ARRANGING A FUNERAL

We understand how hard it is to lose a loved one.

When someone close to you has died, planning a funeral can be a stressful process at a time when you’re also dealing with bereavement and working through a lot of important documents.
Whether you’re organising a funeral or a memorial service, we are here to support and advise you during this sensitive period.

First steps when arranging a funeral

After you have decided which Funeral Director you would like to use you should contact them directly to notify them of the death. Our team will take some details from you and a Funeral Arranger or Director will contact you to give you some initial advice and to arrange a suitable time and place to meet with you to begin discussing the arrangements. This can be at your local Charles Stephens branch or, if you prefer, somewhere else such as your home. A member of staff will be available to speak to 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year for support.
There are many points to consider when arranging a funeral and our Funeral Arrangers and Directors will guide you through the process. To assist us in making the arrangements it is useful to know if any specific requests have been made and what type of funeral is wanted, ie. burial or cremation.

Did your loved one leave any requests for their funeral?

We find quite often that people have left specific requests for their funeral. When planning a funeral first check the will of your loved one to ascertain if there are any special requests for the funeral service. The person who died may have arranged for a pre-paid funeral plan prior to their passing as their way to try and help their family and friends during this difficult time.
What type of funeral is required?
It’s good to understand what type of funeral is required. This can range from the type of religion to whether you’re to arrange a cremation or a burial.

Points to Consider

Below are a few points you may wish to consider before meeting the Funeral Arranger or Director. We are here to guide and advise you on all aspects of the funeral arrangements and the points below are purely for reference.

  • Will the funeral be burial or cremation?
  • Would a religious or non-religious service be most appropriate?
  • Will the service be private (for close family and friends only) or will the invitation be extended?
  • Will you require any transportation, such as limousines?
  • Would you like people to be able to visit your loved one in one of our chapels of rest?

Other Points of Discussion

At Charles Stephens your Funeral Arranger or Director will discuss different types of services which you may like to include. This will include the following considerations:

> Style of coffin
Flower arrangements
Service sheets / order of service
Donations
Keepsakes
> Cremated remains options
Monumental masonry
> Return venue for a wake or refreshments
> Music options
> Pall bearers

Arrowe Park Hospital

Tel: 0151 678 5111

Countess of Chester Hospital

Tel: 01244 36500

Wirral Register Office

Tel: 0151 606 2020

Chester Register Office

Tel: 0300 123 7037

Liverpool & Wirral Coroner’s Office

Tel: 0151 225 2770

Cheshire Coroner’s Office

Tel: 01925 444216

Wirral Globe

Tel: 0151 649 4040

Chester Chronicle

Tel: 01244 606307

Matters to Consider

Below are a few points you may wish to discuss or consider with your family and friends before meeting the Funeral Director. We are here to guide and advise you on all aspects of the funeral and the points below are purely for reference.

  • What type of funeral service is required? A religious service to be carried out by a local parish vicar or priest, or a civil or humanist (non-religious) ceremony which is officiated by a civil celebrant or a Humanist.
  • What music would you like to be played at the funeral? Consider music choices such as favourite hymns or songs for during the service and music for entering and leaving the funeral service.
  • Are service sheets (order of service) required? If so, consider what quantity you will need. An order of service can be beautifully personalised with photographs.
  • Would any family members wish to bear the coffin into chapel? Our staff will be there to guide and reassure.
  • Would you like family and friends to be able to visit your loved one at one of our Chapels of Rest? If so, which chapel would you prefer? We have Chapels of Rest at our Bromborough, Heswall, West Kirby, Mellock Lane and Rock Ferry premises.
  • Would you like us to order flowers on your behalf, or do you have a florist of your own you would prefer to use?
  • Consider whether to leave funeral flowers at the crematorium or cemetery after the service or whether to take them home.
  • Would you like donations to be collected after the service? If so, to which charity?
  • Is a newspaper notice required? If so, which paper would you like the notice to appear in? The deadline to place a notice in the Wirral Globe is Monday at midday in order for the notice to appear in that week’s edition. We deal with many other newspapers including The Chester Chronicle and The Daily Telegraph.

Contact A Branch

Rock Ferry Branch (Head office)

Clifton House
215 Bebington Road
Rock Ferry
Wirral
CH42 4QA

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Bromborough Branch

146 Allport Road
Bromborough
Wirral
CH62 6BB

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Claughton Branch

32 Upton Road
Claughton
Wirral
CH41 0DF

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Greasby Branch

146 Greasby Road
Greasby
Wirral
CH49 3NQ

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Heswall Branch

Castle Buildings
179 Telegraph Road
Heswall
Wirral
CH60 7SE

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Mellock Lane Branch

31 Mellock Lane
Little Neston
Cheshire
CH64 4BN

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Neston Branch

Miniver House
The Cross
Neston
Cheshire
CH64 9UB

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West Kirby Branch

17 Banks Road
West Kirby
Wirral
CH48 0QX

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Let us work with you to create the perfect tribute

Our experience and skills enable us to create a bespoke occasion for you to say your final farewell.

We are an Appointed Representative of Ecclesiastical Planning Services Limited Reg. No. 2644860, registered in England at Benefact House, 2000 Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AW, UK, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Reference Number 958152. The Financial Conduct Authority regulates pre-paid funeral plans only.