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You are in: Your life » Bereavement » Funerals

Funerals

Stirling Council does not make funeral arrangements. If someone has died and you need help and advice, please contact a Funeral Director.

Planning the Funeral

Planning a funeral can seem overwhelming in the midst of grief.  At such times, the services of a Funeral Director can be a great comfort to a family.  You should try where possible to begin planning the funeral as soon as possible after a death.  However, don't make the final funeral arrangements until you are sure that the death does not have to be reported to the Procurator Fiscal, since this may affect the date when the funeral can be held.  Deaths which may have to be reported to the Procurator Fiscal would be deemed to have occurred in violent or suspicious circumstances.  Your family doctor or local Registrar will be able to advise you further about this.

Registrars, bereavement and burials

Stirling Registrar:01786 432343

Callander Registrar:01877 330166

Dunblane Registrar:01786823300

Balfron Registrar01360 440315

Killin Registrar01567 820267

Aberfoyle Registrar:01877 382571

Funeral Choices

The Funeral Director will be able to assist with the planning of the funeral service and will give you advice on things like:

  • where the deceased person will rest while awaiting the funeral
  • whether to have flowers or make donations to a named charity
  • whether the deceased person should be buried or cremated

You may wish to talk to more than one Funeral Director before making a choice as to who is most suitable.  A Funeral Director who is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) is required to provide you with a full estimate when you first make enquiries.

If after the funeral you are not satisfied with the service you received or the price you paid the NAFD have a complaints and arbitration service, which you can use.

Contact:  www.nafd.org.uk

National Association of Funeral Directors

618 Warwik Road

Solihull

West Midlands

B91 1AA

Tel 0121 711 1343

Cremation

At present Stirling Council has no cremation facility available. The nearest facilities are in Falkirk, Perth or Dunfermline. For further information contact:

Falkirk Crematorium(01324) 503650

Perth Crematorium (01738) 625068

Dunfermline Crematorium(01592) 414141

Burial

Stirling Council is responsible for 53 separate burial grounds throughout the Council area, covering a collective area of 32 hectares. There are lairs available for both the interment of coffins and caskets of cremated remains.

During the Funeral or Burial

Upon entering the cemetery the cortege is the responsibility of Stirling Council. The Council will be represented on the day by our Cemeteries Operatives. They will be clearly identifiable, and dressed in blue suits with name-badges. They will meet the cortege at the cemetery gates and ensure safe and unimpeded access to the graveside where they will assist during the committal.

Upon completion of the burial service our operatives will backfill the grave ensuring that the area is neatly turfed over and making sure that any tributes are arranged appropriately upon the grave.

After the Burial

Following the burial it is common for the ground to settle within the first fortnight. This process is caused by soil conditions and it is perfectly natural. We understand that it can be visually upsetting and can cause distress to family members visiting the grave. For this reason we do try to be as vigilant as possible in inspecting all recent lairs for settlement and repairing these immediately. If a settled lair is reported to the Cemeteries Service, we guarantee that it will be repaired within 24 hours.

Funeral Directors or Undertakers

It is possible to make arrangements for a funeral yourself, but most people choose to go to a Funeral Director who can take over all of the arrangements.  Funeral Directors are normally extremely helpful and supportive to the family.

You will find details of Local Funeral Directors or Undertakers in your Local Telephone Directory, Thomson Local or Yellow Pages.

Pre Paid Funeral Plans or Bonds

Before contacting a Funeral Director or making any arrangements, check whether the person had a pre-paid plan or bond.  This is different from an insurance policy and will probably have been kept with the person's personal papers or with the family solicitor.

Funerals Provided by the Local Council

Where a person dies leaving no estate, next of kin or named executor then Stirling Council will arrange for the burial of that person within a standard lair.  No memorial will be placed upon the lair.

For further details contact Mrs. Ann MacDonald (01786) 432178.