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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

pennwood Sat 30-Sept-17 21:28:09

I would like to go direct to be cremated without any service, or friends, or family to view as I prefer that they should simply remember me as I was. If a more eco friendly method becomes available I would opt for that. Unfortunately funerals have become a big money making (expensive) business.

hellywellyt Sat 30-Sept-17 21:34:51

As cheap and cheerful as possible I don't want any money wasted on me when I'm gone, plain and simple like me .

towser44 Sat 30-Sept-17 21:44:35

Something nice and simple and for everybody to celebrate life. No moping around!

debbie1957uk Sat 30-Sept-17 22:00:44

no funeral or service for me just cremation,would like my name added to my mums headstone if it is possible and a few of my ashes scattered there,also there is a lot of this world I have never seen so would like my sons to scatter a few of my ashes whenever they go abroad

glennamy Sat 30-Sept-17 22:24:03

Cheap as possible, too much money is involved. I am to be cremated, no flowers, just remember the good times as they cost you nothing!

pinkjj27 Sat 30-Sept-17 22:51:50

My husband died and I paid to go in with him as long as that happens I do not care I have paid for a cheep basic package and told my kids not to be talked into anything more expensive like the funeral parlour tried to do when my husband died even though he had paid up front.

Livlee Sat 30-Sept-17 23:07:53

I would have a black coffin with very brightly coloured flowers. I would have Evanescence songs played throughout the ceremony.

drewett93 Sun 01-Oct-17 02:14:50

I'd like to be cremated, as it's the only time in my life I will ever have a tan! Although I don't want my funeral to be too depressing, I'd like people to be sad I'm gone.

SusieWilkinson Sun 01-Oct-17 09:14:13

I would like a non-religious service at the crematorium that is mostly music, as that is the way I express myself, and anyone who knows me will understand the sentiment.
I would like a black coffin, whatever is cheapest, as at the moment MDF is cheaper than cardboard.
I would like my ashes to be combined with those of my pets and sent up in fireworks, with a good party going on below!

Ikea1234 Sun 01-Oct-17 09:15:47

I haven't really thought about whatI want. It's not that I haven't considered death, as I have a will, I just don't know what I would like. However, I'd rather my life was celebrated rather than mourn my death.

Annekd Sun 01-Oct-17 10:08:04

I'd love to be buried in a cardboard coffin somewhere pretty

gillyknits Sun 01-Oct-17 12:52:39

Definitely a Humanist ceremony for me and cremation. I’d like a wicker coffin (if it’s not too expensive). Music should be loud and completely inappropriate and all the mourners clothes should be bright and colourful. All done as cheaply as possible.

Greentea Sun 01-Oct-17 12:55:31

I want no fuss no funeral. I'd like my body to be dedicated to science.

s861421 Sun 01-Oct-17 12:59:42

I seem to be repeating a lot of the comments of above but I want basic, cheap and no thrills. About 10 years ago ( when I was 40 ) I wrote some basic details down, ( favourite church, favourite hyms etc ) but we also discuss things like this as a family from time to time ( not sure why ), and most of us ( siblings children etc ) feel the same. A party afterwards can be theraputic for everyone but no point in wasting money on extras.

Cailin7 Sun 01-Oct-17 13:16:49

I trust my loved ones to choose. I am really not too fussed. They will be financially provided for to arrange my funeral as they wish.

GeminiJen Sun 01-Oct-17 14:45:41

I've already contributed to this thread, but would just like to add that I do hope that the sponsors take note of the wishes of the majority of posters here...for a simple, basic service that doesn't cost the earth.
Thanks too to fellow Gransnetters. Given that I'm currently trying to be clear for my nearest and dearest about what arrangements we'd all be happy with, I've picked up some good ideas here. Thanks from us allsmile

starbird Sun 01-Oct-17 15:13:46

I hope the Co-Op will not mind me commenting, that from experience, it is not wise to leave it up to the children/ spouse because they might disagree on what to do and it can cause a rift in the family at what is for them already a sad and emotional time.

Also be aware that most cardboard coffins are dearer than the standard laminated MDF.

nearlyretiredgirl Sun 01-Oct-17 16:35:03

Posh coffin, wearing my own clothes and jewellery, maybe someone could paint my nails for me! Very short simple ceremony in the church where I was both christened and married followed by burial in the same cemetery as my mum and dad. Absolutely NO party afterwards, no gathering at all. Only thing I haven't decided is the grave marker, want a stone, but not the usual names and dates thing. Hopefully have a few years to find the perfect marker! OH knows my wishes, but family don't want to talk about these things, even though it's important to me and not upsetting to discuss.

Shinyredcar Sun 01-Oct-17 16:45:45

I want my family to spend as little as possible on getting rid of the bits I don't need any more. I hope they can arrange a woodland burial, because I would love to become a part of the natural world again; worms, birds, beetles and plants sound like a great way to go. I certainly don't want to pollute the planet by being burned.

I arranged simple but enjoyable — yes, really! — funerals at the crematorium for my OH and mother and father, very different, but then, they were very different people and I knew what they wanted. I was shocked by the cost, though.

I can't think that many people will care about my disappearance to the next stage of the adventure so the less fuss the better. They will do what they feel is best for them, I hope. I shall be past caring!

ktmd Sun 01-Oct-17 20:26:10

Cremation. Basic as possible..think the costs are a rip off!

Parsleywin Sun 01-Oct-17 21:47:11

I'm another in the "as simple as possible" camp. As yet, I haven't quite decided whether a funeral should be for the deceased or the mourners. I feel uneasy sometimes when people have really strong views about what they want, and I can imagine the assembled congregation cringeing with embarrassment. I suppose the upshot is, as in life, compromise! And not too soon... ?

Marmight Mon 02-Oct-17 09:26:45

I think the funeral arrangements are for the benefit of those left behind. Having organised DH's funeral with our 3 daughters, it brought us together, gave us, after the shock of his sudden death, time to talk and grieve and we all chose the music, flowers, coffin etc. between us. We included music, poems and readings which he would have enjoyed but really it was about us honouring and remembering him in our way. When it comes to my turn, I have a list as long as my arm of my favourite music which the girls can pick and choose from, adding their own if they like, and I have a couple of my favourite poems. I would like it to be simple, to the point and I want my ashes mixed with his and scattered in a place of their choice - hopefully by the beach where we lived for most of our married life - but their choice. I have some of DHs ashes in a pot under a rose bush which is moving with me to my new home and I have left more under a tree in our old garden which is where we were so happy. The rest are in our wine store (which he would chuckle about) waiting for mine to join him in the fullness of time - but not yet please grin

Kateykrunch Mon 02-Oct-17 09:49:05

Cremation after being completely sure I'm deed of course!

mollymockford Mon 02-Oct-17 11:52:34

I rather liked the idea of a local funeral where, as the coffin slid behind the curtain at the crematorium, there was a loud playing of "Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye"!

Jeanie1 Mon 02-Oct-17 11:56:38

Simple as possible and cremated with only close family then a surprise gathering that they do not know about but would remember me with