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Arranging a Funeral

A Step- by Step guide to arranging a funeral

We outline below the various steps involved in arranging a funeral. You can arrange a funeral with us by calling to any one of our locations, by telephoning us or we will call to your home. For more detailed information, click on each step below.

• We discuss the choice of burial or cremation
• We liaise with medical personnel and arrange for the completion of the death notification form
• We liaise/confirm details with clergy, churches, cemeteries, crematoria, as required
• We care for, prepare and dress the deceased, as per the family's wishes
• We assist in the selection of a coffin or casket from our extensive range
• We assist in preparing and inserting death notices for publication
• We provide the funeral vehicles required
• We can arrange a selection of Funeral Flowers
• We assist with music and hymn selection
• We arrange for production of mass booklets/service sheets
• We provide condolence books for signing at the funeral home, residence, church/crematorium
• We confirm your instructions in writing outlining the estimated funeral costs and discuss payments on your behalf to third parties

Arranging a Funeral

A Step- by Step guide to arranging a funeral

We outline below the various steps involved in arranging a funeral. You can arrange a funeral with us by calling to any one of our locations, by telephoning us or we will call to your home. For more detailed information, click on each step below.

• We discuss the choice of burial or cremation
• We liaise with medical personnel and arrange for the completion of the death notification form
• We liaise/confirm details with clergy, churches, cemeteries, crematoria, as required
• We care for, prepare and dress the deceased, as per the family's wishes
• We assist in the selection of a coffin or casket from our extensive range
• We assist in preparing and inserting death notices for publication
• We provide the funeral vehicles required
• We can arrange a selection of Funeral Flowers
• We assist with music and hymn selection
• We arrange for production of mass booklets/service sheets
• We provide condolence books for signing at the funeral home, residence, church/crematorium
• We confirm your instructions in writing outlining the estimated funeral costs and discuss payments on your behalf to third parties

Coffins

At Cummins Funeral Home, we have long understood that choosing a coffin is a painful task for a bereaved family, and yet an important one in terms of a suitable choice for their loved one.

And so we place great priority on using high quality craftsmanship and a wide variety of durable hardwoods. Most of our coffins are Irish made, from rural areas with long historical traditions of excellent quality coffin-making. We also carry an array of Italian-style coffins and American-style caskets of varying sizes. Our showrooms and brochures are available to you at any time as a guide to your selection.

Burial or Cremation

Burial

If you choose burial you will either need to re-open an existing grave or purchase a new grave. Family graves can usually accommodate at least three adult burials, depending on the cemetery.

When purchasing a new grave many cemeteries offer a choice of locations and prices, in which case we will arrange for the family to visit the cemetery to select a grave.

Whether you are purchasing a new grave or opening an existing one there will be an opening fee, of which our staff will advise you when making funeral arrangements.

Cremation

There is documentation to be completed before a cremation can take place – we will arrange all of this for you.

Religious/Non-Religious Funeral Services

Our experience as long-established funeral directors provides us with an understanding of the customs and traditions of many religious faiths as they relate to funerals, including those of faiths which are relatively new to Ireland..

Some families prefer to have a non-religious or civil funeral both of which we have extensive experience in arranging.

A non-religious service is without any religious content and is designed by the family with the assistance of a civil celebrant or Humanist celebrant. The service will usually consist of music, eulogies, poems and words or remembrance.

A civil service can combine religious content with the family’s own choices of music, speeches, poems and words of remembrance.

In all cases we will arrange for a suitable celebrant who can facilitate, guide and assist with the ceremony. We can also advise on suitable locations.

If you have questions about choosing or planning a religious, non-religious, civil or Humanist service our experienced funeral directors will be more than happy to assist you.

Care of the Deceased

We believe that the care and presentation of the body is one of our most important roles as funeral directors. We have a very experienced embalming team to achieve the highest possible standard of presentation available.

The embalming process involves the sanitation and preservation of the body. This is achieved by the injection of a treated solution into the circulatory system, resulting in a more natural appearance.

Once embalmed the deceased can repose in a hospital or nursing home mortuary, in one of our nine funeral homes or in a family residence.

Funeral Vehicles

We collect the family and friends as arranged and bring them to the church or other ceremony location and afterwards to the cemetery or crematorium. We will return the family to their home or other venue after the ceremonies if required.

Music

Music is an integral part of most funeral services whether religious or otherwise.

For religious services we can arrange soloists, organists and other musicians as required. Funeral ceremonies in Christian churches will generally be required to only have religious music and hymns during the service. A selection of suggested hymns and psalms for the Catholic Funeral Mass can be viewed below.

Non-religious and civil services can have live performed or pre-recorded music (on CD or electronic format).

A committal service in the crematorium (following a religious service in a church) provides a family with the opportunity to play an appropriate piece of non-religious music (on CD or electronic format). Live performances at the crematorium can also be arranged.

Pipers or other musicians can also be arranged for the graveside at cemetery burials.