Funerals in the UK are changing. For many years, funerals were held along very traditional lines that included a church or religious ceremony followed by burial or cremation. Since the 1970s the UK has become more secular and now the majority of farewells are held entirely at the crematorium. Today, an increasing number of people are now looking for an alternative, both financially and creatively.
An unattended cremation is an option for those who prefer a simple cremation without a service or ceremony so they can focus on creating a more personal farewell when, where and how they choose. It’s important to state that this affordable alternative is carried out to the same high standard as any other cremation funeral, including the quality of care.
What does an unattended cremation mean?
An unattended cremation is an alternative to other types of a funeral service. There is no service, no hearse or limousines, and typically, mourners don’t attend the crematorium and the cremation takes place privately.
Alongside the unattended funeral, family and friends can arrange a memorial service at a time that’s right for them, without the worry of organising an event within just a couple of weeks of the death of their loved one, and at a lower cost. The farewell could be anything from a picnic in the park, to a dinner at a favourite restaurant, to fireworks on the beach.
This style of funeral is known as a direct cremation, it includes the following essential elements:
- Cremation fees
- Doctor’s fees
- Care of your loved one
- A basic coffin
- Transportation to the crematorium
- A container for the ashes
- The option to scatter the ashes in a garden of remembrance or have them sent to you
Who prefers not to have a funeral?
A cremation without any funeral service is becoming popular because it comes with a greater degree of flexibility in terms of the location and type of ceremony, and significant cost savings.
More traditional funerals are not in tune with today’s attitude to death or other rites of passage. There has been a profound shift away from an event that is filled with grieving and sadness to a celebration of life that recognises the relationships, beliefs and personality of the person who has died.
Separating the cremation from the celebration of life allows families a much wider choice of venue, timing and style for the ‘Goodbye’.
Benefits of an unattended cremation
The main reasons people choose to arrange an unattended cremation, without a formal funeral service, are cost and freedom to organise a more personalised memorial service or celebration of life.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has played its part in the change. Government restrictions during the pandemic meant that many families were unable to have a traditional funeral and had to consider other ways of making the passing of someone special. While a direct cremation may not have been their first choice, it showed that spending thousands of pounds on a traditional funeral service isn’t the only way to say goodbye.
The benefits of an unattended cremation include:
- Low-cost of the cremation itself
- Much more time to remember the life and relationships that matter
- The option to decorate the event space to personalise it
- A more relaxed and family-friendly farewell
- A focus on the happy times shared together
- Fuss-free alternative
- Reduced trauma because you get to hold a Celebration of Life when everyone is emotionally ready
- Gives busy and scattered families more time to arrange a gathering together
- Families have more control over the final farewell and can be more involved
- The freedom to invest in the elements of the farewell that matter to you - such as food and live music
The cost of an unattended cremation
Much like traditional funerals, the cost of a direct cremation varies. A direct cremation in the UK typically costs around £1,498. However, you should always check exactly what’s included. Many providers don’t include key things such as the doctor’s fees or return of the ashes.
When you choose a direct cremation, the money you save can be spent on a separate farewell event or left as a gift to family or donated to a chosen charity.
Arrange an unattended cremation
Arranging an unattended cremation is a simple process. All you need to do is get in touch with your chosen direct cremation provider to start the process. All the arrangements can be made over the telephone, by email, and even directly online, in some cases.
You’ll need to provide some information about yourself and the the person who has died and there are some simple forms to sign. You must register the death promptly and the Registrar will provide a form (THE GREEN FORM) that allows the cremation to go ahead - ensure this is sent to you provider as son as possible. IF the Coroner is involved they will send your provider a different form that has the same purpose.
Once the paperwork is completed and payment made a cremation date can be confirmed.
The staff making the arrangements will carefully guide you through each step of the process. When you need to choose a cremation provider, take the following into consideration:
- Look for a cremation provider you feel comfortable with
- Ask about prices, what’s included, and service delivery timescales
- Check whether they employ their own staff or buy services from a third-party
- Reputation and customer feedback
- What experience do they have in funeral care?
- Is the company giving you all the information you need?
- Where will your loved one be cared for?
- Is there an option to visit the crematorium?
Most families request the return of the the ashes so they can find a suitable final resting place. This should be included in the price of the service. Alternatively, the ashes of your loved one can be respectfully scattered in the crematorium's Gardens of Remembrance.
There are no rules for when you should hold the farewell, or where. You can choose time that works for your family including a weekend or evening; you can choose a venue that will live you all the time you need to pay a proper tribute to the person who has died, and the venue can be one that has personal significance to the deceased or where you shared happy memories.
Pure Cremation is committed to providing high quality direct cremations at a simple, all-inclusive price. We specialise in this style of service and have developed an enviable reputation for excellence, as reflected in our reviews that consistently mention “kindness” and “professionalism”.
You’ll find the Pure Cremation standard service has everything you need for a simple no-fuss cremation.
Arrange a direct cremation with Pure Cremation for your peace of mind.