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

(224 Posts)
EmmaGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 28-Sept-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

jelleng Sat 30-Sept-17 10:52:13

I want to be cremated, then my ashes thrown into the sea so I get to go to all the places I wanted to visit.

nettymay Sat 30-Sept-17 11:07:05

All sorted - cremation and then scattering - all arranged (land is for the Living!)

Angelwings Sat 30-Sept-17 11:13:23

Cremation not burial and a humanist ceremony. No black unless people choose to wear it. A celebration of life rather than a mourning of my passing. Lots of music.

Misslayed Sat 30-Sept-17 11:16:19

An MDF coffin, painted yellow with daisies on. Humanist service with no singing, but listening to something relevant and uplifting - John Rutter's splendid arrangement of "All things bright and beautiful "

bennocomp Sat 30-Sept-17 11:19:24

I'd like to be pushed out to sea like the Vikings!

becky004 Sat 30-Sept-17 11:43:09

I want the cheapest funeral possible. I wish to be cremated and then buried with my partner (as he wishes to be buried), so depending who goes first, they may have to keep me in the house for a while! I want Coldplay's "Fix You" played at some point as it's my favourite song. I don't want a wake, where my family spends a fortune feeding & watering people that have had no contact with for years. I want my close family & friends to go out and have a meal and drink together to remember me.

bobble5366 Sat 30-Sept-17 13:01:31

I would like a simple funeral, some flowers, there is a plot where my dad was laid to rest, I would like to go there, it is a beautiful spot, but the most important thing to me is that my family can, when they feel the needs, come and visit, tell me their problems, as they do now, and I can be a comfort to them when the need me spiritually. It has to be a joyous occasion, I have had a full life, have been lucky in many ways, but having somewhere for family and friends know where I am 'resting' would be a comfort to me.

GeminiJen Sat 30-Sept-17 13:05:46

I'm in my 70s, feeling that I owe it to my nearest and dearest to let them know my wishes and just beginning to give some thought to this.
Like many others here, I'd like a basic, simple ceremony: cardboard coffin, cremation, then a big party with good food and plenty of wine. Later on, I'd like my son and daughter to scatter my ashes over the sea.
For the ceremony: music, but no singing. Favourite music includes The Lark Ascending (Nicola Benedetti), The Braes of Balquhither, Catch the Wind (Donovan), It's a Wonderful World, Wind beneath my Wings, Who wants to live forever? (Queens) and Time to say Goodbye ( Andrea Bocelli).
For anyone who's seen the film What we did on our Holiday with David Tennant and Billy Connolly, what I'd really like would be the kind of Viking funeral that his grandchildren gave to the character played by Billy Connolly. What a send off grin

cathwarbur Sat 30-Sept-17 13:39:01

I'd like my funeral without all the stress for my family, a cheap package that would take the worry of organizing it from my family.

Maisiesnan Sat 30-Sept-17 14:39:31

I would like to have the cheapest possible cremation, no cars or flowers, no service if that's possible.My family can have a few drinks,listen to my favourite songs and reminisce about all the good times

caocao Sat 30-Sept-17 14:48:54

When I was young and never left the house without being immaculately turned out I never dreamt of a big white wedding, but I would often say I'd like an OTT funeral with a horse drawn hearse (plumes on at least 4 jet black horses), and all attendees to be decked out in their finest & hats for all ladies!
Nowadays I want the cheapest do available, three white cala lilies on my cardboard or wicker coffin, a cremation and my ashes to be scattered. No flowers apart from thee lilies - my mother always used to say I want flowers while I'm alive, not after I've gone and I tend to agree!

beckyinman Sat 30-Sept-17 14:52:54

I am not too bothered so long as it doesn't leave anyone with any huge bills and it's a celebration

mo3733 Sat 30-Sept-17 15:13:55

i would like a very simple funeral and i want my ashes scattered as i dont want a grave that my children have to upkeep i want them to be able to move on fully

Lorelei Sat 30-Sept-17 16:04:54

I have discussed my wishes with my long-term partner and friends. I've made it clear that I do not want them to waste the ridiculous amount of money some people spend on funerals. My partner & his business partner have said they'd be happy to make me an inexpensive coffin. I've said I'm happy to be transported in the truck if the car would be awkward or I wouldn't fit. I have a tape with 3 songs on it but don't care if there's only time for 1 or 2 of them: 'Only the Good Die Young' by Billy Joel; 'I Am A Woman' by Helen Reddy; and 'Champagne Supernova' by Oasis. I do not mind if the only flowers are a few wild ones or something from the garden. If people really wanted to contribute to something I care about they are welcome to make a donation to Second Chance Animal Rescue Crockenhill so that animals can benefit/be helped. If it were possible in this country I'd be happy to be buried in one of those biodegradeable-type woodland burials but otherwise cremation is probably the more convenient and inexpensive method - in which case I'd like my ashes to be mixed with earth/compost to grow something, preferably plants that benefit wildlife, pollinating insects etc. I'm tiny so they've said they could easily carry me themselves. If anything should go wrong, like they accidentally drop me or tip me up, I hope they have a giggle and know I'd be giggling too. I think the complicated and expensive wishes some people leave place a huge burden on the living and compound the grief, so if anything I've requested is a pain they are welcome to change it. Just as a side note, I have also made a 'Living Will' in case there are pre-death problems with me! In summary, like many others on here, I just want a keep it simple and keep costs to a minimum type of funeral.

nellenoxin Sat 30-Sept-17 16:52:52

I'd like to be cremated and my ashes scattered somewhere beautiful - Like Torr Head or Portstewart but other than that my loved ones can do as they wish

LeeR1985 Sat 30-Sept-17 16:55:52

I don't want it to cost a lot of money. I want it to be fun. I'd love people to dress up in fancy dress and tell silly stories about me and have fun music playing.

downingarms Sat 30-Sept-17 17:27:43

Firstly I want to be cremated . I want everyone to have a drink on me afterwards and have a laugh remembering good times .

sandian Sat 30-Sept-17 17:35:45

I wish to be Cremated and my organs used where needed, I don't want any fuss or expense. Ideally would like to go at the same time as my husband so our ashes could be scattered together preferably in a Rose Garden

Lorraine1905 Sat 30-Sept-17 17:40:04

Not being religious, I would like a direct cremation with minimum fuss and expense possibly with a memorial service at a later date. I read about a bios urn the other day.A seed is planted into a biodegradable urn with you ashes and you eventually grow into a tree. I quite like the idea of that.

alabaster Sat 30-Sept-17 18:35:32

To be there to enjoy it!

feefeegabor Sat 30-Sept-17 19:01:07

I really don't want any kind of funeral - I always tell my family to set fire to me in cardboard box in the back garden.

freefan Sat 30-Sept-17 19:07:43

Nice and simple with minimal money spent. Want my ashes scattered on my daughters resting place.
Would rather my husband/children didn't spend on a fancy coffin or lots of flowers, much nicer to know they will put it to a nice holiday or meal.

cheekychicken24 Sat 30-Sept-17 19:12:39

My main idea is no fuss! I have horrible memories of the funeral of one of my grandmothers, where there was a church service, we all walked behind the coffin for half a mile to the graveyard, where my grandfather's grave was opened, and my granny was placed inside with him, It went on forever and was very upsetting for all us younger ones.

I want a simple humanist service, cremation, and I don't care where my ashes go!

Pumpkin2 Sat 30-Sept-17 20:02:00

I would sooner be cremated than buried, but other than that I don't mind.

Humph Sat 30-Sept-17 20:55:51

To be buried within the sound of the Settle and Carlisle Railway