M Coghlan FAQ

If someone dies at home, either call the community nursing team, GP surgery or 111 if out of hours. They will send someone the verify the death. Once this has been completed, you can call us at any time of the day 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and we will come to collect your loved one. We will look after them in our Chapels of Rest at either Fareham or Gosport depending on your preference.

A direct cremation is when a cremation is requested, and we deliver the deceased to the crematorium on a date with no family or anyone in attendance. The crematorium staff receive the coffin and we collect the cremated remains to return to the family if this is the chosen request. It is a fairly straight forward process, we will arrange the date once the death has been registered and required paperwork is complete.

Yes absolutely, a memorial service can be arranged following a cremation. It doesn’t have to be the same day, you can choose to bring the cremated remains along, or not at all. A memorial service can be arranged in a religious setting, like a church, or elsewhere depending on preference.

Yes, can arrange music depending on the location of the funeral service. If the service takes place at the crematorium, then we will organise a playlist prior to the service taking place. This is guided by your choice of songs. Videos or photos need to uploaded prior to the service so check with your dedicated funeral director for deadlines. If the service is in a church, music is more regulated and any choices would need to be cleared with the Incumbent or Vicar for approval.

There are a few locations in Hampshire for Natural Burials. The most popular is South Downs Natural Burial Site at The Sustainability Centre in Petersfield. They have an outdoor woodland hall where you can have services if you wanted.

With an independent funeral director, we offer a personalisation that is unmatched. At M Coghlan Ltd, we pride ourselves on our transparency, and the trust that you have in us is so important. That is why we aim for you to deal with the same person throughout your journey with us from the very beginning, until the funeral is complete.

The GP or Doctor at the hospital will produce a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death which is sent electronically to the Medical Examiner, who will scrutinise the information and contact the family to discuss the cause of death. You can ask questions and address any queries you may have at this point. They will then email any confirmation to the Registrar.

Each death must be registered in the District where death occurred. This is face-to-face, and any necessary forms for cremation or burial will be electronically sent to us and/or the necessary Authority. For deaths in Q.A. Hospital the local Registration District is Portsmouth.

Yes, they can no problem. When we arrive our team will advise and assist to guide you through the process.

Yes, in certain circumstances this can be arranged. Please ask your funeral director for advice.

Yes, most deceased can be viewed in one of our Chapels of Rest in either Fareham or Gosport, depending on the circumstances of the death. Please check with the funeral director beforehand. 

Donations can be sent to a charity – an online memorial page will be set up for each deceased person and this will include details of the funeral venue, and also allow donations to be made directly, which may then be gift-aided. Donations can also be handed in directly through our offices or on the day, to the Funeral Director.

For cremation the coffin remains on the catafalque until all the people have left the chapel. It is then moved to the cremator and each person is cremated independently. The remains are kept separate and identified throughout the process. For burial the coffin in lowered into the ground to remain there.

These can be scattered in the crematorium gardens, interred in a plot at a cemetery or churchyard or elsewhere, such as a favourite spot – permission may need to be sought.

Memorials can be placed on a grave following a burial once the ground has settled (usually 6 -12 months). A stone tablet can be placed on a grave after an interment of Cremated Remains immediately.

We can put a death notice in a newspaper of your choice, including details of the funeral and any instructions regarding flowers or donations to a charity.

Most crematoria now have a facility whereby the service can be recorded and/or webcast live. The link for this, via email can be shared amongst family members, especially those living abroad who are unable to be present.