Jehovah's Witnesses believe that when a person dies, their existence completely stops. This is because the Bible makes it clear that human beings do not have an immortal soul that survives when the body dies.

"The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all ... for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in (the grave), the place to which you are going." Ecclesiastes 9: 5, 10

Witnesses believe that Hell (as traditionally portrayed) does not exist. There is no place where sinners are tormented after death - since their existence is over, nothing can be done to them or for them. Witnesses also argue that it would be completely against God's nature to torture humans for eternity.

However, death is not the end of everything: each person can be remembered by God and eventually be resurrected.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses funeral service is similar to other Christian faiths, but lasts only 15 or 30 minutes. The funeral usually takes place within a week after death. At the service, men wear a suit and tie, and women are expected to dress modestly, but neither needs a head covering. Flowers and food may be offered to the family before, during or after the service.

Services usually take place in the Kingdom Hall, the Jehovah’s Witnesses place of worship. There may or may not be an open casket. The Congregation Elder conducts the service and delivers a talk, which may be tape recorded. The talk will highlight the deceased person's life, accomplishments in their ministry, whatever dying thoughts or expressions they may have left behind, and their hope that they had because of their faith in God and his son, Jesus. The purpose of the talk is to comfort the bereaved by explaining what the Bible says about death and the hope of a resurrection. Rather than being an overly mournful event, it is a time when family and friends can be reassurred of the time when the Bible promises that, thanks to the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the dead will be raised, and they will see their loved one again.

Jehovah's Witnesses may select to have either a burial or a cremation following the funeral services in the Kingdom Hall. At the graveside or crematorium chapel, the scriptures are referenced and a prayer is read.

ASSEMBLY HALL OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES (NORTHENDEN)
456 Palatine Rd
Northenden
Manchester
M22 4DJ

Telephone: 0161 902 9694

KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES (ALDERLEY EDGE)
48 Knutsford Rd
Alderley Edge
SK9 7SF

Telephone: 01625 590925

KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES (CADISHEAD)
53-55 Liverpool Road
Cadishead
Manchester
M44 5BQ

Telephone: 0161 777 9108

KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES (SALFORD)
5 St. Johns St
Salford
M7 2EA

Telephone: 0161 792 5656

KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES (SALE)
18-26A Marsland Road
Sale
Manchester
M33 3HQ

Telephone: 0161 282 3483

KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES (STOCKPORT)
School St
Hazel Grove
Stockport
SK7 4RA

Telephone: 0161 483 0864

KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES (URMSTON)
181 Higher Rd
Urmston
Manchester
M41 9BD

Telephone: 0161 747 1953