Category: Blog

A Dignified Tribute to the First Victims of World War I

Britain entered World War I in the summer of 1914, a conflict that would become known as the Great War and one of the deadliest in human history, resulting in over 37 million deaths worldwide before its end in November 1918. Of these deaths, more than 9 million would be British soldiers. At the time, The Undertakers’ Journal told readers that “Britons can do no more than ‘gird up their loins’ for the great cause of justice and freedom”, comparing bravery at home to the courage faced by soldiers on the battlefield. In the same issue, it was noted that ... Read more

‘To Absent Friends’: A new festival offers ways to remember the departed

For the first time, a new Scottish people’s festival will be held this year from the 1st – 7th of November. Called ‘To Absent Friends’, the festival is a time of open-ended celebration and remembrance of departed loved ones through storytelling and ceremony. The founders’ aims are to revive lost traditions of remembrance as well as create new ones by giving the Scottish people a time and place to reminisce, honour, and respect the dead. ‘To Absent Friends’ is a unique festival, however, in that it is not comprised of single events or limited to particular places or times. Rather, ... Read more

Newgrange Tomb

One of the world’s oldest and most beautiful tombs Newgrange is one of the oldest and most beautiful ancient burial sites in the world. Located in what is now Ireland, Newgrange was originally constructed over 5000 years ago (around 3,200 BC) during the Neolithic period, the last part of the Stone Age, making it even more ancient than both Stonehenge and the Gaza Pyramids of Egypt. A large, kidney-shaped mound that covers over an acre of land, Newgrange is believed to have been built by a farming community located in the Boyne Valley in County Meath. Today it has been ... Read more

Funeral Rites From Around the World, Part Two.

The stars have fascinated mankind since the dawn of history, and many of the most ancient funeral rites take the movement of heavenly bodies into account. However it’s only very recently that it’s been possible for a person to find their final resting place among the stars. A company called Elysium Space and Celestis Inc. have begun offering a service where they will blast a “symbolic portion” of your loved ones ashes into space. Back here on Earth, inhabitants of New Orleans often have what is known as a “jazz funeral”, a raucous affair that combines elements of traditional religious ... Read more

Funeral Rites from Around the World, Part One.

According to archaeological evidence, funeral rites were one of the very first elements of human culture to emerge. Funeral rites can be found in every culture, both ancient and contemporary, although of course these rites differ considerably between different parts of the world and distinct spiritual/religious traditions. Sometimes even the funeral choices of people from our own culture can seem unusual. For those with a strong religious faith, a funeral service conducted according to their religious beliefs is an absolute essential, but growing numbers of people in the UK have no religious faith at all. They generally opt for a ... Read more

New “Farewell” Magazine Launch

It’s no secret that most people are reluctant to be confronted by the idea of their own mortality; As a nation we seldom discuss personal wishes for our own funerals, and this fear of death vanquishes inquisition, ultimately leaving us uninformed about the available options. This general consensus to ignore the inevitable is difficult to remedy, however materials are becoming more readily available, helping people understand what options are possible when the unthinkable happens. Farewell magazine is one such publication: which hit the shelves at the end of January, and offers pragmatic advice to anybody looking to plan their own ... Read more

Children and Grief

Although death is a universal inevitability, losing somebody close to you can be a shock and an experience that all people find difficult to come to terms with on a personal level. It can be a particular challenge to help children though this time; not quite knowing their understanding of the situation and how they will react; whilst trying to establish your own coping methods. Fortunately there are a variety of services available specifically for this purpose, aiming to enlighten anybody, struggling with such issues.  The following are a number of organisations that specialise in helping people through this dark ... Read more

Natural and Greener Funerals in Sussex

At Sussex Funeral Services, an independent brighton funeral directors, we feel that funerals should be an experience completely unique and tailored to the individuals needs. As time moves on we understand that traditional burials might not fit with modern day lifestyles and so in this blog we want to highlight an alternative funeral choice – the natural woodland burial – Greener Funerals in Sussex. Our recommendation for woodland burials is our own local natural burial ground, located at Clayton Wood, within the South Downs National Park, near Brighton. Clayton Wood promotes woodland conservation and all things environmentally friendly and carbon neutrality, ... Read more

Funeral Song Choices

The choice of funeral songs provides a caring theme to any funeral. The choices are often personal to the deceased and bring great sentimental value to the service. Careful choice of songs, music, hymns etc. bring sensitivity to the memory of the individual. We at Sussex Funeral Services always encourage our clients to choose music that is personal to their loved ones, or indeed to themselves. The usual thing is for three pieces of music to be played during the service which normally lasts for thirty minutes. That is, one piece for the entry of the coffin, usually a sombre ... Read more

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