Lately it seems that death is always in the news. From celebrity deaths to daily the death rate caused by coronavirus. Traditionally after death comes the funeral but it seems, in Britain at least, that’s all changing.
Direct cremation, sometimes known as a direct funeral or unattended cremation, is growing in popularity. Direct cremation involves separating the cremation aspect from any attended gathering. The cremation happens quickly and in private. This means there is no rush to arrange a funeral service. Instead, an event can be held weeks or even months later with the ashes present rather than a coffin.
The event can be a lot more contemporary too. People are holding memorial services in restaurants, pubs, and most often, outside in nature. These events are a lot more informal than a traditional funeral service which seems to align with the British sentiment.
Direct cremation can also save the family a lot of money and stress. Direct Cremation by Harbour offers a direct cremation service throughout England and Wales that starts at just £895. This presents a saving of over £3000 compared to the average funeral, leaving the family with plenty left over to plan their own unique memorial service.
While direct cremation is gaining popularity, the founder of Direct Cremation by Harbour admits that it may not be for everyone. So he has launched a new company to bridge the gap between direct cremation and an expensive traditional funeral. Willow Lake Funeral Directors offers a funeral service with the coffin present followed by the cremation for a set price of £1995. They are able to provide this low price by forgoing the traditional funeral cortege of expensive hearses and limousines. Instead the coffin is already at the crematorium for the funeral service.
We’ve been told that initial feedback from clients has been very positive. In fact Willow Lake is opening new locations in East London, Ashford, Canterbury and Dover, Southampton and Eastleigh within the first half of 2022.
