What is a direct cremation?

Recent consumer research revealed that only one in five UK adults was confident that they fully understood what a direct cremation means. Given that the number of direct cremations being arranged is increasing, it’s important to understand exactly what is involved and how to arrange one that is both in line with the wishes of the person that has died, but also meets the needs of their bereaved family and friends too.

A ‘direct’ cremation is an unattended cremation.

An unattended cremation means that someone who has died is taken from their place of death, cremated without any funeral service and with no mourners in attendance. The ashes can be returned to their next of kin, if requested.

Local funeral directors have been arranging unattended funeral services for generations

You may have seen advertisements for ‘no-fuss’ direct cremation packages by national firms where the body of the person who has died is collected and cremated at a central facility. Whilst this marketing of direct cremation as a service is relatively new, local funeral directors have been arranging unattended funeral services for generations and offer them along side attended funerals where family and friends are involved in the funeral service and with the benefit of being able to care for the person that has died locally and be flexible in the arrangements to support the needs of the bereaved family.

Funeral directors care for bereaved people every single day and they understand that following the wishes of a loved one is important, even if that means respecting their wish for no funeral service to take place. But they also know that this can lead to some difficult choices, because it might be important for those closest to the person that has died to be able to say goodbye and mourn their loss too.

Arrange an unattended cremation that is right for those who are grieving, as well as respecting the wishes of the person that has died

Funeral directors can offer support and choices to ensure the direct cremation arrangements are right for the bereaved family and friends as well as respecting the wishes of the person that has died, including providing families with the option to change their mind on any aspect of the arrangements, should they wish to do so – and they can use their experience to make sure that even the simplest of funerals, whether attended or unattended, is full of love and is a goodbye that meets the needs of those who are grieving.