funeral directors Harpenden UK from austins.co.uk: The family designed and built Harwood Park Crematorium and Memorial Gardens in 1997, to further serve the needs of the local community. The Austin Family is committed to the continued provision of a caring, sympathetic and sensitive service to the bereaved and their loved ones for many years to come. When someone dies it is quite usual for the family to contact a Funeral Director immediately. At Austin’s, we provide a 24-hour service to support families at this difficult time. We are able to advise on the actions required for the funeral arrangements to be made. Find additional information at https://austins.co.uk/our-funeral-offices/funeral-directors-hertford/.

Scattering Ashes – This is an increasingly popular option and usually involves a few words spoken as a send off or final goodbye for your loved one. Relatives usually choose a place that was meaningful to their loved one. Alternatively, you can choose somewhere picturesque or peaceful. In the UK, ashes can be scattered anywhere with the landowner’s permission. Creative Options – There are several creative ways in which you can use your loved one’s ashes. Increasingly, people have jewellery made using ashes. Another art-orientated choice is to use the ashes within a painting, sculpture or glass artwork. For music lovers, ashes can be used to make a vinyl record. Some people choose to grow a tree using the ashes. It’s important that this is done using a tree pod. (Cremated ashes can harm plant life if interred on their own due to the acidity involved in the embalming process, but tree pod burials prevent this from happening.)

Austin’s Funeral Directors is one of the oldest and most prestigious companies in Hertfordshire. (We’ve been helping Hertfordshire people for over 320 years.) Each year, the directors choose a local charity to support. As a family business working closely with members of the community, we carefully select charities helping local people. During 2024, Austin’s chosen charity is Feed Up Warm Up, a homeless charity based in north Herts. Feed Up Warm Up offers food and friendship to homeless people in our community who need support. However, it is not a traditional food bank or homeless shelter. Instead, Feed Up Warm Up provides a safe, welcoming space, one evening a week, where guests can pop by to enjoy a hot meal and a chat, hear some live music and find practical and emotional help.

Funeral celebrants often work closely with funeral directors, family members, and other relevant people. This ensures the funeral or memorial service is a fitting tribute to the life of the deceased. They aim to create a meaningful and uplifting experience that helps the bereaved celebrate the life of their loved one and find closure during a difficult and emotional time. How to choose a funeral celebrant – Choose a funeral celebrant who you feel can help you make the funeral process as calm and meaningful as possible. Providing guidance and support to the family throughout the funeral planning process.

It’s essential to be relevant and honest … to speak from the heart. You can ask others for their input or any memorable stories they would like included in the eulogy. Before the funeral itself, practice reading the eulogy aloud. This helps you to feel more confident when reading it during the funeral service. Writing and reading the eulogy can be an emotional process and it’s acceptable to show your emotions during this time, from crying to laughing! The team at Austin’s is here to help with guidance about the timing involved with funeral services and eulogies. If you’re arranging a funeral and writing a eulogy, please contact us with any queries.

Research amongst funeral directors shows that new trends are emerging regarding funeral planning. Some became popular due to necessity – such as the increased use of video links during the pandemic. Safety measures limited the number of people who could attend a funeral. Video links enabled people who couldn’t attend in person to view the service online. This trend has remained although the restriction on numbers has been lifted. Find even more details on https://austins.co.uk/.