Although funeral directors oversee most funerals some
people prefer to organise funerals themselves.
Some people do not wish to use a funeral director for a variety
of personal and financial reasons.
In these cases, funerals can be handled by the bereaved
family in what is called an independent or personalised
funeral.
However, many funeral directors will not sell coffins or other
services unless an entire funeral package is purchased.
Consequently, independent funeral organisers often have to use
their own transport and provide their own coffin.
There are people who can assist in organising other aspects of a
funeral such as nurses who can offer laying-out or body preparation
services.
These services are evidence of a return to past times when members
of the community helped in the completion of a
funeral.
