Direct Cremation

You may have seen on TV, or heard radio advertising for direct cremations, typically being offered at far reduced costs than a traditional style funeral – but what exactly is a Direct Cremation.

A direct cremation is when the deceased person is taken for cremation, without having a funeral ceremony – this means there will be no service for mourners to attend at the time the cremation takes place.

A direct cremation may also be referred to as an ‘unattended funeral’.

The deceased will be conveyed to a crematorium of the Funeral Director, or Direct Cremation providers choice, and at a time of their choosing.

Typically, the coffin will be of a basic, non-solid wood construction and will be conveyed to the crematorium in a private ambulance.

Following the cremation, your loved one’s ashes will be collected from the crematorium and returned to you, alternatively you may choose to have the ashes scattered in the crematorium’s Garden of Remembrance.

Direct cremations have become more popular over recent years and we are now seeing an increased number of families choosing this simple, more affordable, fuss free option; however, the restrictions that often come with a direct cremation, especially when using a Direct Cremation provider based in another part of the UK, can often deter a family, so the benefits and negatives should be carefully considered to ensure you are making the right decision in the long-term.

Why choose direct cremation

There are several reasons why someone may choose to arrange a direct cremation for their loved one; these reasons include:

• It was the deceased’s express wishes
• They can’t afford to have a traditional funeral
• The person had bequeathed their body to medical science, but their body couldn’t accepted by the medical school
• The person arranging the funeral doesn’t feel emotionally able to cope with organising and attending a traditional funeral
• The family would prefer to organise a Celebration of Life or Memorial Service at a more convenient time and place, or in conjunction with an ashes interment

What are the benefits and negatives of having a direct cremation

There are benefits and negatives to consider before opting for a direct cremation and they include the following

The benefits

• More affordable
• Less stress to organise
• It gives families the flexibility to arrange a Celebration of Life or Memorial Service at a more convenient time or in a different location

The negatives

• Not having a service to allow you to say goodbye could make the grieving process more difficult
• Your loved one’s body may be transported a long way for the cremation to take place (more likely if using a Direct Cremation provider based in another part of the UK)
• There may be restrictions imposed by the direct cremation providers – i.e. not being able to visit your loved one in the chapel of rest

What we offer

Our Direct Cremation Package is offered at a reduced cost (compared to an attended funeral), and by offering reduced services within the standard package price, we are able to keep the costs to family as low as possible, however, we recognise that some families will require additional services, for example, you may want your loved one to be dressed in their own clothes, and to visit them in the chapel of rest – for an additional charge, we can arrange this for you, so choosing a direct cremation needn’t stop you saying a private goodbye to your loved one.

The other benefits of using Freeman Daynes are:

• We only use local crematoriums
• Your loved one will be housed at our own premises until the day of the funeral
• You will be appointed a dedicated funeral director to help and guide you
• You will meet the funeral director face to face in our office to take care of the documentation and discuss any concerns
• For an extra charge, the funeral director can visit you in your own home to make the necessary arrangements
• We can offer additional services, such as setting up an online donations page
• We can advise you on the options for laying your loved one’s ashes to rest
• We can help arrange an interment of ashes (at additional cost)
• We have a selection of urns, scatter tubes or caskets available to purchase from us
• We have a selection of keepsake and jewellery items available to purchase from us that are suitable for holding a token amount of ashes
• You will have the continued professional support of the funeral director for however long you need it

Direct cremations may not be the right choice for everyone

When someone has requested a direct cremation for themselves, they may not have considered the impact that might have on those they leave behind, especially if the death was sudden or unexpected. Grieving loved ones may struggle with the prospect of not having a funeral service to attend but may equally struggle at the thought of not carrying out their loved one’s wishes.

While attending a funeral can be emotionally painful and upsetting, it will for most, be an important step in the grieving process.

If you find yourself in the difficult situation of wanting to respect and stand by your loved one’s wishes, while still meeting the needs of close family members, you may want to consider opting for our ‘Simplicity’ funeral package – this offers loved ones the opportunity to attend a short service at the crematorium immediately before the cremation takes place – this type of service is sometimes referred to as an ‘attended direct cremation’. This discreet and dignified service offers families the chance to come together to say a private goodbye and to reflect upon the loss of their loved one, without the need of a traditional, more expensive ceremony, or being under the gaze of others.

If you would like more information about our Simplicity package, please contact us.