Flowers At Cremation

[237SJ]

My Mum`s sister is being cremated this week. Her daughter has only told me the details of where and when it will take place. I will ask her if there is a charity that donations can be sent to but I feel I would like to 'give' my aunty a bunch of flowers. Not a formal funeral spray with a message as such, just a bunch of flowers. Trouble is, I don't know if she is being interred after the event or if my cousin is going to collect and scatter the ashes and I don't think it is appropriate to ask her at this stage. I don't know who the funeral directors are either. What would you do?

[Flonska]

'Phone the crematorium. They should be able to let you have details of the funeral directors and then you can 'phone them.

[Tilly2]

I would ring my cousin and ask.

[Flonska]

The undertakers will (should) know if there have been any requests made e.g. no flowers or family tributes only and if donations may be made and the cause to which they will be applied.

[237SJ]

Thanks. I know the ashes won`t be collected on the day of the funeral because I went through all of that with my Mum two years ago. I have only been to one or two cremations and I do remember that on one occasion (my uncle's) funeral that we went out to the back of the crem to look at flowers. I remember commenting that it was a lovely day. When I said that not only was the day lovely but it was warm as well, my other uncle said "Well, you`re in the right place" There were no flowers outside the crem for the other funerals I have been to which is why I wondered what to do. Maybe it would be nice to give my cousin a pot plant in memory of my aunty

[EDDIE51]

Crematoriums do a funeral every 15 minutes. So while one party is leaving the chapel to look at the flowers the next party is going into the chapel for the next service. As soon as the party that is looking at the flowers leaves the staff remove the flowers to put out the next lot.
If you have not arranged for the flowers to be sent to the deceased's family or sent to a charity,hospital ,old peoples home or similar they are thrown away.

[naomi24]

237SJ, I'm assuming you're going to the crematorium for the funeral, in which case you can take your bunch of flowers with you and give them to the funeral people who will place them with the others. There is always a name plate for the deceased at an allocated space for flowers at each cremation.

[Cloverjo]

I don't think that's correct, Eddie. Every cremation I've been to has had the previous flowers still outside with a nameplate.

237sj, send your flowers to the undertaker.

[naomi24]

Eddie is not correct. If you don't know the name of the company dealing with the funeral, it's perfectly acceptable to take your flowers with you. I've done it many times.

[anneasquith]

SJ. Just do what makes you comfortable, there was is no right or wrong unless specified by family .

[EDDIE51]

I have taken flowers with me and they put them out with the others for viewing. But as soon as the party has moved on they throw them away. With a funeral every 15 minutes from 9am to 5 pm that would be a lot of flowers to get rid of, so unless specific arrangements have been made they go in the skip.

[237SJ]

That is not the case with every crematorium. When my Mum had her service at Kingston Crematorium, she was one of only two people who had their services there that day

[Mamyalynne]

//And this makes complete sense. Just imagine how many other fellow motorists are on the road behind John’s car while filming the BBC One hit comedy show? Blurring out the back window would solve this problem.//

//When a cremation takes place, the flowers will travel to the crematorium on the hearse. During the service, they will be taken on to the flower terrace, where they can be viewed following the service. Usually they will remain in place for a day or two until they are removed by the crematorium staff.

Your funeral director will normally offer you some options regarding flowers following the service. The options will differ depending on where the funeral has taken place.//

//At Cremations the flowers remain at the crematorium for approximately four days before being turned into compost. The family can have the flowers returned to the family house or sent to a local Hospice or care home.//



From 3 different Funeral Directors FAQs.

[Mamyalynne]

I have no idea how I messed up those C&Ps , please forgive me on such a sensitive subject.

[Mamyalynne]

//The flowers will remain in the display area for 4 days. Normally people leave them in the display area as a remembrance of their loved one. Alternatively you can collect the flowers at your convenience within the 4 days following the funeral.//

Sorry again.

[237SJ]

I was wondering what the heck you were talking about but no worries anyway -:)

[Mamyalynne]

Thank you.

[237SJ]

As I said, no worries. Nobody has a blacker sence of humour than me

[237SJ]

[Gill1941]

Easy to take them with you. I said no flowers at my husband's funeral two months ago. Only a rose on the coffin from me which my son gave to the undertaker when we got there. Otherwise donations to specified charity.