It is often assumed that cremations can be completed only with the involvement of a funeral director.
Although a funeral director will be invited to organise the majority of cremations, some people prefer to organise cremations themselves. The details in the individual sections of the Charter for the Bereaved provide good information on this. More detailed leaflets giving you local information on arranging a burial or cremation are available from the Council.
The entire cremation can be handled by the bereaved family and Charter members are able to assist in facilitating this. Such a cremation is referred to as Personalised or Independent. The cremation will be different because traditional elements may be unobtainable. At the present time, many funeral directors will not sell coffins separately, neither will they offer a hearse for use, unless the entire cremation package is purchased. Consequently, a personalised cremation may make use of a normal car and homemade coffin or biodegradable type.
These actions often attract comments that such cremations lack dignity but any individual has the right to make arrangements without commercial involvement and cremations arranged by the bereaved contain a far higher personal input, which evokes more emotion and often celebrates the life of the deceased in a more moving and individual way.
New approaches to the traditional forms of managing cremation are now being sought. A new type of 'green' funeral director is emerging, promoting bio-degradable coffins and a more personal approach. Cremation facilitators assist the bereaved in organising a cremation for a fee. Nurses may offer laying-out or body preparation services, to avoid people having to do this themselves.
Please see our funeral expenses.