Families facing the loss of a loved one can now have a new way of asking their community for help with funeral costs, as Waterford based initiative RIP Ireland calls on local funeral directors to come on board and make the service available to families.
Created by Waterford men Mark Feehan and Erich Falconer of Falconer’s Undertakers in Tramore, RIP Ireland has been developed around a simple idea: when someone dies, people want to help, but they do not always know how.
Funeral costs can run into thousands of euro, placing an additional financial burden on families at an already incredibly difficult time.
RIP Ireland allows a family, through their funeral director, to choose whether they want to receive financial support from their community.
If they choose to accept support, members of the public can contribute through RIP Ireland, with the money going directly to the funeral director and being used towards the funeral costs.
The service is completely optional and is only activated when a bereaved family chooses to accept that support.
For families who may not have several thousand euro readily available, the idea is to provide a simple and dignified way for their community to help.
Mark Feehan said the idea came partly from his own experience of loss and from conversations with Erich about what happens to families when a funeral bill arrives.
“I started thinking about what happens if you simply cannot afford the funeral,” Mark explained.
“The reality is that there are families who may not qualify for certain supports but still do not have €5,000, €6,000, €7,000 or €8,000 sitting in the bank.”
The pair estimate that a significant number of families could find themselves in that position.
RIP Ireland has already seen the impact the service can have, with almost €10,000 raised locally towards funeral costs for families who have chosen to accept support.
For Erich, who has worked in the funeral industry for years, the need is something he has seen first hand.
“The funeral ends, but the family’s journey doesn’t,” Erich said.
He believes RIP Ireland can give funeral directors another way to continue supporting families beyond the funeral itself.
Support for bereaved families
There is another important part of RIP Ireland that funeral directors and families are being encouraged to understand.
The platform gives families the option to ask their community for financial support towards funeral costs. This service is free to use through a participating funeral director, meaning there is no charge to the bereaved family for setting up the funeral support page.
If a family chooses to accept support, friends, relatives, neighbours and members of the wider community can make a contribution through RIP Ireland. The money goes directly to the funeral director and is put towards the funeral costs.
The financial support is completely optional. Families do not have to ask for or accept contributions if they do not want to.
RIP Ireland also provides a digital Memorial Wall where families can remember their loved one for years to come.
The Memorial Wall can include photographs, memories, condolences and candles, allowing family and friends to continue adding to the story of the person who has died. Families can also stay connected and receive reminders around important dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and Month’s Minds.
The Memorial Wall service is available for a small fee per annum paid by the family.
However, Mark and Erich are now making a direct appeal to funeral directors across Waterford to come on board, with RIP Ireland offering participating funeral homes the first year of the service free.
The aim is to make it easier for local funeral directors to introduce families to RIP Ireland, giving them access to a dedicated Memorial Wall and, where needed, a simple and dignified way for their community to provide financial support towards funeral costs.
Funeral directors are being asked to get involved
RIP Ireland says local funeral directors are central to the idea because they already have a relationship of trust with families at one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
The funeral director can explain the options to the family and, if the family wishes, activate the support page.
The financial support then goes directly towards the funeral costs through the funeral director.
The family does not have to accept financial support.
They can simply use the Memorial Wall as a place to remember their loved one.
Mark believes this is important because asking for help after a death can be difficult.
“People want to help, but sometimes families are afraid to ask and friends and neighbours can be afraid to offer,” he said.
“We want to make kindness easier.”
It is about more than money
While helping families with funeral costs is an important part of RIP Ireland, Mark and Erich say the long term vision is much bigger.
The platform is designed to help communities remain connected to families after the funeral.
People can light a candle, leave a message, share a photograph or simply remember someone on an important anniversary.
The team is also developing a practical gifts section which they hope will involve local businesses.
Rather than simply sending flowers or a card, people could eventually send practical support such as meals, garden maintenance, cleaning services, help with children or other services that could make life slightly easier for a grieving family.
RIP Ireland is now looking for local businesses and suppliers who want to become part of that network.
The aim is to keep that support local wherever possible.
A participating funeral home will be able to work with trusted local suppliers, creating a network where funeral directors, businesses, families and communities can support one another.
The call to Waterford funeral directors
The immediate message from Mark and Erich is simple.
They want local funeral directors to come on board and give their families another option when someone dies.
They are offering funeral homes the RIP Ireland Memorial Wall service free for the first year.
The service is provided to the bereaved family through the funeral director and does not create an additional cost for the family.
For families who need financial assistance, there is also the option of allowing their community to contribute towards the funeral costs.
For families who do not want financial support, the Memorial Wall remains a place where their loved one can be remembered.
RIP Ireland has been developed in Waterford over the past two years and the team now wants to see the local community get behind it before they expand further across Ireland.
“We are two Waterford men who have seen the devastation that a funeral can cause, but we have also seen the lift that community support can give a family,” said Mark.
“We want to start here in Waterford and build something that can eventually help families all over Ireland.”
For more information, to find out how to support a family or for funeral directors interested in joining the initiative, visit ripireland.ie.
