When entrusting a funeral director with your loved one’s final arrangements, you need to be assured that the people you choose offer compassion, understanding and assistance. During these challenging times, the unwavering support and guidance of a funeral director can be invaluable. When faced with the task of organising a loved one’s funeral, you will be required to choose whether to opt for a local independent funeral director or a larger corporate-owned chain. While both options can provide you with the support you need during this time, there are several compelling reasons why choosing a local independent funeral director, such as L.E. Brand & Sons, can be beneficial.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the reasons why you should choose a local independent funeral director to help you commemorate, remember and say goodbye to your loved one. If you need advice or guidance about planning a funeral, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
Why You Should Choose a Local Independent Funeral Director
Choosing a funeral director to arrange your loved one’s funeral is a highly personal decision that requires careful consideration. While you may be tempted to choose a larger, more well-known firm, there are many beneficial aspects of choosing a local independent funeral director instead.
History, Heritage & Experience
When it comes to arranging your loved one’s funeral, the importance of history, heritage and experience should never be overlooked. L.E. Brand & Sons is an independent family-run funeral director based in Stanford-le-Hope, Thurrock and has provided funeral services for over 140 years. We make sure that every single client receives a caring service from our experienced and compassionate team, and we will strive to provide the best advice and personal service, with your peace of mind at every step. We were established in 1880 and are the oldest operating funeral directors in the area, we are proud of our heritage and experience and our prestigious company has a historical status in the Thurrock area. Choosing a local independent funeral director means that you are supported by time-served, professional funeral directors who will go the extra mile as you honour your loved one.
Truly Personalised Service
One of the aspects of funeral arrangements that local independent funeral directors excel at is the personalised services they provide. Larger, more recognised funeral directors may lean towards a more corporate approach which tends to be less personalised. Unlike these larger companies, local independent funeral directors take pride in their ability to tailor services to the specific preferences and wishes of each individual family. At L.E. Brand & Sons, we take the time to understand who the person who passed was and will work collaboratively with family and friends to ensure that the funeral arrangements reflect who they were as a person, and truly honour their life and memory. Whether you wish to arrange a condolence book, release a dove, the transportation, location, funeral type and much more, we can assist and support you as you make these bespoke decisions.
Community Connection & Trust
We at L.E. Brand & Sons have over a century of experience serving families in the local community and have established a reputation for excellence and reliability. Unlike larger corporations, local independent funeral directors will know your family and may perhaps have worked for generations of the same family. This level of longstanding community connection fosters a deep sense of trust and familiarity which, during such a challenging time, can prove to be invaluable when planning your loved one’s funeral. A local independent funeral director such as L.E. Brand & Sons understands local traditions, and customs and has access to local resources. All of which can be instrumental in alleviating stress and making the process of arranging a loved one’s funeral as easy as it can be.
Flexibility & Adaptability
A funeral director can guide families and loved ones through the decision-making process regarding the type of funeral and any additional personalisation. At L.E. Brand & Sons, we recognise the cultural, religious and environmental implications of all types of funerals. This means that we can adapt to your wishes to provide genuinely flexible funeral arrangements. This differs from larger, corporate funeral directors who may be less able to accommodate non-traditional services or personal touches that reflect the personality and interests of the deceased. As a local independent funeral director, we value personalisation and know that everyone is unique. This is why we do everything we can to ensure that the funeral arrangements we provide are tailored to your loved one and your family and friends at every single point of your journey with us.
Affordable Funeral Arrangements
Despite what you may believe, choosing a local independent funeral director doesn’t mean you need to compromise quality for affordability. Choosing an independent funeral director over a larger, corporate chain can often be cheaper. For example, our funeral packages are available from £975 for a direct cremation, unlike a leading corporate funeral director which has prices starting from over £1,100 for the same service. Local independent funeral directors often avoid the larger overhead costs associated with larger firms, which means that we can provide you with affordable funeral arrangements without compromising on the premium quality provided. We understand that losing a loved one and planning funeral arrangements is a highly stressful and sad time, so we do what we can to minimise any stress with a more cost-effective quality of care.
Personal Pride
For larger funeral directors, funeral arrangements can become a box-ticking exercise. Choosing a local independent funeral director means that your family, friends and loved ones will be treated with personal care, attention and support at all times. At L.E. Brand & Sons, we have nurtured our family-owned funeral directors for over 140 years and take a great level of personal pride in the funeral services that we provide. We, like other local independent funeral directors, have made a long-term commitment to our community – it’s where we work, but often where we live. We consider ourselves to be so much more than a funeral director and take pride in being by your side as you transition through this challenging time. We take pride in providing families with support and compassion as we navigate funeral arrangements, grief and healing hand in hand.
How Can a Local Independent Funeral Director Help?
Choosing a local independent funeral director to help you plan a loved one’s funeral can be invaluable during this difficult time. We can provide valuable guidance and support during this difficult time and can help you with funeral arrangements. Here’s how a local independent funeral director can help…
- Understanding Grief
We make sure that every single client receives a caring service from our experienced and compassionate team. Losing someone you love can be a confusing and challenging time. Funeral directors such as us can be by your side to help you understand the logistics and lend a compassionate ear when needed. We are committed to your every need and will strive to provide the best advice and personal service, with your peace of mind at every step.
- Pre-Planning Services
Some people never get around to discussing funeral wishes with their loved ones, which can lead to all sorts of worry and anxiety when the time comes. Local independent funeral directors can help you as you take some time now to plan your funeral. With a pre-planned funeral, you can provide your loved ones with financial and practical help, as well as peace of mind, by having your funeral arrangements in place.
- Financial Guidance
It is always a difficult time when someone passes away and understanding the financial implications of a loved one’s passing can be challenging. Appointing a local independent funeral director eases the burden of understanding funeral costs. We can advise on what to do if the deceased’s Will details any funeral instructions and if the deceased had life insurance or a prepaid funeral plan to assist with covering the funeral costs.
- Cremation or Burial Choices
A local independent funeral director can guide you through the decision-making process regarding cremation or burial. We understand the cultural, religious and environmental implications and features of both options and can help you decide which is right for your family. We will take the time to understand your preferences and will help you to make a decision that best reflects the wishes of the departed and your family’s values.
- Choosing the Coffin
The type of coffin you choose will depend upon the committal of your loved one. As the requirements for cremation differ from those for burial, we can provide help and guidance as you choose between cremation and burial coffins and caskets. There are a variety of coffins and caskets available to suit all manner of ages and sizes. Whether your loved one has selected their coffin, or you are deciding for them, we can help you make a decision.
- Memorial Services
Choosing the type of service you’d like for your loved one’s funeral is a highly personal decision. Whether religious or non-religious, it’s good practice to reflect the beliefs and values of the departed. As with the cremation or burial choices, an independent funeral director can assist in creating a meaningful memorial service that celebrates the life of your loved one.
- Legal Requirements
With so much to think about and consider when someone passes away, the last thing you want to do is navigate the legalities and paperwork associated with the passing. A local independent funeral director will handle all aspects of administration and will thoroughly explain everything to you. This ensures that everything is legal and compliant and that you are comfortable with the process as it moves forward.
- Transportation & Logistics
Organising the transportation and logistics for a funeral can be left entirely to your funeral director. We can arrange all details for your loved one’s funeral including helping you decide which vehicle type to use to transport the departed and family members to the service. We can also assist with arranging the service, booking the minister and more. We will handle everything with the utmost care and professionalism, every step of the way.
- Special Requests
Your local independent funeral director can help you plan special moments to commemorate your lost loved one. From releasing a dove and arranging a condolence book to creating a themed funeral that would make the departed proud, your funeral director can help bring individuality to proceedings. We understand the importance of personalising funeral services and are compassionate to the wishes of all families whom we provide funeral services for.
- Post-Funeral Assistance
Outside of organising funeral services and their details, a local independent funeral director can provide valuable support and resources in the aftermath of the funeral. We can provide guidance on practical matters such as obtaining death certificates and accessing ongoing grief support. Our services don’t end when the funeral service does, we are here for you with compassionate help and resources in the difficult days that follow.
Taking Care of You Every Step of the Way
As a local independent funeral director, L.E. Brand & Sons understands the importance of providing not just practical services, but genuine care to families and friends as you navigate this difficult time. We provide compassionate knowledge and support from the very first phone call, supporting you every step of the way. From helping with the registration process and arranging the service with the crematorium to booking the minister and dealing with all the necessary paperwork – we’re here. If you require our services you can contact us on 01375 672142 or use our contact form. You are also welcome to visit our branch where a compassionate team member will be available to offer advice. Our opening times are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. A dedicated team is always available 24 hours a day 7 days a week and can be contacted outside of office hours.
