J
ust as we all have our own unique
relationships with people in life, it’s
natural that we all have di erent ways
of wanting to say goodbye when the time
comes. So while a traditional funeral with a
proper service in a church or crematorium
might be your choice for a farewell, it’s
not right for everyone. That’s where a new
service called direct cremation o ers the
choice for something a bit di erent so that
you can celebrate a life how you want.What is direct cremation?
Put simply, direct cremation – or
immediate cremation at it’s sometimes
called – is a basic cremation with no
service performed at the crematorium.
The person who has died is cremated at
a convenient time, in exactly the same
way as a traditional cremation but usually
without any mourners present (although
this can be arranged). The ashes can be
hand-delivered back to the family to keep
or lay to rest. This gives the freedom for
loved ones to hold a separate celebration,
memorial or ceremony at a time and place
that’s right for them, unconstrained by
the undertaker’s availability. A simple,
inexpensive co n and cremation fees
are included. As you can choose which
elements of a traditional funeral you want
to pay for and which ones you don’t, it’s
not required to buy an expensive co n; a
solid pine eco-co n is often used instead.Why might I choose direct cremation?
■Cost: The Money Advice Service statesthat the average cost of a traditional
cremation is £3,311 whereas direct
cremation typically costs in the region of
£1,000-£2,000 so it’s a signifi cant saving.
This is because you only pay for the
essentials rather than the hearse, pricey
co n or a service. That means you can
choose instead to spend money on the
things that really matter to you, such as a
big get-together for your family.■Stress: Traditional funerals can be too
much to cope with emotionally. Some
of us fi nd the formality of a traditional
service upsetting and impersonal but
direct cremation allows your family the
chance to say goodbye and celebrate a life
somewhere familiar. This fl exibility about
the venue gives you the chance to involve
the whole family, even young children, in
the event. If you prefer a more personal
farewell when someone has passed
away, then Pure Cremation will help you
navigate this di cult time.FURTHER INFORMATION
Pure Cremation o ers a 24/7 service
across England, Wales and mainland
Scotland. They also o er 100% guar-
anteed direct cremation plans, o ering
peace of mind that when the time comes,
everything is taken care of, leaving your
family free to say goodbye their way.Call 0808 501 6262 or visit
http://www.purecremation.co.uk/digest
for more details