With the ever-changing world, funerals too are changing, with the emphasise today very much on creating a memorable and fitting final goodbye to a loved one. We very much believe that a funeral should be representative of the person and a time where loved ones can create memories that will help them in the time that comes.

We help families achieve this in many ways. Being a real family business we do not answer to shareholders or investors but have control of all aspects of our business and are able to offer funerals as people want them – very much that it’s your funeral, your way. Between our funeral directors we have over 120 years experience in arranging all different types of funeral, whether different faiths or cultures, in different locations or a funeral that may include something one off.

Our company ethos has always been based on providing the best in service, care and facility to the families we care for. The many reviews we have received can be read in the About Us section of our website, and these represent the thoughts of families we have had the privilege to care for.

How can you have the funeral your way? Discussions on our own funeral wishes can be difficult with loved ones and we can help make this easier. A funeral plan not just covers the finances of a funeral so no burden or worry is left to loved ones, but allows you to make the choices that will make it the funeral that represents you. We can also provide our .make your wishes known’ brochure which gives ideas to consider and then list your choices as its these personal details that help make each funeral unique and special.

Our trained funeral directors can offer advice on all aspects of the funeral and from their vast experiences can help create a funeral that is individual like we each are.

For more information on how we can help please contact us on 01202 882134 or visit our website for information on all the services we can provide

#YourFuneralYourWay

Pre-paid funeral planning is a growing area within the funeral industry. It is estimated in the UK over 500,000 people have planned their funerals this way.

At Nicholas O’Hara, we only offer funeral plans in association with Golden Charter, the UK’s largest independent funeral planning company and have been associated with them since 1995. The Golden Charter Trust where the funeral money is held until time of need, has a present value of over £1.3billion and is 100% funded which means at any one time, every funeral held within the Trust can be paid for at its required level. This gives us confidence and security that the Trust is properly managed and plan holders money is safe for when needed.

Funeral plans are open to any one of any age, have no health checks or restrictions and can cover all types of funeral. There are also many different payment options including 12months interest free direct debit or for any person aged under 78 they may use our low-cost instalment option where payments can be made from 2-30 years dependent on age at start of payments.

Our funeral plans offer the following:

• Peace of Mind
• Funerals provided by a local truly independent family business since 1974
• Guaranteed Funeral Directors costs for the future
• Money held in a Trust that is 100% funded
• Funeral Planning Authority regulated plan company
• Choice of funeral plans – from traditional to direct cremation to woodland burial
• No age or health restrictions
• Different payment options
• £100 M&S vouchers if purchased before 1^st May 2020
• Funeral plans at 2019 prices

For more information on the benefits and options of funeral planning please contact us 01202 882134 or visit https://www.oharafunerals.co.uk/funerals/pre-paid-funeral-plans/uk/

“Our family are here for your family”

The idea of a direct cremation has started to become a choice people consider for their own funerals. Celebrities such as David Bowie chose this as the option for them and the idea has started to grow with this level of exposure. But what is it, how should it be done and what are the effects on those left? 

What is it?

Direct cremation is the option to have a cremation without any form of service or attendance. It simply means that a Funeral Director brings the deceased into their care, arranges a time for the cremation with the crematorium and then the coffin is transported there and received by the crematorium with no family or mourners able to be present. The funeral director of course will guide the family through the legal and practical procedures such as registering the death but there are no other practical arrangements that need to take place and the family have the choice on what happens to the ashes after the cremation has taken place.

 How should it be done?

This new option has driven new businesses to enter the funeral profession with just this service as the option. Many of these new businesses run from call centres, do not have local offices or facilities to care for the deceased, require full payment before making any final arrangements, most will not meet in person to guide families, will often use a van or similar to deliver the coffin to a crematorium often many miles away and make families wait over one month before returning the ashes to them. Many also advertise a price from…. this often means there could be extras to pay that are not shown or expected.

We believe this isn’t how any type of funeral should be done. We provide the same level of support as to any traditional funeral. We will:

• Collect the deceased and give them care and dignity at our head office
• Meet with family to discuss their choices, guide through all processes and discuss all future arrangements
• Provide a suitable simple coffin for cremation
• Take the coffin to a local crematorium (Poole or Bournemouth) in our silver jaguar hearse with a funeral director and staff to convey the coffin into the chapel
• Collect the ashes as soon as they are available if required, and hold for families to make a choice on their final resting place
• Give a full inclusive price for the whole service including the necessary disbursement fees

What does this mean for those left?

Direct cremations can take place before or after another type of service such as church or before a memorial service but for some there is nothing else. Even though this may have been the deceased’s wishes it should be considered what it means to their family and friends.

For many, funerals are not something they look forward to attending, but are seen as both a public and personal way of saying a final goodbye to someone special. Funerals are also a way to remember the life lived, the personality and uniqueness of that individual, to come together with others to share these special moments and support each other at this time of loss. When a direct cremation takes place for those left there can be a feeling of emptiness as they have not had chance for that final goodbye or to create a service that will provide positive and personal memories for the future. Add to this the lack of service a non-specialist funeral director offers then the whole process can be quite empty and impersonal.

For anyone considering a direct cremation, firstly consider the wishes of those close to you and how they will feel and second, make sure the funeral process is done by a company that will support them through your choices and provide the care and dignity they would wish you to receive.

For more information on our direct cremation option or any type of funeral please visit www.oharafunerals.co.uk

“Our family are here for your family”

Nicholas and Anthony O’Hara were pleased to present to Sue Miles, head of fundraising at Julia’s House a cheque for money raised through funeral plan sales. The company had selected the children’s hospice as their charity of choice and from each funeral plan they sell, a donation is made to this special Dorset based charity.

Anthony who is head of funeral planning for the family business said “we have worked with Julia’s House for many years supporting events, staff training and at times the families whose children are cared for by the incredible team there. This is our small way of giving something back and helping them keep this special place running and supporting families across Dorset”

Funeral plan sales over the last 10 years have helped raise over £10,000.00 that the family business has donated to local charities, and through Golden Charter the funeral planning Trust company, further money is raised throughout the year for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

For more information on funeral plans please contact us or visit our funeral planning page.

“Our family are here for your family”

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”