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Sunday 20 May 2012

Choose the type of Funeral

The first decision to be made for any funeral service is whether it is a burial or a cremation. You will then need to decide where the service will be held. This may be at a church or place of worship, at a crematorium chapel, at the graveside or somewhere else. If the funeral service is to be held in church or at another venue, it can be followed by a short committal service at the crematorium or at the graveside.

You may find that these choices may already have been made by the deceased, either by discussion with family members or in their will.

The arranging of the funeral service involves many elements. We will take care of all of the details. We will listen carefully to your requirements, help you make important and difficult decisions, liaise with third parties, and ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible on the day.

We can provide advice on:

The funeral service

The funeral service is a way of saying goodbye to someone who has passed away. We are here to take you through the decisions you need to make to ensure you can arrange the funeral you want for your loved one.

Choosing between cremation or burial

The first choice people usually make is about the type of funeral service that will take place. Whether you choose a burial or a cremation, we will be there to make all the arrangements on your behalf.

Some things to consider about a burial:

  • You may already have a family grave or plot. We can arrange for this to be reopened and the headstone removed before burial.
  • In some areas, burial space may be limited or may be very expensive.
  • You might want to reserve plots or a large plot if you or your family want to be buried close by.
  • Woodland burials are now very popular. We own our own woodland burial ground at Fernhill Park in Wootton. For more details please go to
    www.woodland-burials.co.uk.
  • You can hold the funeral service in a local church or in a cemetery chapel.
  • After the burial you will need to consider if you want a memorial headstone, or a new inscription on an existing headstone.


  • For all burials there are fees involved that could include the following:

  • Cost to purchase a new grave.
  • Opening or re-opening an existing grave.
  • Removal and replacement of any existing memorials, headstones, etc.
  • An exclusive right of burial.


  • We can also give you advice on choosing a memorial and any local regulations you should know about.

    Some things to consider about a cremation:

  • It can cost less than a burial.
  • The funeral service can be held at the crematorium.
  • The service may also take place in a church or another location before going to the crematorium.
  • There will be a strict time limit for the length of the service. If available, a double session can be booked if deemed necessary.
  • You will need to decide the final resting place of the ashes. You can keep the ashes in an urn, scatter or bury them.


  • Supplying information about the deceased

    In order to make the funeral arrangements we will need:

  • The full name of the person who has died.
  • Their full address.
  • Their date of birth.
  • Details of where and when they died.
  • Confirmation of whether the person who has died had a pacemaker fitted.
  • Geoff Leather Funeral Directors

    45 Upper St.James Street, Newport, Isle Of Wight, PO30 1LG

    01983 529090

    40 Place Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7UB

    01983 292932