Practical funeral and burial arrangements
Time and place of the funeral service
The deceased can be laid to rest in a church, chapel, cemetery chapel, or at the graveside. The funeral service is typically held about two to three weeks after the death. In Espoo, funerals are conducted in churches and chapels on weekdays and Saturdays. However, no funeral services are held on Mondays at Kellonummi and Espoo chapels.
The use of churches and chapels for funeral services, as well as parish halls for memorial gatherings, is free of charge for parish members. For non-members, a facility rental fee will apply. The services of the officiating pastor and organist are free of charge.
In Espoo, churches and chapels are unavailable for non-Christian or non-religious ceremonies.
The responsibility for making funeral arrangements lies with the close relatives of the deceased. The funeral consists of the funeral service and the memorial gathering. The funeral service can take place even if the burial permit has not yet been confirmed. Relatives may handle the arrangements themselves or leave them to a private undertaker. A non-church member can also be given a Christian funeral if the family requests it and it doesn't go against the wishes of the deceased.
If the relatives wish to say their goodbyes to their loved one before the funeral service, this should be arranged in advance, preferably at the same time as the other funeral arrangements.
Booking a funeral service through the Service centre
The Service centre's booking service should be contacted if the funeral service is to be held in a church or chapel or if the memorial gathering is to be held in a parish venue. It is essential to confirm that the deceased is indeed a parish member before booking.
Through the booking service, you can arrange:
- the time and place of the funeral and cremation
- the officiating pastor and organist
- the ringing of the funeral bells and remembrance of the deceased during the worship service.
The officiating pastor will usually contact the family at least a week before the funeral to arrange a meeting to discuss the order of the service and the content of the funeral sermon.
Booking a funeral time through the Cemetery office
At the Cemetery office, you can arrange:
- the burial site and time for the coffin or urn at one of Espoo's cemeteries
- cremation
- the release and interment of the urn
- grave maintenance
The Cemetery office also schedules the time for the coffin to be lowered into the ground and ensures that the deceased has the right to be buried in the chosen grave.
Especially in winter, it is important to notify the Cemetery office of a coffin burial at least a week and a half before the service, preferably earlier. This allows time to remove the memorial and border stones and prepare the grave. The contact information for the Cemetery office is listed below.
Invoices related to the burial are sent approximately 3 to 5 weeks after the funeral.
If you prefer to arrange the funeral by phone, please contact the Espoo Parish Service centre to schedule the funeral service.
The Digital and Population Data Services (DVV) maintain a website with practical advice concerning funeral arrangements, estate inventory, and other matters concerning the death of a family member. It also advises on where to get support for your grief. Go to the DVV website.
