MANY people are causing stress, conflict and grief for their loved ones by not offering guidance about their funeral wishes before they die, according to the authors of a new study.

The research was carried out by Dr Julie Rugg, senior researcher at the University of York and Guiseley-based Full Circle Funerals. The study, looked at the importance of the funeral in the grieving process and examined the experiences of 50 people from across the UK.

Sarah Jones, from Full Circle Funerals, said: “An overriding theme of this research shows that leaving even just a few basic wishes about a funeral, makes life much easier for those making the arrangements, as well as reducing problems, conflict and uncertainty.”

She said: “Where individuals were excluded from arrangements, they often felt highly dissatisfied with the entire funeral, and in many cases the bitterness was still there years later.”