Bereavement Support

The grieving process is a long one. We are here to support you after the funeral as well.

We are a partner of SAIF Care. Their friendly Associate Counsellors help bereaved people over the age of 18. They are trained to listen, help you understand your experience of grief and develop self-care and coping strategies to deal with the challenges you may be facing.

SAIF Care services are confidential and free of charge to people who have used the services of F.A. Stockill and Son Funeral Directors. They are available Monday– Friday, from 9am–9pm, through:

  • A freephone telephone helpline 0800 917 7224
  • Email support and information help@saifcare.org.uk
  • Up to six free sessions of supportive counselling by telephone, Skype or face to face in your local area.


A guide to additional

bereavement support in North Yorkshire

There is some excellent bereavement support in North Yorkshire. Here are some links we’ve found to be helpful for our clients:

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has produced a great step-by-step guide. There are two versions, depending on whether you’re dealing with Scarborough or York:

If you are worried about yourself or a family member, please see your GP.

Stopping junk

mail to the recently deceased

It can be distressing to receive mail addressed to the recently deceased. Stopmail can help. You can either fill in a form online at The Bereavement Support Network’s Stopmail. Simply register online at: stopmail.co.uk

For immediate help or advice please call us on 01723 859 279 at any time. When you call us, you’ll speak to one of our experienced team. We’re here to help you through every stage of the process. If you have any questions, please just ask.

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Contact Us

Cruse bereavement care

  • Cruse Bereavement Care – 0808 808 1677
  • York Cruse Bereavement counselling – 01904 481 162
  • Bridlington Cruse – 01262 400 300

Other useful organisations

Organisations focusing on child bereavement and the death of a child

We have attended Death Cafes with the therapist Brigit Peacock from the York Human Givens Wellbeing Centre. They hold sessions around North Yorkshire and can come to your home.

Organisations dealing with bereavement caused by specific medical disorders


Road traffic accident bereavement organisations

Organisations focusing on child bereavement and the death of a child

  • Cardiac Risk in the Young – offers emotional and clinical support to those bereaved through a sudden cardiact arrest – 01737 363222
  • Child Bereavement UK – support for when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement – 0800 02 888 40
  • Child Death Helpline – a freephone helpline fora nyone affected by the death of a child at any age – 0800 282 986 and for mobiles 0800 800 6019
  • CHUMS – Mental Health and Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People
  • The Compassionate Friends – support for those who have suffered the death of a child – 0345 123 2304
  • Grief Encounter – supporting bereaved children and their families to help alleviate the pain caused by the death of someone close – 0808 802 0111
  • Hope Again – advice for young people who have been recently bereaved – 0808 808 1677
  • Lullaby Trust – a support service for families who experience the sudden loss of a baby or toddler – 0808 802 6868
  • SANDS Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity – 0808 164 3332
  • SPRING supporting parents and relatives in Neonatal Grief – 01202 448084
  • Winston’s Wish
  •  – the charity for bereaved children – 08452 03 04 05

Call us any time

We are on hand at any time to give help and advice. Please call us with any questions on 01723 859 279.
You can also email us at office@stockillandsonfunerals.co.uk




Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question? We’re here to help.

  • Do you dress the deceased?

    Yes we can dress the deceased for you, you need only hand over the belongings to us. Otherwise they are carefully shrouded in a silken gown.

  • Can we view the deceased?

    Yes. We just need appropriate notice to ensure absolute privacy for you.

  • Will the deceased need to be embalmed?

    Embalming is not usually necessary given the advancement in storage facility technology. However, we can arrange for embalming if requested.

  • Do you have coffin bearers?

    Yes, we have trained coffin bearers. We pride ourselves in being able to offer pallbearers who carry the coffins on their shoulders rather than using a trolley. Family members may carry, but here at F A Stockill we will always ensure there are enough bearers on hand on the day, just in case. Please note we never allow family to lower coffins on a burial.

  • How many coffin bearers will be needed?

    This depends on the size and weight of the coffin. Usually there are between four and six bearers.

  • Do funeral directors re-use coffins?

    No, most definitely not. The coffin is cremated or buried with the deceased.

  • Can I touch the coffin as I leave the ceremony?

    Yes, absolutely.

  • As a member of the congregation, can we take away the Order of Service or should we leave it there?

    Please take it with you. An Order of Service can provide a lovely memento of your family member or friend for quiet contemplation later.

  • Do crematoriums cremate more than one person at a time?

    No. The only exception is if the next of kin have requested it for a mother and baby or small twin children.

  • What happens when the curtains shut at the crematorium?

    Nothing happens until the congregation have left the building. The coffin is removed from behind the curtain after the service has taken place.

  • When do we collect the ashes?

    They are usually available two to three days after the service. In case of urgent matters such as limited time or travel they may be available on the same day.


    We will never hassle you to collect the ashes from us. Some families wish different things and maybe wish to wait until the other parent has passed to scatter both. We have stored some ashes for over 25 years. However, we do encourage family to arrange a resting place for them as soon as they feel able so as not to cause further upset later.


    You may find our cremations section helpful.

  • Do funeral directors expect a tip?

    We’ve included this as it’s a frequently asked question on the internet. The answer is no. Although Claire has never met a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates she didn’t like!

  • I have a question that isn’t answered. Can I ask you anonymously?

    Absolutely – we welcome any feedback or questions. Just fill in this online form and we will post the answer on this page.

Plan ahead with golden charter pre-paid funeral plans

A funeral plan is an easy way to arrange the funeral you want in advance. A plan allows you to specify your wishes and pay for the funeral director’s services included in your plan. As customers often tell us, that can bring peace of mind to you and your family. A plan from Golden Charter also includes an allowance towards third party costs. These are essential, non-funeral director services such as the cremation or burial fees, plus the minister or officiant’s fee to perform the service.

At F. A. Stockill & Son we work in partnership with Golden Charter to provide you with a simple way to plan ahead. As one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers1, Golden Charter has helped over 900,000 people to plan ahead2, so we’re completely confident in offering their plans to you.

Everyone has different needs when it comes to funeral planning, so we make sure the plans we offer are as flexible as possible. When you get in touch, we’ll be happy to discuss your funeral requirements and tailor a plan to suit you. Rest assured a plan from Golden Charter is available to all UK residents regardless of age or state of health.

F. A. Stockill and Son Funeral Directors trading as F. A. Stockill and Son Funeral Directors is an appointed representative of Golden Charter Limited trading as Golden Charter Funeral Plans which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN:965279).

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