What Does a Funeral Director Do?
A Practical Guide to Understanding What a Funeral Director Actually Does for You.
A funeral director takes care of the practical arrangements involved in a funeral, from the first conversation with the family through to the day of the service. If you have never arranged a funeral before, it may not be clear exactly what a funeral director does or how much of the process they can manage for you.
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At Clive Pugh Funeral Directors, our role is to explain what needs to happen, make the necessary arrangements and coordinate the different people and organisations involved.
Bringing the Person Into Our Care
One of the first things we may need to arrange is bringing the person who has died into our care. Depending on where the death occurred, this could involve a hospital, hospice, care home or private residence. We will make the necessary arrangements and ensure the person is cared for appropriately while the funeral is being organised.
Explaining What Needs to Happen
There are legal and practical requirements that need to be dealt with after a death. We'll explain what you need to do, including registering the death and obtaining the necessary paperwork for the funeral.
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If the Coroner is involved, we'll explain how this may affect the arrangements and keep you informed as the process continues. You don't need to know how the process works before contacting us. That's part of our role in supporting you.
Arranging the Funeral
Once we've discussed your wishes, we'll make the necessary arrangements for the funeral.
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This can include:
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Arranging the burial or cremation.
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Booking the funeral service.
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Liaising with churches, cemeteries and crematoria.
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Arranging the officiant or celebrant.
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Organising the hearse and funeral vehicles.
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Arranging flowers and orders of service.
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Coordinating music, readings and other service details.
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We'll explain the available options and make sure the arrangements reflect what you want for the funeral.
Coordinating Everyone Involved
A funeral can involve a number of different organisations and individuals. As your funeral director, we coordinate these arrangements so you don't have to contact everyone separately.
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This may involve communicating with the cemetery or crematorium, church, minister, celebrant, florist, printer and other suppliers. We'll make sure everyone has the correct information and that the arrangements are in place for the day of the funeral.
Managing the Day of the Funeral
At Clive Pugh Funeral Directors we ensure that on the day itself, we personally oversee the arrangements and make sure the service takes place as agreed. We'll coordinate the hearse and funeral vehicles, liaise with the venue and officiant and manage the practical details throughout the service.
Our aim is to make sure everything runs as planned, without you having to worry about what needs to happen next.​
Advice and Support
Not every family knows exactly what they want when they first contact a funeral director. You may have questions about burial, cremation, coffins, funeral services, flowers, music or any other part of the arrangements.
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We'll explain the options available and answer your questions so you can make decisions based on clear information. If something requires specialist advice outside our role, we'll point you towards the appropriate organisation.
Organising the Funeral
Once you've discussed and agreed the funeral arrangements, we'll take responsibility for putting everything in place. We'll communicate directly with the relevant venues, officiant, cemetery or crematorium and any other services required for the funeral, making sure the arrangements are coordinated properly.
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We'll keep you informed as things are confirmed and let you know if there is anything you need to decide or provide. Having one funeral director managing the arrangements means you don't have to spend your time contacting different organisations and making sure everything fits together.
What Happens After the Funeral?
Our involvement doesn't necessarily end as soon as the service is over. Depending on the arrangements, there may be further matters to deal with, such as the collection or delivery of ashes, burial arrangements or questions about memorials.
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If you have arranged the funeral with us and have a question afterwards, we're happy to provide practical advice or point you towards the appropriate organisation if specialist help is required. If you would like to learn more, we also have a guide to explore what happens after a funeral in more depth. You can click on the link below to learn more.
Why Use a Funeral Director?
A funeral director does more than arrange the service itself. We take responsibility for coordinating the practical details, communicating with the organisations involved and making sure the arrangements are carried out properly.
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This means you have one point of contact throughout the process rather than having to organise everything yourself. At Clive Pugh Funeral Directors, we'll explain what needs to happen and take care of the arrangements from the first conversation through to the funeral and beyond.
How Clive Pugh Funeral Directors Can Help
Arranging a funeral involves more than booking a date and arranging a service. From bringing the person who has died into our care to coordinating the funeral itself, we'll take care of the practical arrangements and make sure you know what is happening at each stage. If you need straightforward advice about arranging a funeral in Shrewsbury, Shropshire or the surrounding areas, contact Clive Pugh Funeral Directors.
With You Every Step of the Way
Date and Time
Following registration, a date and time can then be arranged.
Cremation or Burial
In many cases a loved one will have left their own specific preference. Once the decision for a cremation or burial has been made, a venue for the service and order of events can be agreed upon.
Chapel of Rest
Our private chapel is available for you to spend time with your loved one, also allowing your relatives and friends the chance to say "goodbye".
The Funeral Service
We will liaise with the Clergy, Humanist Minister or Celebrant of your choice. Alternatively, if no specific Minister is requested we can suggest a Minister who will guide you through the order of service. The readings, hymns and eulogies will all be discussed.
Coffins, Caskets and Urns
We offer a large range of traditional coffins, caskets and urns. You can choose from many different styles and we offer a range of price points. Should you want to offer a unique tribute to your loved one, ask us about our customisation options. If you are looking for something in particular, please let us know. We will make every effort to accommodate your needs.
Vehicles
We take pride in being able to offer a comprehensive selection of vehicles. A horse drawn hearse is also available upon request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to arrange everything myself?
No. Your funeral director can coordinate the majority of the practical arrangements and liaise with the organisations involved.
When should I contact a funeral director?
You can contact us as soon as the death has been confirmed. You don't need to have made decisions about the funeral before speaking to us.
Can a funeral director help with a burial?
Yes. We can arrange burials in cemeteries and churchyards and make enquiries about existing family graves where appropriate.
Can you help if the Coroner is involved?
Yes. If a death has been referred to the Coroner, we'll explain what this means for the funeral arrangements and keep you informed.
How much involvement do I need to have in arranging the funeral?
That is up to you. Some families want to be involved in every decision, while others prefer us to take care of as much as possible. We'll work with you according to your wishes.
Can you help me decide between burial and cremation?
Yes. If you're unsure what would be most appropriate, we'll explain the practical differences between the two options and answer your questions so you can make an informed decision.