Planning your own funeral is something many of us naturally shy away from. After all, we don’t want to consider our mortality until we have to. Life is for living and enjoying every moment as much as we can. Besides, we’re too busy thinking about organising our daily lives to look into the future.

All of that may be true, but forming a plan about how you would like to leave this world one day makes perfect sense. Life doesn’t go on forever and making a few considered choices now will not only ensure your wishes are respected, but avoid any disagreements between those you leave behind about what funeral arrangements you might have preferred.

Our Funeral Wishes recording service is free and available to anyone, irrespective of their age or state of health. You’re not obliged to use any of our other services, now or in the future. All you have to do is take time out to think carefully about what would best suit you and your family.

You can either have a confidential discussion with one of our trained advisers, or complete one of our Funeral Wishes recording forms. The form includes a series of questions which cover all aspects of the funeral, from the basics of where and what type of service you would like (religious or humanist) and who should conduct it, to the finer details. This could include your preferred hymns and music; a favourite text or poem you would like to be read out (and by whom); what should be done with your ashes, if you opt for a cremation; how many funeral vehicles you would like and what type of hearse.

You can even specify where you would like your family and friends to go to for the reception, and whether the occasion should be quiet and subdued, or lively with drinks and music. This is your chance to plan a service that reflects your personality and the life that you led.

Once you’ve decided on the sort of funeral you want, you can think about how it will be arranged and when it will be paid for. We have three pre-arrangement and payment options that offer flexibility and protection against rising costs.

For more information please contact Uttoxeter Co-operative Funeral Service or print out our Funeral Wishes form. Fill it out and keep it somewhere safe. Don’t forget to tell your relatives where you’ve put the form.