Embalming

The embalming process can restore natural appearances and affords freedom from infection to those handling and viewing the deceased. It delays changes to the body which occur after death, in some situations increasing the gift of visiting time between death and the funeral. There is an extra charge for embalming, which can be found on our additional services price list.

Viewing

Our private, peaceful, chapels of rest allow you to pay your last respects to your loved one. These are air-conditioned and have a number of seats for your comfort. We ask that you make an appointment to view and if you should need any help during your visit, a member of staff can accompany you. If you wish to provide a set of clothing for the deceased, we ask that you bring this prior to viewing so that dressing may take place. Otherwise you can select one of our gowns at the time of arranging the funeral. If you simply wish to sit alongside the closed coffin in one of our chapels, we are happy to arrange this for you. We can also arrange to have the coffin brought to your home or taken into church prior to the funeral service, for family and friends to pay their final respects.

Newspaper announcements

We will be pleased to help compile and place on your behalf, death announcements and acknowledgements in both local and national papers. The newspapers will invoice us directly and we will add this to your funeral invoice. We can also offer an online digital tribute page through our service provider.

Donations

Many people decide to accept donations to charity either instead of, or as well as, flowers. H. Porter & Sons offers two donation management services. H. Porter & Sons can undertake the administration of donations. There is a charge for this service as per our standardised price list. We will make sure that all aspects of the collection of donations are undertaken, recorded and sent with a covering letter to the nominated charity with a full audit trail. H. Porter & Sons also offers the collection of donations on the day of the funeral via a donation box, free of charge. This service includes returning the donations immediately to our client in a sealed donation envelope, to forward on to their nominated charities. We can also offer online digital donation collections, through our service provider.

Recording names

If requested, we can record the names of those attending the service and provide clients with a printed list. There is an additional charge for this service.

Orders of service and other printing

You may wish to have personalised service sheets printed, giving the order of service and hymns. We can design and print these in consultation with the officiating minister and yourself. Please let us know as soon as possible if this service is required. These service sheets can also have details of where mourners should go after the funeral, if you are planning refreshments. We can also include a photo of the deceased on the front cover. We will be pleased to show you our samples of service sheets, which can usually be printed within 24 hours.

Flowers

We offer a wide range of floral tributes from wreaths to coffin sprays, crosses and specialist designs. We will be on hand to help you at every step and guide you as needed. Our floral tributes are handmade with the freshest flowers and the utmost care. The cost for the flowers can be added to the final funeral account. All florists will deliver either to an address you request, or to our premises prior to the funeral.