Butterfly Funerals Ltd

Welcome to Butterfly Funerals Ltd

Butterfly Funerals are specialist funeral directors in Luton and owned and operated by Teresa Stack-Murray & Peter Murray. We now have Jamie, Ray and Chelsea who have joined us to make a wonderful team. If you have experienced a recent bereavement and don’t know where to start then please call us on 01582 968130. We will organise everything for you, compassionately, professionally and at a reasonable price. Butterfly Funerals provide everything that you will need at this time for funerals and cremations throughout Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the rest of England. This will include advice surrounding administration as well as service provision from other providers such as florists and headstone masons.

We have partnered with local companies and offer dedicated services to make the funeral process as easy and smooth as possible, we:

Work with a local headstone company to help create a lasting tribute to your loved one.

Have a dedicated floral service for you and others to send flowers as a tribute.

Provide pre paid funeral arrangements so you can ease the stress and worries of the funeral cost for your loved ones when you pass.

Provide a compassionate and friendly service to help ease the pain of losing a loved one.

Sometimes you just need someone to talk to… we are here for that too. In fact, that’s where it starts for most people and we have made a lot of long term friends over the 30 years that we have been providing funeral services, simply because we care.

For the last 4 years we have been in the top 3 Funeral Directors in Luton.

About Us

Butterfly Funerals is operated by Teresa and Peter.

We have been in the funeral services business for over 30 years. Therefore, we have a renowned reputation for professionalism and quality. At the same time we offer a caring and compassionate approach to the family and friends of the departed.

The team provide a personal service including home visits if preferred. We often find that time spent with us helps to soften the blow and eases people on to the next stage of their life. Indeed, many families stay in touch and have become great friends over the years. We provide funeral services throughout Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Always caring, always professional and always reasonably priced, we are here to help you.

One of the hardest things to do after someone has passed away is making the first call. We are available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can call us anytime when you feel ready. Our conversation will involve us talking you through the next steps. Somethings may be different depending on where and how the death occurs. Feel rest assured when calling Butterfly Funerals, we have your best interests at heart. Our office hours are Monday to Friday 9 to 5.

The death occurrs at home

If a death takes place at home, you must notify the doctor’s surgery that the recently deceased was registered with. A GP, an our of hours doctor, paramedic or specialist nurse will need to attend the home first to confirm the death. Once confirmed, you will need to contact us so that we can attend the home of the deceased and respectfully bring the deceased person to our funeral home.

In most cases, the doctor who has seen the deceased most recently will release Cause of Death Medical Certificate. This will normally be done in 14 days. This is the certificate you will need to take to the registrar to register the death.

The death occurrs at a care home

If the deceased has died in a care home and it was expected, the death will need need to be confirmed by a qualified medical professional. Once done, we will bring the deceased into our local funeral home. You will need to contact the doctor’s surgery they were registered with to establish when the Cause of Death Medical Certificate will be available.

If the death was unexpected, the death may get reported to a coroner. When this happens, the coroner’s office will be in touch to explain the next steps.

The death occurrs in hospital

When someone has died in hospital, it is not always necessary for us to attend right away. However, you may want to contact us to begin arranging the funeral and for help with the next steps. The hospital bereavement officer or a member of the nursing staff will speak to you regarding arranging a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to be issued. With this, you will need to book a meeting with the registrar in the district of the hospital to register the death.

We will ask you if the funeral in to be a burial or cremation. This is because we will need to request additional documentation from the hospital.

The death occurrs away from home

Butterfly Funerals have many years of experience in arranging funerals where people have died away from their home, being in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Our friendly staff can advise and guide you through what to do next.

Bringing the deceased back to the United Kingdom

If someone dies outside of the UK, it is often the wish of the family to have that person brought home. Here at Butterfly Funerals, we have a wide range of experience in helping families bringing their loved ones back home and are able to guide you through the process.

The death is unexpected

When someone dies unexpectedly, it is perfectly normal for the police to attend the scene as they have to be there on behalf of the coroner to collect information. The recently deceased person will be moved to a local hospital and into the care of a coroner so they investigate the death further to find out the cause.

You can contact Butterfly Funerals as soon as you feel you are able to, we will liase with the coroner’s office for you and completely guide you through the whole process. This is done whilst supporting you through this difficult time and ensuring everything goes as you and your loved ones would wish.

Registering a Death

All deaths in both England & Wales must be registered within five days of occurring. This can be extended in exceptional circumstances by arranging it with the registrar. If the coroner is involved, the coroner’s office will contact you to advise you of when you can register the death.

Making an appointment

Usually, all register offices wil ask you to make an appointment to register a death. If you have the medical death certificate, you will be able to go and register the death. You can do this either before or after you have seen us to arrange the funeral.

Who can register a death?

A Civil Partner of the person who has died.
Any person who was present at the death.
Any person who lives in the house where the death occured.
A person who is arranging the funeral, this cannot be the funeral director.

Copies of the death certificate

You will receive a green certificate from the registrar. This needs to be given to the funeral director at your earliest convenience. Copies of the death certificate can be purchased from registar, these can be used for official purposes such as closing a bank account or claiming insurances.

Documents and information you will need for the registrar

The official death certificate in a sealed envelope.
If available, the deceased’s NHS medical card.
If required, a debit or credit card to pay for copies of the death certificate.
Proof of your identification, a driving licence or passport will suffice.

When you meeting with the registrar, you should take:

The full name of the deceased
Their full address
Details of where the person died and their date of death
Their date and place of birth
Their occupation (if applicable)

If the deceased was a married woman, you will also be asked for:

Her maiden name
Her husband’s occupation (if applicable)

Arranging a Funeral

Arranging a funeral is very difficult task. You’re facing an emotional time whilst having to make decisions that you will have probably never thought about before. Here at Butterfly Funerals, we aim to make the entire process as simple as possible, whilst guiding you through the process of arranging a funeral. This is so you can be ensured everything is done properly for your loved one.

When a person dies, you will need to decide on whether the person is to be either buried or cremated. This choice is often influenced by the wishes of the person who has died and their beliefs.

Our kind and experienced team will take you through all of the arrangements and answer any questions or concerns you may have. You can either come to us or we can come to you at home or wherever you feel comfortable. It is always helpful if you have made some decisions towards the funeral already but be rest assured we can help you where ever we can.

Visiting the Deceased

Over many years, we have found that most people take genuine comfort from seeing their loved ones at rest and of course if allowed, can spend some final time together. Each individual is different so we will never pressure you about visiting the deceased. We know that this is your decision, we will allow you privacy whilst you spend time with your loved one. To ensure these visits are kept completely private, these visits can be arranged by appointment only. We do not charge for chapel visits. Appointments can be made for a week day up until 7.00pm. Weekends need to be arranged through the office.

Arranging Transport for the Funeral

When planning the transport to and from the funeral, there are some things that you will need to bare in mind. Not to worry if everything is overbearing, we will speak to you regarding all of the above as part of the funeral planning meeting.

The choice of hearse:

We find that our range of traditional funeral hearses are still used for most occasions, some families now choose different vehicles to reflect the life of the deceased. Horse drawn transport is also available. You can get into contact regarding this, please let us know. You can always speak to us regarding this and we will do our best to accommodate you or point you in the right direction.

The number of limousines:

We can provide a range of comfortable limousines to help transport people both to and from the funeral. Ask us for more information.

Departing and returning:

We will need to be informed where the cortège should depart from and return to. This is commonly the home of the deceased or the home of a family member.

Standardised and Additional Extras Price List

All funeral directors are legally required to publish this Price List for a standardised set of products and services. This is to help you think through your options and make choices, and to let you compare prices between different funeral directors (because prices can vary).

This is a funeral where family and friends have a ceremony, event, or service for their loved one at the same time as they attend their burial or cremation. (Below is a breakdown of the £2,700)	£2,700
Taking care of all necessary legal and administrative arrangements.	£750
Collecting and transporting your loved one from their place of death (normally within 20 miles of the funeral director’s premises). In office hours	£300
The care of your loved one before the funeral in our appropriate cool facilities. Your loved one will be kept at the funeral director’s premises only – Hygienic treatment included. Choice of gown or own clothes for dressing. Discussed in detail hair and makeup preferred.	£600
Providing a suitable coffin – this will be made from wood dark oak veneer with Gold plastic handles and a white coffin interior suite included.	£350
Viewing of your loved one in our homely chapel of rest, by appointment with the funeral director (where viewing is requested by the client).	No Charge
At a date and time you agree with the funeral director, taking your loved one direct to the agreed cemetery or crematorium (normally within 20 miles of the funeral director’s premises) in a hearse or other appropriate vehicle.	£350
Providing a limousine that can hold up to 6 mourners – leaving from your preferred location (within 20 miles of the funeral director’s premises) and taking the chosen mourners direct to the chosen crematorium, church, cemetery and then on the chosen venue for the wake/family gathering.	£350

ATTENDED FUNERAL ( Funeral director’s charges only)

UNATTENDED FUNERAL

This is a funeral where family and friends may choose to have a ceremony, event, or service for their loved one, but they do not attend the burial or cremation itself.

Burial (funeral director’s charge only).	£1,500
Cremation (funeral director’s charges only).	£1,350

FEES YOU MUST PAY (SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS DISBURSEMENT COSTS

For a new grave, you will also need to pay for the plot; for an existing grave with a memorial in place, you may need to pay a removal/replacement fee. In addition, the cemetery may charge a number of other fees.

For an Attended cremation funeral, the cremation fee (2) in this local area (The Vale Crematorium), the typical cost of a cremation for local residents.

£1,200

Doctor’s Fees – As from 9th September 2024 there is no more Doctor’s Fee’s to be charged.

For an Attended or Unattended burial funeral, in this local area (The Vale Crematorium) the typical cost of burial fee for local residents starts from– Single grave £1,785
For a new grave, you will need to pay for the plot; for an existing grave with a memorial in place, you may need to pay a removal/replacement fee. In addition, the cemetery may charge a number of other fees.

£N/A

(1) This fee, which is sometimes called the interment fee, is the charge made for digging and closing a new grave, or for reopening and closing an existing grave.
(2) In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you will usually need to pay doctors’ fees as well. This is the charge for two doctors to sign the Medical Certificates for Cremation.

If you wish to use another Crematorium/Church/Cemetery, please enquire with the funeral director. Please discuss any specific religious, belief-based and/or cultural requirements that you have with the funeral director.

ADDITIONAL FUNERAL DIRECTOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Embalming. £350
Temporary Wooden Cross with plaque £110
Celebrant & Minister Fee’s approx £250 – £270
Take into Church – TBC
Take Home – TBC
Extra Limousine- TBC
Order of Service booklets – TBC
Flowers – TBC
Horse Drawn & Carriage-TBC
Various Coffins – TBC
Out of hours removal fee £350 which is after 5.00pm and before 9.00am week days. Saturday and Sunday are also out of hours.

The funeral director can give you a full list of what they can supply. They are likely to charge for these additional products and services, so you may choose to take care of some arrangements without their involvement, or you can use a different supplier i.e., Flowers, Orders’ of Service….

PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Butterfly Funerals Ltd will at all times provide a written estimate of all charges the client will be expected to settle. The estimate will only be valid on the day of completion and will be subject to change in accordance with the clients wishes.

We request that a deposit of 50% be made at time of arrangement and that the remaining balance be paid 7-5 days before the funeral takes place. For unattended direct funerals, Butterfly Funerals will require payment in full 72 hours prior to the funeral taking place by BACS or cash only.

Payments can be made by Cash, Cheque (except for unattended direct funerals) or BACS. We accept DWP funeral payments, please discuss this with the funeral arranger/director.

Pre-Paid Funerals

If you are concerned about leaving a financial burden behind for your own funeral, Butterfly Funerals offer our pre-paid funerals service for you.

How does it work?
You choose the funeral that you want at a cost that suits you. Your payment is deposited in a secure fund which attracts interest. We provide your funeral as agreed, even if the interest accrued doesn’t meet any increased costs. This means that your funeral goes to plan regardless of the economic climate at the time.

This is only for our fee’s. Disbursement costs which are 3rd party costs will change each year, we have no control of these costs going up.

Coffins

At Butterfly Funeral, we understand that choosing coffins is a very personal choice and difficult thing to do. We work with a number of carefully selected partners to provide a wide variety of styles. We aim to offer a coffin to suit any preference and budget. Whether you’re looking for a traditional, solid wooden coffin, wooden veneer or an American casket, we can help provide you with the best choice for your loved one.

Headstones & Memorials By Butterfly Funerals

To help you create a lasting tribute to your loved ones memorials, Butterfly Funerals have partnered with a local headstone provider who is understanding as well as being highly professional in his approach to your requirements. If you would like to discuss this service please call us on 01582 968130.

Memorials Include:

Church Yard Stones
Lawn Stones
Kerb Sets
Individually Designed
Memorials
Cremation Tablets
Granite Vases

Funeral Flower Services By Butterfly Funerals

Butterfly Funerals are dedicated to making the difficult things in life simple. To save you having to shop around for flowers for the funeral we offer a dedicated floral service for you and others that want to send flowers on the day. Butterfly Funerals work in partnership with a local florist. They will be able to ensure that your floral tributes are in keeping with the day and are to your specific requirements.

If you would like some help with your funeral flowers simply call us on 01582 968130.