Advice & Costs

Considering the recent publicity looking in to funeral costings, along with the government investigation we feel that as someone arranging a funeral it should be considered more than just the cost element when choosing a funeral director to care for you, and your loved ones. We believe a funeral director should offer the highest level of care, facility and service to both the deceased person and their loved ones. We would also recommend visiting our ‘Customer Reviews’ page to read what families we have cared for before have said.

We provide;

• All of our funeral homes are beautifully decorated with a warm and welcoming feel and offer the best in facility.
• A member of the O’Hara family on hand and available 24/7.
• The latest technology to communicate with our clients and administration within our funeral homes.
• Fully trained, qualified and dedicated staff all from within our local community
• Our stunning Jaguar fleet of silver funeral vehicles each built to our own specification
• Our staff are immaculately turned out at each funeral in our unique navy blue uniform
• We offer the following services in house, meaning families can have as much input and control as they wish to: design and creation of orders of service, visual tributes, memory cards, personalised stationary
• We offer expert aftercare bereavement support as part of using our services at no additional fee.
• Exclusive partnership with Golden Charter Funeral Plans.
• We are proud to be a real family owned funeral businesses located in Dorset and are able to undertake funerals in any area
• Because we are owned and managed by our family we can make each funeral personal, bespoke and to match the expectation of each family we are privileged to care for

Today, more than ever before, there is no one funeral that fits all. Each funeral should represent that unique person. We can offer any type of funeral service and because of this there are many different cost options. Below is an example to the main types of funeral we offer from the most popular traditional funeral to a more simple and basic service as well as the option for a direct cremation where no form of service takes place. Before a funeral takes place a full itemised estimate will be provided to cover all our services and the disbursements (third party costs) that are required to be paid on your behalf. Any additions to this we will discuss with you, prior to receiving our final invoice, after the funeral has taken place.

TRADITIONAL FUNERAL

When most people think of a funeral our traditional funeral option is typical of their thoughts. This service can be bespoked as required to make it as individual as you wish it to be. We at Nicholas O’Hara pride ourselves on the care we give every family and their loved one and we feel the highest standard of staff, care, facility and service we give is reflected in our funeral costs.

Traditional funeral costs

• Our private ambulance to convey from a private residence, hospital or Coroner’s mortuary within 15 miles and office hours
• Hygienic care of the deceased
• Making the funeral arrangements either in your own home or at one of funeral offices
• Use of our Private Chapel of Rest
• Staffing and conducting the funeral to its conclusion to include Funeral Director and 4 bearers
• Use of our silver grey hearse, cortege to start from address as required to local Crematorium or Cemetery (our matching silver grey limousines are available at an additional cost)
• Obtaining all necessary forms and documents required by the authorities
• Use of our selected SAIF Care Bereavement Counselling service
• Handling donations to your chosen charity to also include use of our online donation service
• Corresponding with all necessary parties and organisations such as Minister/Celebrant, Doctors, Crematoriums etc
• Arranging music for the service to include providing music on CD if required
• Choice of date and time for funeral service
• 5 free memory cards
• Use of our in house design service to create orders of service, invitations, thank you cards (printing costs are extra and will be advised)
• Collection of cremated remains from the Crematorium, storage for 3 months at our funeral home and supply of a decorative scatter tube, if your choice is to scatter them privately
• Provide choices of coffins or caskets, including fittings and linings. Our Funeral Director will discuss this with you and advise you of the cost for this

Total of our services £3150.00 plus coffin of your choice and disbursements

BASIC FUNERAL

As members of SAIF and to give families freedom of choice we offer a simple basic funeral. You will see compared to our traditional funeral there are many differences but one constant is the level of care we always give to you and the same to your loved one. Please note that if the funeral does not take place within 10 days from date of death then additional costs may be incurred.

Basic funeral costs

• Our private ambulance to convey from a private residence, hospital or Coroner’s mortuary within 15 miles and office hours
• Care of the deceased
• Making the funeral arrangements in one of funeral offices
• Staffing and conducting the funeral to its conclusion to include Funeral Director and 4 bearers
• Use of our silver grey hearse, direct to local Crematorium or Cemetery
• Obtaining all necessary forms and documents required by the authorities
• Corresponding with all necessary parties and organisations such as Minister/Celebrant, Doctors, Crematoriums etc
• Arranging music for the service
• Choice of date and time for funeral service (within 10 days of date of death)
• Collection of cremated remains from the Crematorium and storage for 3 months at our funeral home pending final decision
• Simple basic foil effect coffin in standard size with nameplate

Total of our services £2700.00 plus disbursements 

UNATTENDED (DIRECT) CREMATION FUNERAL

Direct Cremation includes:

• Our private ambulance to convey from a private residence, hospital or Coroner’s mortuary within 15 miles and office hours
• Completion of all documentation.
• Doctors’ fees where they apply.
• Cremation at a day and time we choose – No funeral service and no attendance by mourners at crematorium.
• Fee for Cremation (at Crematorium of our choice).
• Suitable basic coffin of our choice, in standard size, with nameplate.
• Option to collect cremated remains from either one of our funeral homes or from the crematorium; or scatter in the Garden of Remembrance (unwitnessed).
• No viewing in our private Chapel of Rest
• Full payment in advance.

Total Cost £1,967.00 inclusive of listed disbursements – fully payable before the funeral takes place. If the cremation does not happen with 7 days of death we may make an additional charge.

There are different reasons why people may choose this option and we would like to discuss these with you first and also any future plans you may have for perhaps a memorial service or service with the ashes. Also due to crematorium availability, length of times we may have to wait for paperwork to be completed and the options each family also has, it may be that a direct cremation is not fully what is required.

For a list of the additional services and options we provide please use this link

For a list of the funeral disbursements in this area please visit our useful documents page

For a list of the fees for our local crematoriums please use this link