Life Cycle

Death

What to do in the Event of a Death

 

DEATH DURING NORMAL OFFICE HOURS

If the death is during office hours please notify the Synagogue office on 020 8599 0936, admin@swesrs.co.uk,

Office hours are: Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.30pm, Friday 9am to 11.30am

 

DEATH OUTSIDE OF NORMAL OFFICE HOURS

If the death is outside of office hours then please call the JJBS (Jewish Joint Burial Society) on 020 8989 5252.

However, if the death occurs in an NHS hospital outside of office hours, please call the JJBS first thing in the morning, or leave a message on the answer-phone.

For deaths that occur in private homes, nursing homes or private hospitals that do not have facilities to keep a deceased person then please call the JJBS phone line and listen to the message, you will then be re-directed to their duty sexton by dialling 302 – do not do this until a doctor has confirmed the death.

 

NEXT STEPS

The Sexton at the JJBS will talk you through all the steps but briefly the following is what you need to do once we have been notified. Steps 1 and 2 are the same for a burial or cremation, but after that there are different steps that need to be followed and we will assist you.

If you wish to have a cremation, you must let either the GP or the hospital know, preferably before the death occurs. The procedures are very different depending on whether it is for burial or cremation. Please bear in mind that a cremation cannot be carried out quickly – there will be a delay of three to four days for a second doctor and for the cremation papers

 

The Rabbi will speak personally to the family about the funeral service.

Notify family and friends of the funeral arrangements, once agreed.

 

 

PAPERWORK

  1. Obtain a cause of death certificate from the GP or Hospital. Please note that a locum doctor’s certificate will not enable you to register the death.
  2. Take the death certificate to the Registrar for Births and Deaths. It must be the Registrar in the area where the death occurred. Some Registrars may require an appointment.
  3. Telephone the JJBS office on 020 8989 5252 once you have been issued with the relevant documentation. The JJBS will liaise with the synagogue and with the Rabbi. The JJBS will advise you on the paperwork for a cremation. Notify family and friends of the funeral arrangements, once agreed.

 

 

Non-Members:

If you are not a member of JJBS then we can arrange funerals in the Western cemetery, Lawn cemetery, the Woodland cemetery or a cremation. We can also arrange a burial for non-Jewish partners in a double depth grave in either the Woodland or Lawn cemeteries. Please call the JJBS on 020 8989 5252.

 

Stone Settings

The setting of a tombstone and related costs are the responsibility of the family, however the Synagogue will provide the services of a Rabbi to officiate. All arrangements are made in conjunction with the synagogue, rabbi and JJBS office.

Stone settings on Sundays are very popular, so advance planning is recommended. Your Rabbi must approve the wording on the tombstone and can provide a list of licensed stonemasons.

Once the tombstone has been laid, it is the responsibility of the family to ensure that it is kept clean and in good order. JJBS does not cover maintenance, repair, vandalism or re-setting of tombstones.

For woodland burials, there can be a special memorial service at the graveside instead of the conventional stone setting service.

 

 

 

Useful Links:

JJBS :  https://www.jjbs.org.uk/

FOREST PARK CREMATORIUM: https://www.forestparkcrematorium.co.uk/

 

Cemetery / Crematorium details

THE WESTERN CEMETERY (CHESHUNT)/ WOODLAND CEMETERY
Bulls Cross Ride, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, EN7 5HT
FOREST PARK CREMATORIUM

Forest Park Crematorium, Forest Road, Hainault, Essex, IG6 3HP