Orleans and in the Cajun culture. Accompanied by a brass band, jazz funerals blend European and African cultures
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It may seem like a straightforward task, but choosing the right funeral venue is not as easy as it might seem. Your funeral venue may be dictated by the type of service you want. If you’re religious, a funeral in a church or place of worship might be the most suitable funeral venue. These traditional
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We have put together a Funeral Glossary to explain some of the most common terms that will be used when funeral planning. As at Capital Life we know that navigating the practicalities and technicalities of planning a funeral is overwhelming, especially if you don’t understand the terminology. Funeral Glossary Bier: A movable frame used for
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Being asked to be a pallbearer at a loved one’s funeral can be unsettling – it is a big responsibility – but being asked to play such an important role in their farewell should also be considered an honour and a privilege. There are usually between four and six pallbearers who are responsible for carrying
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Hymns at funerals have been customary for thousands of years. The tradition of song as a demonstration of grief has long been a revered part of honouring the dead and dates as far back as the ancient Greeks and Chinese. In Greece, women sang after preparing their loved one’s body for the funeral, with their
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An epitaph is the wording inscribed on a headstone, plaque or memorial, marking someone’s final resting place; they honour the memory of a loved one in a unique and lasting tribute. Epitaphs can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians but were also used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Their use became more commonplace
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If you’ve been named executor in a loved one’s Will, it’s important to understand how to close online accounts when someone dies. This includes both online and offline accounts, and will protect against fraud or identity theft. Bank accounts, online shopping, streaming, social media – figuring out how to close accounts when someone dies can
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Your world can be turned upside-down when a loved one passes away; it can be difficult to know what to do when someone dies; the checklist can be overwhelming, and you may not know where to start. Not only do you have to navigate your own loss and grief, you may also have to deal
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Writing an obituary can be challenging; how do you sum up a person’s existence in a finite space? The challenge is to know which memories and anecdotes to include and which to avoid. An obituary is a short piece of text announcing a person’s death – it may be published in a newspaper or online
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