On 13th December 2020 at 4pm we held our first ever virtual Christmas Memorial service where we invited families we had cared for during the year to join us at a time to remember their lost loved one.

Prior to the event orders of service and mulled wine kits were sent to each family with many requesting extra for other family members.

We were delighted with the response with over 650 people joining us and the number continues to grow as others watch the service via our YouTube link. From this we have received many cards, letters and emails of thanks for the service and for the continuing remembrance of their special loved one.

To watch the service please click the link below

https://www.youtube.com/embed/SmA2TEVuv68?rel=0

Our family here for your family

Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, based in Dorset, continue to be the charity of choice that Nicholas O’Hara support each year.

During December the hospice took part in the ‘Big Give’ where all donations made in that period were doubled to make an even greater contribution to this amazing charity. Nicholas O’Hara made their yearly donation during this period so it made an even bigger impact.

For every funeral plan the company sell they make a donation to the charity and this year it totaled £500.  Nicholas O’Hara look forward in continuing their support of Julia’s House into 202.

Our family, here for your family

Anthony O’Hara was proud to handover to Shelley Rose of Second Chance (local homeless support charity) and Verwood Food Bank a donation of Christmas food gifts to support the charities in the work they do.

Anthony said “we’ve known Shelley for many years and have been watching her do the amazing work she does, her energy, enthusiasm and dedication has been very inspiring and that’s why we wanted to support the work she does with these food gifts and hope they can give some festive spirit to the people and families they support”.

The food was distributed by Shelley and her team of elves throughout the local community just before Christmas.

Our family, here for your family

As we prepare to enter the second lockdown of 2020, on Thursday 5^th November, we would like to reassure all the families we care for, now and during this period, as to what is allowed for funerals at this time. We will continue to update this as information is supplied to us.

• Registering a death – is still done by telephone with the Registrar’s office – we will advise the information you will need to know and where and when you need to speak to them
• Arranging the funeral – we will still meet you to discuss the funeral arrangements but this will only be at one of our funeral homes and with a maximum of two family members able to attend. We can also support you via the telephone, email and skype etc
• Visiting the Chapel – our chapel of rests at each of our funeral homes remain open and an appointment needs to be made prior so we can limit the number of people in any building at one time. There is no time limit on how long you may spend in the chapel but it is restricted to two family members per visit
• Attending the funeral – the government guideline is 30 mourners maximum, but each venue will have their own rule based on the space allowed and how social distancing can be maintained. Currently both the crematoriums at Poole and Bournemouth (East Chapel) allow 20 mourners (10 in Bournemouth West Chapel). If the service is to be held at the Cemetery then the maximum of 30 will be allowed.
• If I can’t attend the service – if you are unable to attend and the family have chosen to have the service webcast, we can provide you with the information so you can login to watch the service from home
• Limousine transport – We are still able to provide limousines. They are fitted with hygiene screens to separate driver and passengers of which we allow a maximum of 5. Face masks have to be worn inside the vehicle and we will provide hand sanitiser also. Between each use the vehicles are sanitised
• When do I need to wear a face mask – these need to be worn when visiting one of our funeral homes, travelling in limousines and inside the crematorium building
• What restrictions are there during the service – the only notable difference other than numbers allowed to attend is that no singing can take place. Recorded music can still be listened too. People are allowed to speak during the service and may remove their mask to do so when stood at the lectern

At all times we will make sure the safety of the families we are caring for and our staff is priority. All of our funeral homes have hand sanitising stations at each door and masks will be worn by all staff when in your presence. If you have any concerns or questions on the current restrictions and procedures then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our family here for your family

At the start of November, the company were proud to receive their 500th independent review from families they have had the privilege to care for. 

The reviews are collected by ‘Funeral Guide’ who also provide the company with their donation portal so are fully independent and all the words are straight from the families themselves. 

These reviews continue to inspire the company to provide the best in service, care, standards and facility to the bereaved and are thankful that families have felt able to provide their honest words at this time.

Our family, here for your family

Often we are asked by families if a loved on has purchased a funeral plan through ourselves. We can check our records and also the database of Golden Charter, our funeral planning company of choice, and if we can’t find one, what next?

Now through the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA) we are able to use a trace system where information is sent to all registered funeral plan providers who can check their database and if they find a funeral plan they will contact the relevant person.

We do however find that it is often the case that people talk about funeral planning with the intention of doing this or time passes and it is forgotten. There are so many benefits of funeral planning and for more information please visit https://www.oharafunerals.co.uk/funerals/pre-paid-funeral-plans/ or contact us as you wish.

If you wish to try and trace if a loved one has a funeral plan, please click on the link https://funeralplanningauthority.co.uk/trace-a-plan/ and complete the online form.

Our family here for your family

CORONA-VIRUS UPDATE

25^TH March 2020

 Following the latest guidelines from Government, Public Health England, BCP and Dorset Councils and recommendations from our trade associations we would like to update our own and the present situation regarding funeral services.

If a person dies from COVID-19 what happens? Our staff have been trained and equipped to handle this situation. We have all the required PPE clothing required to make our staff safe but also carry out our duties with the highest levels of dignity and care we would treat all with. We would kindly ask that we are informed from the beginning of this and also if anyone else within the family is suffering with any of the symptoms even if not fully diagnosed. Our only present restriction is that we are unable to carry out our usual hygienic treatment to someone who has the virus which then restricts the opportunity for visits to our chapel of rest. All other elements of a funeral will be the same.

 Funerals: There is allowed a maximum of 10 family members at each cremation service and we would request the same for burials also, and these must be from the following:

Spouse / Partner

Parent / Carer

Brother / Sister

Children (and partners)

Grandchildren (if still within the allowance of 10 people maximum)

At the start of each service the funeral director and team will bear the coffin into the chapel and will then leave prior to the funeral director inviting the family members to enter the chapel for the service.

It is recommended that the coffin is not touched by any person before they exit the chapel.

Any flowers placed on the coffin will be brought from the chapel by the funeral director once everyone has left the chapel.

All services in the chapel at Bournemouth and Poole Crematoriums can be viewed by webcasting (watch at home on a computer) and this service is currently free of charge. At the time of arranging the funeral we will offer this service, and on request a link with a login and password will be sent to you, which you can share with family and friends unable to attend. They will also be able to use this link to watch the service up to 28 days later.

The crematoriums are at this time unable to offer the chance for families to witness the scattering of ashes within the crematorium grounds. The ashes can be held there or we can hold them for you until you are able.

Office Hours: We have taken the difficult, but sensible step, to close our Verwood and West Moors offices to protect staff and to provide a team of back up staff so we are able to stay fully functional.

Our head office in Wimborne is open Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, and we request people only attend by appointment only and that a maximum of two people per family attend any appointment.

Funeral Arranging: We will of course fully support you in arranging all aspects of the funeral. We are unable to make home visits unless absolutely necessary. Appointments can be made and for convenience a funeral director will meet you in any of our funeral homes if you are unable to travel to Wimborne. We can make the arrangements via phone, skype and email and can scan and email all required forms that need completing.

Chapel Visits: These are also by appointment only and again restricted to two people attending at any one time. Any further guidance required will be given at that time.

Limousines: It has been recommended at this time due to protecting our staff and social distancing that limousines are not used for services and we are complying with this. For any funeral taking place where a limousine has been included as part of a funeral plan purchase we will organise a refund of the cost of the limousine to you.

Order of Service Printing: Even though there is a restriction on numbers able to attend services we can still arrange printing for the service and it is recommended that if you wish, the amount printed would cover those you would have expected to attend. We will then provide the order of service to you along with envelopes so you may post them to those unable to attend so they can follow the service with you especially if it is being webcast. Orders of service are also mementos from the day that people like to keep.

Music at Crematorium: The music engine options for both Poole and Bournemouth Crematorium are both fully functional to provide the music you require for the service. Its only limitation is that it can only provide music already in its system but this is a vast list and once you have chosen your music we will let you know as soon as possible if any music is unavailable.

Future Memorial Services: For many, with the present restrictions, the funeral may not have all the same feeling that you may have wanted to create with all family and friends being able to part of a loved one’s final goodbye. We will of course help arrange and support future memorial services once the present situation has changed and restrictions lifted.

Services in Church: With the present guidance from The Catholic Church and Church of England there are to be no funeral services in church. If you wish, a minister from your parish or attending Church may officiate at the crematorium or cemetery. Again it may be worth considering a memorial service for the future.

Registering a Death: At present the usual process for death registration applies. This will be updated as soon as changes are confirmed.

Help with the cost of the funeral from DWP: We have been informed, for all who are eligible to make a claim for help towards funeral costs from the DWP, that they should do this in the usual way. We can offer more advice or please visit https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments

Pre-Paid Funeral Plans: We are still able to discuss and arrange funeral plans for those who wish to do this. We suggest you firstly request from us our funeral plan pack and once ready either call us or email anthony@oharafunerals.co.uk with any questions you may have or to discuss your wishes. We are able to complete the application process by telephone or email and will advise what happens next and payment options.

Bereavement Support: Due to the current restrictions on face to face meetings our chosen grief support team SAIFCare are providing online messaging service. This can be found via https://www.griefchat.co.uk/

As soon as any further guidelines or changes are introduced we will update this information 

Our family, here for your family

March 2020 has been a difficult month for many around the world, but we are thankful to all families who take the time to leave us an independent review following a funeral of a loved one. This month we have passed through 400 5* reviews and we  would like to say thank you for all your kind words, support and thanks.

The reviews are an important way that feedback is received to our family business not just for the kind words of thanks and encouragement but also the chance to gain thoughts on any part of the whole funeral service that they can improve on as the aim is always to provide a unique and personal service, to meet expectations and leave positive memories from a loved ones service, at what is always the families most difficult of times.

The reviews are collected independently by Funeral Guide who also provide the online donation facility to the company’s website. Being independent, each review is done by each family, of their own choice by replying to Funeral Guide and then they post onto the reviews section of the website. If any one would like more information or the chance to post a review on behalf of their family then please contact us.

Our family, here for your family