Finding out what happened to someone who has died?

hannah899

Hello.

I started doing my family tree for myself and my nan and was wondering if anyone would know how I would find out if some one was buried or cremated and where they were buried if they was buried?

I keep seeing that the church charges a lot of money to find out.
Unfortunately one of the people is my great granddad. we thought he was buried but due to how he died we think he was more likely to be cremated. He died in 1953 and my nan was only 8. When the funeral possession ( don't know if that's right) turned up at the house she was told it was the neighbour who had died, But she told me she always knew it was her dad. I would like to surprise her in finding it so I can take her. Although I know it will be upsetting but she speaks with love about him and she never got to say goodbye. and shes never been able to visit a place close to him because my gran was very private and never mentioned him. I would love to find him so that she could get some connection with him back. Any help would be greatly appreciated

madget_2

If you know his last address, then it's worth checking with cemeteries local to that area.

I don't know whether this is the same with every cemetery but we were able to pop in and see the custodian (he lives in a house next to the cemetery concerned). He had access to records and a map of grave locations, and so we were able to finally visit the grave of a childhood friend. We weren't charged anything but this was in a village and my family is known there. I'm unsure whether they usually ask for a fee for this service.

Whilst we actually knew the custodian in this instance, it is possible to use Google to find contact numbers for the relevant custodians in your great grandad's case.

I think that what you are doing is a lovely idea. Good luck with it.

hannah899

Thanks. Ive just found a number. Gave them a ring they are going to look for me and give me a ring back within 2 weeks. hopefully they can shed some light. Although I wasn't born I would also like to know for my self I never had a granddad. And my gran died when I was ten or eleven so wasn't old enough to realise I would need to ask her although I doubt she would have told me. She was a lovely woman but I think she was deeply affected when her husband died. She was suppose to marry marry someone who was healthy and wealthy and was going to war but she didn't love him. She went against her family and married my granddad who was poor and had massive health problems with his heart. I rang the largest crematorium in the city where most of my family was buried and cremated. so fingers crossed because she said she would check lawnswood but I don't know what other he would be buried at.

hardpressed

Bit of a long shot but have you tried Googling his name? You might come up with a newspaper obituary that says where the funeral was held.

Own_My_Own

hardpressed wrote: »

Bit of a long shot but have you tried Googling his name? You might come up with a newspaper obituary that says where the funeral was held.

Good idea, but the likely outcome will be lots of Facebook users.
Still worth a go though, you may be lucky.

keep_flyin

May be worth a visit to your local studies library. They have access to all sorts of records including newspapers, which if it was an unexpected death would have been reported on. They may also have indexes to local churchyards and cremetoria.

inkie

our local authority has an online searchable burial and cremation records. Have you tried that route? Good luck with your search.

meritaten

I was going to suggest a library with a family history section - they have wonderful resources local to only that area.

hannah899

I have search on google and ancestry etc and nothing. unexpected may be the wrong word to describe it. I thought he was buried up until recently but know not to sure. also thought he may have been at one church but records say that no ones been buried since 1925 unless in a family plot

candjsmum

Hannah899, you have a PM X

carolan78

If it's leeds The central library hold all the cities burial records in the family history centre. I'm trying to find someone buried in Beckett Street Cemetery without much luck. All I have to go on is a few names (he was illegitimate so we're not sure what surname he had) and a rough year.

I have so far managed to get through 2 of the huge indexes for that cemetery lol The family history centre can be really useful for other research too. If it is the Leeds area your searching feel free to PM me any family names, you never know one of our branches might meet somewhere