Funerals
How to say goodbye when you can't attend a funeral
Funerals are usually a time for people to come together in their grief – to share memories and celebrate the life of the person they have lost.
However, sometimes there are circumstances where you might not be able to attend a funeral due to ill-health, family conflicts or travel arrangements. Whatever the reason, there are ways that you can still say goodbye.
You could try:
- writing a message or ask for something to be read out
- recording a video to be played
- asking if the service can be live-streamed
- asking if photos of people who would normally be there can be placed on the empty chairs to represent everyone who would like to be there
- holding your own memorial with a photo and a candle
If you need support, information or guidance around paying for the funeral, we’re here for you. Chat with us online or call our helpline on 08081 311 333.
Find out more about how we can help here.
More about bereavement support
How to support a child who is grieving
It can be really hard for children to cope with the loss of a loved one and to process everything they are feeling – here are some ways to help a child when they are grieving
Look after yourself while you grieve
Be kind to yourself while you grieve. Remember, the healing process takes time, and we all grieve differently
Supporting a grieving parent
Supporting people through grief is hard, especially if it's your parent and the person they’re grieving for - was someone you were close to
Supporting someone who is grieving
Here are some ways that you can help someone through a difficult time
Bereavement: Useful links
There are lots of different organisations that can provide information or support, as well as Ben
Struggling with money after a bereavement
It’s not easy having to think about your finances when you’re grieving, so we’ve put some resources together to help.