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Share your funeral wishes with Co-op Funeralcare - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

(223 Posts)
EmmaGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 28-Sep-17 11:41:23

Thinking ahead to a time when you will no longer be here is undoubtedly not a pleasant thought. The majority of us plan other big life events such as birthdays, weddings, baby showers and/or anniversaries down to a tee, however when it comes to funerals very few of us have detailed plans in place. If there's something in particular you have in mind, whether it’s something beautiful, something personal, or even something humorous, Co-op Funeralcare would like to know.

Here’s what David Collingwood, Head of Operations for Co-op Funeralcare has to say: “Funerals are very much about personal choice and reflecting the personality and interests of an individual. This is becoming increasingly evident through the growth we’ve seen in people choosing to pre-plan their own ceremonies using a funeral plan.”

Do you have a specific piece of poetry that you want read out by a certain someone? Maybe you’d request that all of your friends and family turn up in fancy dress? Or perhaps you already have in mind a certain song that will put a smile on everyone’s face...Monty Python’s ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ and Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ are popular songs requested for funerals!

Co-op Funeralcare would like to know what your funeral wishes are, so please share them below and all who comment will be entered into a prize draw, where one lucky GNer will win a £300 voucher or their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
GNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

vampirequeen Thu 28-Sep-17 11:55:47

I want the cheapest funeral possible. A cremation in a cardboard box would be OK followed by the ashes being scattered by the crematorium workers. I quite like the idea of being fertiliser for some roses. I don't care about what is said or played apart from at the end. When the cardboard box is sliding through the curtains I'd like Roy Orbison singing 'It's over' to be played with the music starting at that point in the song.

BBbevan Thu 28-Sep-17 14:11:20

I want to come in to the crematorium in a wicker coffin to the loud music of ' The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' I am going to write my own eulogy to let people know what a happy life I have had. And at the end 'When you walk through a storm ' from Carousel. That epitomises my philosophy of life and will get them all sobbing

Esspee Thu 28-Sep-17 14:29:19

I don't want a "funeral". Hope my body will be burnt or buried under a tree without a pseudo religious service. If anyone wishes to have a party later they are welcome.

After conducting my husband's funeral myself I accompanied my his coffin to the incinerator, watching the flames until the stainless steel door closed.

I do believe undertakers in the future will have a very difficult job trying to follow everyone's very specific wishes.

Charleygirl Thu 28-Sep-17 15:43:43

I have only been to weddings and funerals in a church since the age of 17 when I decided that religion was not for me.

I think for me it would be hypocritical to have a full Catholic mass so I would prefer to bypass the church and go straight to the crematorium unless anybody wants to dissect my body to enable medical students to learn. No frills for me.

Teetime Thu 28-Sep-17 15:50:01

I want something very simple. A Prayer Book service in the crem chapel - close friends and family only, family flowers only. I want to come in to California Dreaming(Mamas and Papas original version) no hymns, no eulogies, no poetry. I want to be left in the chapel while the congregation file out to John Williams The Beyondness of Things. I want them all to go and get p....d and say nice things about me. No scattering ashes the crem staff can dig me into the roses. No memorial services- nothing else NADA. All this ceremony and poetry and stuff puts an intolerable burden on those left behind- I know I've been at those funerals everyone carrying roses and flights of doves Jeese!!!!. Oh and by the way NO CHILDREN - a funeral is no place for children.

wildswan16 Thu 28-Sep-17 16:04:36

I have told (asked) my sons that I do not want a funeral. I wish to be taken to the crematorium in a simple casket. If they wish they can accompany me but I would rather they did not. I do not want any kind of funeral service, just to be cremated. They can then go to the pub, have a beer and hopefully think of something nice to say about me. They have promised me they will comply !

chelseababy Thu 28-Sep-17 16:06:28

I had always fancied a woodland burial but as I won't be there to see it in don't really mind - cheap and cheerful.

Pittcity Thu 28-Sep-17 16:16:34

I don't have any funeral plans as I think that those I leave behind should please themselves. I hope that they spend the money on the wake and not on coffin, cars, flowers etc.

I would like tongue in cheek music though..."The Drugs Don't Work" would be great!!

Eglantine21 Thu 28-Sep-17 17:33:32

I want to be taken straight to the crematorium and then my ashes scattered around the tree where my husband's ashes were buried. I did check this was possible with the Woodland Burial people when I bought the plot.

If there's any opportunity for music I'll have Meatloaf. "Life is a lemon and I want my money back..."

MamaCaz Thu 28-Sep-17 20:44:39

We have just had my dad's funeral, and that has really made me think very seriously about what I want for myself. My wishes are very simple - I would be happy to be cremated without any service whatsoever, then my ashes scattered in my favourite spot by my immediate family.

Chewbacca Thu 28-Sep-17 21:34:07

No funeral service for me either. But I'd like to leave enough money so that a party for friends and family can take place and everyone have a really good time with plenty to eat and drink. Only 2 requests: no black or mourning clothes and the last song to be played at the party is to be Love Shack by the B52s.

Floradora9 Thu 28-Sep-17 21:45:08

Small gathering of close family to attend at the graveyard. Do not want to be cremated and there will be no services just family saying a few words and a piper to pipe me away playing " Flowers of the forest " I want an intimation in the local paper after this is all over . A slap up meal for the family would follow with a few good toasts .

grannyticktock Thu 28-Sep-17 22:22:00

I want something similar to what we did for my husband, who died last year. We had a "direct cremation" in which his coffin was taken directly to the crem by the funeral directors - no one else was there, not even me. Then we arranged a memorial service couple of weeks later, at a time to suit the family. OH's ashes were displayed (in a mini- beer-barrel!) and we had a ceremony with music, readings and tributes - rather like a funeral but with no body or coffin, and no religion. Then we rearranged the furniture, and served drinks and a nice buffet lunch with lots of chat and socialising. So no driving around either - everything took place in the village hall.
A few months later, we scattered the ashes in a place where mine can also be scattered one day. I think this worked very well, and my daughters will probably do something similar for me. And it's cheap!

BlueBelle Fri 29-Sep-17 04:22:44

I want the cheapest possible funeral I would like a cardboard box (but I know my son won't want that) so the
next cheapest I have already bought the plot which is next to my mum and dad I thought that would be convienent if any one ever wanted to visit I want NO fuss, after all it's only for those left behind
If there are any flowers I want wild flowers scattered, poppies and seeds that fly on the wind
No black or miserable clothes and I d like some 60 s music

devongirl Fri 29-Sep-17 10:40:14

As far as I can see everyone wants some kind of simple burial/cremation; so how come family feel they need to spend lots on a 'posh' funeral? When my mother died, my bro decided we should pull out all the stops, even though I'm sure my mother would have thought it was ridiculous and we should use the money some other way...

Pamaga Fri 29-Sep-17 12:41:55

I used to think I would like to be cremated but I wouldn't mind a woodland burial either. I don't want my family to pay too much so really don't care which option they go for.

Direne3 Fri 29-Sep-17 14:25:57

I am leaving instructions for what another GN'r once called a 'click & collect' cremation. grin

Primrose65 Fri 29-Sep-17 14:40:50

Click and collect cremation for me too.

hulahoop Fri 29-Sep-17 14:45:13

A very simple cremation no flowers money if any donated to charity I would like my ashes scattered near the sea ??⚰

live7 Fri 29-Sep-17 15:09:13

I seem to agree with many here who have already said that they want a simple funeral. When my mother died the funeral directors were so helpful and explained lots of things about dead bodies/funerals that I hadn't previously liked to ask. As a result I feel much happier about sorting out my own funeral before I die and relieving my family of having to make too many decisions and wondering what I would have liked.. I want a memorial/celebration service at my church (any colour clothes) after a small service at the crematorium in a willow coffin. I'd like my ashes thrown into the sea. Any money to charity with just a few flowers.

soop Fri 29-Sep-17 15:11:49

Cheap, cheerful, none of the usual cringe-worthy rigmarole. No hymns. No organ music. NO flowers. donations instead to charity. Ashes scattered on the beach nearby to the sound of family and friends singing 'Westering Home' as they enjoy a wee dram.

Baggs Fri 29-Sep-17 15:39:17

Cardboard box. Cremation to the Gaelic song, Thug mi 'n Oidhche ge b'fhad i (Rachel Walker recording) and Calum's Road (Capercaillie). Ashes sprinkled wherever—I rather like DD2’s idea of a bit sprinkled on each continent.

To be honest, I don't actually care what my funeral is like but perhaps my DDs will like to have an idea to work on.

Alima Fri 29-Sep-17 16:08:04

I would like a cremation only funeral but it would be a case of doing what my DDs wanted. If they decide a crematorium do is needed my special request is to have the duf-duffs from Enders played as the curtains close. Keep changing my mind on the music but "I Love to Boogie" would be included. Still thinking about a reading, will check out Ogden Nash. Ah yes, there's always Pam Ayres......

callgirl1 Fri 29-Sep-17 16:19:38

I`ve told my children to have the cheapest funeral possible for me, but I would like my ashes to be scattered into the sea at Muasdale, Kintyre, to be with my husband again.