A direct cremation, also referred to as a cremation without ceremony or unattended funeral, is a cremation with no funeral service performed beforehand, and without any mourners in attendance at the crematorium.
As a direct cremation does not include a funeral service, it allows you to choose your own way to remember your loved one at a place and time that suits you.
A direct cremation takes place without a funeral service or ceremony at the crematorium, and without the attendance of any mourners. The direct nature of this service also means that there is no embalming and no opportunity to view the deceased. Here’s how a direct cremation works:
• The deceased is collected from the place of rest a few days prior to cremation
• They are cared for and prepared for cremation at our professional mortuary facilities
• The family completes the paperwork required for the cremation to go ahead. At Simplicity, we provide assistance to our clients with this.
• On the day of the cremation, we will transport them to the crematorium in a specialised funeral vehicle
• The cremation will take place at a CMG crematorium local to the place of rest, at a time and place of our choice. We’ll let you know when the cremation has taken place.
• The ashes will be scattered in our gardens of remembrance or can be returned to the family upon request, at an additional cost.
If you are planning a memorial service with the ashes present, please allow up to 4 weeks for the return of ashes.
A direct cremation takes place without a funeral service or ceremony at the crematorium, and without the attendance of any mourners.
Learn more
Direct cremation is one of the most affordable funeral options available in the UK, costing considerably less than the average traditional funeral you’d arrange with the assistance of a Funeral Director. As a direct cremation is undertaken without any mourners, there’s no need to spend money on flowers, limousines or other extras that increase the overall costs.
At Simplicity, we refer to our direct cremation package as an Unattended Funeral, which costs from £995.
Visit our direct cremation costs page for more information about pricing and for details on what our direct cremation package includes.
Direct cremation is one of the most affordable funeral options available in the UK. At Simplicity, we refer to our direct cremation package as an Unattended Funeral, which costs from £995.
Learn more
We recommend selecting a reputable direct cremation provider with the relevant knowledge, experience and facilities to carry out a respectful funeral for your loved one. Just because a direct cremation is low cost funeral option, it should not mean substandard care.
As part of one of the UK’s largest funeral groups, we’re the only nationwide direct cremation service provider that has its own staff, vehicles, mortuaries and crematoriums. Our network of facilities ensures a consistently high quality of care, teamed with decades of experience in conducting funerals.
When someone close to you dies, it can be an extremely stressful and emotional time. At Simplicity, we are dedicated to supporting people through what can be a difficult time. From the moment we collect your loved one from their place of rest to the moment the ashes are scattered in our gardens of remembrance or returned to you, every stage of the process is carried out with the utmost care.
See our reviews to see what our clients have to say about our service.
We recommend selecting a reputable direct cremation provider with the relevant knowledge, experience and facilities to carry out a respectful funeral for your loved one.
Learn more
Funerals that you can attend
You cannot attend a direct cremation, as it does not offer any kind of funeral service or the presence of a minister or officiant, and therefore takes place without the presence of any mourners.
If you’d prefer a funeral with the option for family and friends to attend, you may find our Intimate Funeral (a small funeral for up to 12 people) or Family Led Funeral (full capacity at the crematorium with a family led funeral service) will suit your needs better.
IS A DIRECT CREMATION RIGHT FOR ME?
A direct cremation is significantly cheaper than the average funeral arranged by a funeral director, so for many people their decision is financially based, often because their loved one did not see the value in a traditional funeral and they would prefer to leave money for their family to contribute towards happier times. The low cost of this funeral option is not the only reason families choose direct cremation, however.
ARRANGING A DIRECT CREMATION
Arranging a direct cremation with Simplicity is a simple, straightforward process.
Unlike arranging a traditional funeral, you will not have to visit a funeral home or spend hours face to face with a Funeral Director. Simply call us to begin the process of arranging a direct cremation for your loved one. You can contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Most of the arrangements can be made over the telephone by our expert team of funeral arrangers. We will take the details we need to arrange the funeral for your loved one, and keep you informed every step of the way.
If you would like to have more involvement in the arrangement process, or the opportunity to attend the funeral, our Intimate or Family Led Funeral may be more suitable for you needs.
For more information on arranging a direct cremation, see our Unattended Funeral.
Very straightforward and uncomplicated, fulfilled what the deceased wanted. Would like this service for myself.
No Location Provided
The staff at Simplicity could not have been more helpful, I was kept up to date with all of the procedure, and was told from the word go, if I had any problems call them right away , they would sort it Up to now I am 100%. Satisfied with everything they do, thank you,, it has taken a lot of worry about when my time comes, forever grateful
No Location Provided
Very easy to contact. The call handler was very easy informative easy to talk too no pushy selling of any other plan other than the one I wanted. Explained everything in detail, timescale for recieving paperwork, ( paperwork is not emailed)
No Location Provided
The package was reasonably priced. the job we paid for was completed and went smoothly. It was easy to order. The staff were always ready to help, were always respectful and profrssional. I would definitely use rhe company again and highly recomend their services to others
Coulsdon
My needs on losing my wife were dealt with in an extremely sympathetic and efficient manner and for what I consider to be a reasonable fee.
No Location Provided
DIRECT CREMATION FUNERAL PLANS
If you like the sound of a direct cremation for yourself in the future, you may be interested in a direct cremation funeral plan.
Not only will a direct cremation plan allow you to freeze the cost of your funeral at today’s price, it will also alleviate your family from the stressful task of making your funeral arrangements when the time comes. They will simply need to call us, and we will set the funeral plan into motion.
If you do not feel ready to purchase a direct cremation funeral plan, you may wish to share your funeral wishes with a member of your family. This will let them know what you’d like when the time comes but doesn’t require any payment or arrangements.
See our funeral plans* SunLife (2021), Cost of Dying Report, sunlife.co.uk/costofdying2021