From 2^nd – 8^th December is National Grief Awareness Week, the first time this has been run in the UK. The aim is to try and normalise grief and get people talking about this typically uncomfortable subject on a national platform.

The campaign is being driven by The Good Grief Trust, the UK’s leading umbrella charity which is bringing all UK bereavement services, support organisations and helplines together under one central database for the bereaved and those working with them.

Julia Samuel from the Trust says “it isn’t the circumstances of the death that will predict a positive or negative outcome, it is the support they get at the time and after the death. This is the key component to anybody finding a way to rebuild their life”

This is why at Nicholas O’Hara we have partnered with SAIFCare, a free service, to all families we care for, offering counselling in a variety of ways to support them following a bereavement. We were asked to pilot this scheme in 2016, and following its success has been rolled out across the UK, and we believe offers support to those who need it in a way they feel most comfortable getting it. For more information on this please visit https://www.oharafunerals.co.uk/funerals/saif-bereavement-care/

In recognition of Grief Awareness Week we are all being encouraged to share a picture of a loved one or simply hold up their name with the #OpenUpToGrief and #NGAW19 to share among the social media community.

“Our family are here for your family”

At Nicholas O’Hara we realise coping with grief is one of the hardest parts of losing someone. At this time of year our grief can be heightened by the Christmas period.

Below is a link to an article which has been written by those who have suffered loss and gives their stories of how they dealt with grief at this time of year.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/coping-with-grief-at-christmas_uk_

For those experiencing grief we offer the chance to speak with a trained counsellor through our association with SAIFCare, for more information please visit https://www.oharafunerals.co.uk/funerals/saif-bereavement-care/

“Our family are here for your family”

On Monday 18^th November 2019, Nicholas O’Hara were privileged to conduct the funeral of Fire Fighter Carl Cavanagh who passed away on 19th October whilst competing in a triathlon in Mallorca. The funeral took place at The Minster Church, Wimborne with over 800 people in attendance.

Lizzie, Carl’s wife, and all the family wish to say thank you to all those who helped create a special day to remember Carl and also to the many members of general public and shop owners of Wimborne who quietly stood in respect as his funeral procession passed through the town, led by a fire engine from Heathrow Airport where he was based, and a vintage fire engine which carried Carl’s casket and was accompanied by his colleagues past and present from White Watch, Heathrow.

The family have kindly allowed us to share the tributes given at his service and they are a real reflection of the man he was to his family, friends and colleagues – a real hero.

Please click on the PDF link to open the tributes https://www.oharafunerals.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/CARL-CAVANAGH.pdf

For anyone one unable to attend or who wishes for a copy of the order of service please contact us

“Our family are here for your family”

Considering a funeral plan?

With the ever-increasing numbers of people deciding to plan and prepare for their futures by purchasing a funeral plan this has seen the increase in companies wishing to enter the market. Many people rightly choose to speak with their funeral director of choice but some are persuaded to buy by cold-callers or from an advertisement in a newspaper. So how do we know who you should buy from and what you should be considering?

1. Where should I purchase a funeral plan – we passionately recommend that you do not purchase a funeral plan from a cold caller or in response to an advert or flyer from an unknown company. Many funeral plan providers use cold calling to sell funeral plans. Many offer what seem like cheaper prices and say that you can choose the funeral director of your choice. In many cases these funeral plan providers have no arrangements to any funeral director and once they speak with a company they will not accept the funeral plan because it is either at a cost they cannot conduct the funeral at; or they do not have confidence or trust in the company that sold the funeral plan. – Nicholas O’Hara only work with Golden Charter, the largest independent funeral planning company in the UK and supported by around 1,000 independent funeral directors. With the funeral plan you purchase through us we guarantee to carry out the funeral with no further funeral directors expenses unless additions wish to be added at the time of need.
2. Speak to the funeral director of your choice – If you haven’t decided upon this then perhaps research them and look at their websites, look at what services they offer; are they members of a recognised trade association; who owns the business (many are not owned by the name above the door but large conglomerates); are there independent reviews about the business left by previous families; are the prices of the services they offer available?  – Nicholas O’Hara are owned and managed by the O’Hara family for over 45 years and have no outside owners or shareholders. Our website offers a list of the funeral plans we offer and reviews that are independently gathered by Funeral Guide from families we have had the privilege to care for. We are members of the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF)
3. Which funeral plan provider – The biggest reason to then speak to the funeral director of choice is they will offer a funeral plan that they wish to be associated with and have confidence in. I would though stress to make sure that this is a funeral plan that is registered with the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA) which shows they meet the required criteria set by this regulatory body.  – Golden Charter are FPA members and are among the few companies working with the Government for better and tighter regulation of the funeral planning market.
4. Types of funeral – Next make sure you are given choices on types of funeral as many funeral plans offer different funeral packages based on the different types of funeral, such as simple and traditional options or even woodland burial. For many though they also want something more bespoke to them, this does not have to mean more expensive but a funeral plan that covers exactly what they do want with personal choices. This could be the resting place of cremated remains, transport to the crematorium, type of coffin or where the funeral is to take place. Cold calling companies will often look to sell the cheapest option which may not be the funeral you wish for as they are paid the same commission for every sale.  – As well as our funeral plan packages we can create a funeral plan that is totally bespoke to all aspects of the funeral as you wish. We also provide a ‘my funeral wishes’ booklet for you to complete in your own time to list your personal choices such as music/hymn; flowers or donations; or even a theme for your funeral. We do not pay commission to our staff or any third party for a funeral plan sale or lead. We do make a donation to our charity of choice for every funeral plan we sell, this is currently Julia’s House children’s hospice in Dorset.
5. Payment – never feel pressured into making the payment at the first meeting or over the telephone if you are not ready to. Also check what payment options are available, such as in full or direct debit and if required over what number of years can you pay up too. Never make a payment direct to a funeral director for a funeral plan. All payments should be made direct to the Trust which is holding the funeral plan monies. – All our funeral plan payments are made direct to the Golden Charter Trust. We also can allow payment by interest free direct debit over 12months or those aged under 78 may pay, dependent on age, from 2-30 years (please discuss this option with us so we can let you know the maximum term allowed for your age)
6. Can I cancel my funeral plan – All funeral plan providers within the FPA will allow a funeral plan to be cancelled. If this is after a set period (often 28 days) then you will lose the cost of the administration fee which was built into the funeral plan – this should also have been shown in the costings to you. – As stated you can cancel your funeral plan with us at any time. Also, if you choose to move to a different area in the UK, you may transfer your funeral plan to another funeral director who like us, would be an independent family business and works also with Golden Charter.

We hope this simple guide has given you the advice you need in choosing your funeral plan. If you require any further help or you have a question you wish us to answer then please feel free to contact us. All funeral plan appointments are made under a no-obligation term and can be made in any of our funeral offices or in the comfort of your own home. We can also provide written quotations for any type of funeral plan or payment option you wish.

For more advice or to download our funeral planning brochure please visit https://www.oharafunerals.co.uk/funerals/pre-paid-funeral-plans/

“Our family are here for your family”

This year we are continuing our support of The Royal British Legion to honour the wartime service and sacrifice of Britain’s friends, allies and Commonwealth nations.

It’s a special way for us to ‘Remember Together’ and join forces to commemorate the contributions of all those who defended our liberty. £25 will be donated to the charity for every Golden Charter plan sold by us until 31^st July 2020.

This is the third year of our partnership through Golden Charter with The Royal British Legion and so far over £240,000 has been donated to them.

Funeral plans have become increasingly popular with over one million people in the UK having purchased a funeral plan; they are open to all ages, no health or financial checks are made, there are different payment options, they give peace of mind, allow someone to list their funeral wishes, take away the burden from those left, give financial security against rising funeral costs.

Purchase a funeral plan before 31^st December 2019 and receive £100 discount on your chosen funeral plan.

For more information please visit our website https://www.oharafunerals.co.uk/funerals/pre-paid-funeral-plans/ or contact us 01202 882134

“Our family are here for your family”

Around the world death is celebrated in many ways. Probably the most famous is the Mexican ‘Día de Muertos’ or day of the dead as it is known. This colourful 3day celebration from 31^st October – 2^nd November which coincides with the Christian celebrations of Allhallowtide, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Those celebrating will dress up in many different types of costume but all will have their faces painted to represent the skull as a symbol of the festival and parades will take place during the day and night over this period.

As part of the celebrations in Mexico on October 31, All Hallows Eve, the children make a children’s altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit. November 1 is All Saints Day, and the adult spirits will come to visit. November 2 is All Souls Day, when families go to the cemetery to decorate the graves and tombs of their relatives. The three-day fiesta is filled with marigolds, the flowers of the dead; muertos (the bread of the dead); sugar skulls; cardboard skeletons; tissue paper decorations; fruit and nuts; incense, and other traditional foods and decorations.

This celebration is also observed in many parts of South America and similar types are also found to happen in parts of Europe and Australia.

There are many other death celebrations around the world. Christians celebrate All Souls Day and many churches have special services to remember those who have died and they are remembered by the lighting of a candle. In Chinese culture ‘Zhongyuan’ festival is celebrated for a month with Bhuddists remembering their ancestors. ‘Chuseok’ is celebrated in both North and South Korea and ‘Gaijatra’ is a Hindu tradition celebrated in Nepal.

We believe death is still a taboo in the UK, but over the last few years there has been the starts of change. People seem more willing to discuss death in their normal environment and death and funerals can so often be seen in the news, television, social media and our favourite soap drama. One of the most common ways it is discussed is with funeral planning or pre-paid funerals with more people wishing to discuss this with us and plan ahead for the future giving peace of mind, a record of personal wishes and financial security against rising funeral costs.

Whether you want your service to be quiet and simple, traditional or completely unique to you we are able to make your funeral reflect your wishes, beliefs and create a special memory for the loved ones left. As a real family owned and managed business, we do not answer to outside shareholders or business partners, meaning we have full control of how we work, and how we can help achieve each individual persons funeral wish.

For more information on funeral planning please visit www.oharafunerals.co.uk or contact us 01202 882134 or by visiting one of our funeral homes.

“Our family are here for your family”

“What is someone’s favourite song?” is a question we all possibly could not answer about ourselves or even a closest loved one. At the time of a funeral, music has become an important element in creating someone’s special and unique final goodbye, and for many families choosing what they think that person may like may be a difficult decision.

Every person has a favourite genre, artist or just that one song that always makes them smile. We have seen the popular choices change through generations, from classical, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, TV themes or even the latest song from the charts. We asked some of our team what their final song would be and we got some interesting choices which we shared below.

To help with this and other personal wishes Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors have created a funeral wishes brochure where these choices as well as thoughts on type of funeral, dress code, final resting places and many others can be considered, making it easier for those left to make sure they would choose what you would like.

Even for us as funeral directors this isn’t always an easy discussion, that is why we believe giving these important choices some thought can give peace of mind and reassurance that your wishes will be carried out. For some this may also involve actually purchasing a funeral plan so the costs for these choices will have been put in Trust for the future.

If you would like to discuss or require more information on the services we provide, funeral planning or making your wishes known then please visit www.oharafunerals.co.uk or contact us on 01202 882134

Some of our team’s choices:

Nicholas – Cherish the love – Kool & the Gang

Anthony – You’ll never walk alone by Gerry & The Packemakers

Natalie – Purple Rain by Prince

CJ – Three Lions 98 by Baddiel and Skinner

Rory – The Avengers Theme Tune

Nicky – Always look on the bright side of life by Monty Python

Teresa – Lovely Day by Bill Withers 

“Our family are here for your family”

To look after someone aged over 100 years of age is still a rare occurrence, even though people are living longer, but this week Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors have had the privilege to look after two funerals of ladies who have reached that milestone and more! Mrs Phyllis Taylor passed away on 23 September aged 106 and Mrs Hilda Ward passed away on 7 September aged 105. What also makes this even more special is that both ladies spent their final days in the same care home, Streets Meadow in Wimborne, where they were so well cared for.

Dorset has statistically the highest average age in the UK and BH21 is classed as one of the postcodes with the longest life expectancy and these two amazing ladies have done their part in this.

Well done Phyllis and Hilda for your amazing life and achievement!

For more information on the funerals we are conducting or any of our other services, please visit www.oharafunerals.co.uk

“Our family are here for your family”

Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors this month celebrate 45 years of serving the local communities of Wimborne and surrounding since the company started in 1974, by Nicholas, with his parents, Pat and Brenda, in its current head office location at Somerleigh Court on Rowlands Hill in Wimborne.

The business has evolved greatly in these 45 years with many family members also having been involved and currently three generations work together. The business also expanded in the 1980’s  to opening funeral homes in Verwood and West Moors to serve these and their surrounding communities also.

One constant from day one has been the ethos of giving the best levels of service to all the families the family business has been honoured to care for. For the family, the constant reinvestment in their funeral homes, the facilities they have, the team of staff they work alongside and making sure the quality of all that they do is of the highest standards has seen the business both grow and gain the reputation of being one of the elite funeral businesses in the south of England.

The family are very proud of what has been achieved so far and Anthony, Nicholas’ son and manager of the business today, reflected on their past “before me and my sister came to work in the business over 22 years ago, we had no real idea of what our parents actually did. We both learnt about our roles quickly from them, but what we learnt even more, was the dedication, love and enthusiasm that they both had and still have today in the continued work we do. We say how privileged we are to work for this great company and together we all share the same aim of care, service and standard that has been our benchmark and will continue to be for the future ahead. We are very proud of where this business came from and where it is today, and our family and team will always work to these beliefs”.

To learn more about history, our team or about the services we provide please visit www.oharafunerals.co.uk

“Our family are here for your family”

Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors are for the third year running supporting the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal through the sale of Funeral Plans in association with Golden Charter.

This support continues throughout the year, but we are all more focused at this time in remembering those who gave their todays for our tomorrows. Since October 2017 Golden Charter has donated £280,000 to the appeal and we play our part by donating £25 from every funeral plan sale.

For most families, they will have a relative or loved one, who has served in a war time conflict and for many also a loss of one of these brave people. For our own family business, we especially remember Alfred (Pat) O’Hara, Nicholas’ father and co-founder of our company who served so bravely during WW2 in the jungles of Burma.

For more information on our funeral plans that support the RBL Poppy Appeal please contact us on 01202 882134 or visit www.oharafunerals.co.uk

“Our family are here for your family”