Latest update
8 April 2020
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, we want to provide you with an update of the current services that we can offer you when arranging a funeral.
We understand this is an especially difficult time for the bereaved and want to assure you we are here for you every step of the way.
Due to social distancing measures and changes in the way we are able to care for the deceased, as well as the bereaved and our staff, we are constantly revising the procedures, costs and pricing to reflect what we can do. We have outlined the current changes and personal services we are providing clients below. We understand it can be confusing at the moment so we hope to be able to offer clear, concise and helpful information as to what is available to you at this time. We also ask for your understanding as we follow PHE and other Government guidelines to ensure our staff and clients are protected at all times for their own safety and social responsibility.
We also want to help as much as we can in terms of costs as we understand so many people will be facing financial difficulty through this period. Therefore, we are reducing our professional fee by £200.00 to £1,475.00. We hope this goes some small way to help.
What to do when someone dies
Registering the death
You will be required to register the person’s death by telephone with the registry office closest to the place of death. The registration should be done by a relative or an executor and will be by appointment only.
This form outlines the information required by the registrar to help you prepare.
Once you have registered the death, we can handle all the arrangements for you or help guide and advise you.
Making funeral arrangements
We are unable to offer face to face meetings in our branches to arrange a funeral or deal with an enquiry. Therefore, we ask you to call or email us in the first instance. A full list of contact details can be found here. We are able to make all arrangements by phone, email or online and will do so with the usual care and attention you expect from us.
We can also make arrangements using the online video platform Zoom, so that you can still see us and talk to us if you would like to. This has also been rolled out for staff to use to see each other whilst working remotely during this difficult time.
We are sadly unable to offer viewings to those affected by Coronavirus but permit other viewing by appointment only and a maximum of 2 people, one at a time, from the same household.
In terms of the actual funeral committal, current guidance allows for funerals to take place but with a very limited number of mourners to attend. The number and who they are depends on the individual crematorium/cemetery and we can guide you on that. Please note this is changing constantly. Religious services are no longer allowed to be held in churches or religious institutions so many choose to have a memorial service at a later date which we can help you to organise. On the day of the funeral itself, we can attend on your behalf if no mourners are able to and/or where it is available we can look to provide a webcast of the service live which can also often be downloaded for up to 28 days after the funeral. We are unable to provide limousines due to people being in close proximity to each other in a confined space but mourners can attend in their own cars safely. Sadly, a lot of florists are closed due to the flower markets having to shut but we can find alternatives such as silk or paper flowers. These examples of our current services are not exhaustive and of course may change further depending on Government measures.
If you would prefer a direct cremation or basic funeral option these are also still available to you but we would ask for payment up front. Again, we can listen to your wishes and talk you through what we can offer with you together.
We are here for you and will continue to provide transparency, our upmost care and attention and professionalism during this time of uncertainty.
26 March 2020
Reassuring you
Please be assured that we are always here to help even more so during the Coronavirus pandemic. Even if we have some staff shortages in the coming weeks due to protective measures or an increase in funerals, we will always be at the end of the phone for you or just an email away. We are still here to help and always will be.
24 March 2020
Helpful links for anxiety
We want to help share some resources with you at this time if you're feeling anxious or vulnerable. This website is providing free digital journals including a gratitude journal and a resilience journal. These are both free to download until the 31st March. Jo Fox, Communications volunteer at MIND Haringey, is doing live breathing meditation exercises at 5pm every night through her Facebook page 'Back to Nature Yoga Retreats'.
We hope this helps in some small way.
23 March 2020
Face to face arrangements
We are now unable to offer face-to-face meetings when arranging a funeral. Please do be assured we are arranging funerals by phone and email with the usual care and attention. All our services are listed here on our website along with a full price list. If you already have arranged a viewing, we will discuss options with you. Please call either our main number 020 7387 6075 or your local branch listed here or email us info@levertons.co.uk for all enquiries. We are here to help and understand this is a very difficult time.
17 March 2020
Limousines not provided
In light of further Covid-19 advice regarding social distancing, for new funerals, we won't offer our limousines on funerals due to the close proximity of 6-7 mourners sitting with a member of staff in close proximity. If you have arranged a funeral already with us that includes limousines you of course can cancel and we will honour existing arrangements in place - unless the advice forces otherwise. As always we are here to help as best we can.
15 March 2020
Here to help remotely
We understand this is a very difficult time. Although there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding large gatherings we appreciate you may be unsure about arranging a funeral if a loved one passes away. We would like to assure you that we are here to help and are able to arrange funerals remotely. As always we follow the latest strict health and safety guidelines given to us for both our clients and our staff. If you have any questions as always we are here to help.
