Can I have no funeral, just cremation?
Yes, at Simplicity we offer no funeral just cremation, also known as a direct cremation or a cremation only funeral, from just £995.
Although traditionally most people have chosen to have a funeral service prior to a cremation, this isn’t obligatory.
A funeral can be tailored to honour the wishes of the person who has passed away, with many families now choosing to arrange a cremation without a service beforehand.
What does no funeral, just cremation mean?
No funeral just cremation is essentially a cremation without a service or ceremony beforehand. Unlike a traditional funeral, there is also no procession with a hearse, limousines or pallbearers.
Your loved one is collected from their place of rest a few days prior to the cremation date, so we can care for and prepare them for cremation in our quality mortuary facilities and transport them to the crematorium on the day of the cremation.
Each funeral takes place in a respectful and compassionate manner. Many families simply prefer to hold a memorial more fitting of their loved one's life, at a time and location away from the crematorium. You may decide to hold a memorial service or celebration of life; it may even be a nice touch to have the ashes present should you decide to celebrate your loved one’s life in this way.
What does no funeral, just cremation include?
At Simplicity, we refer to our no funeral, just cremation service as an Unattended Funeral.
Our Unattended Funeral includes everything you will need for a funeral without a service, including:
- cremation fees
- doctor’s fees
- a simple dark wood-effect coffin
- transportation of the deceased in a specialised funeral vehicle
- care of your loved one and preparation in our quality mortuary facilities a few days prior to cremation
Unlike a traditional funeral, there is no option to upgrade to a more expensive coffin, embalming is not required and we do not offer the option to view the deceased after they have been brought into our care.
Following the cremation, the ashes will be respectfully scattered in our Gardens of Remembrance. Alternatively, the ashes can be returned to you at an additional charge.
Not all funeral providers will offer a no funeral just cremation option, and if they do, what’s included as part of the cremation only package may differ, so it’s important to understand exactly what is provided. It’s common for cremation fees or doctor’s fees to be an additional cost, so this is something to look out for when choosing a cremation provider.
How much does a cremation only funeral cost?
At Simplicity, a cremation only funeral is available from £995.
A funeral without a service is typically the least expensive funeral option in the UK, as it does not include many of the ceremonial and often expensive elements often associated with a traditional funeral.
Many people worry that a funeral without a service indicates a lack of care or facilities. Rest assured; this is simply not the case. As part of one of the largest funeral groups in the UK, we operate to consistently high standards. We are the only truly national direct cremation provider with our own mortuary facilities, crematoria, vehicles and staff.
Our cremation costs are lower because the arrangements are made over the telephone, with the help of our team of funeral professionals. There is no need for you to visit a funeral home or to have several lengthy meetings with a Funeral Director, as is often the case when arranging a traditional funeral.
Our services are available throughout the whole of mainland Great Britain. Unlike many providers, we won’t charge you mileage fees or increase the cost of our services outside of a certain radius.
Why do people choose a funeral without a service?
There are a number of reasons why people choose a cremation without a funeral service, which may include:
Minimal fuss - Many families choose a funeral without a service because it is what their loved one wanted. This may be because they preferred the lack of fuss and formality that this type of cremation can offer, or they felt uncomfortable either arranging or attending a funeral during their lifetime and did not want their family to experience this discomfort.
Easy to arrange - Some people do not like the thought of the distress that arranging a traditional funeral may cause for their family when they are gone. A cremation only funeral is considerably easier to arrange than a traditional funeral and also means that family members will not have to make difficult decisions about coffin type, flowers, transport and venues.
Cost - In cases where the decision to have a funeral without service is cost driven, it’s often because the deceased did not see the value in a traditional funeral. Often, they would prefer that their family chose a low cost funeral option and spent the money that would have been spent on a traditional funeral, in a more meaningful way.
Distance - It can be difficult for family to travel to a funeral, often at short notice, if they did not live locally to their loved one. A funeral without a service allows you to arrange a celebration of life or memorial service to take place at a time, date and location away from the crematorium, allowing more time for family and friends to make travel arrangements.
We understand that a cremation only funeral will not suit everyones needs, so we also offer simple funeral options for those families that would like a low cost funeral with the option to attend.
Our Intimate Funeral allows a few family members to attend and spend a short time in the crematorium’s chapel. Alternatively, our Family Led Funeral allows for a full-length slot in the chapel for a larger group of mourners, with a family-led service.
For more information on our funeral options, see our funeral prices.
Arrange a cremation only funeral for the future
We know it can be difficult discussing funeral wishes with your family, but it is important to make your wishes known especially if you have specific requests. Putting a funeral plan in place ahead of time helps to ensure your wishes are honoured when the time comes.
A funeral plan can relieve your loved ones of the stress and uncertainty often associated with making funeral arrangements, as well as protect them from rising funeral costs.
The Lily Plan provides everything you need for a funeral without a service and is available from £1,495, or as little as £15.97^ per month. There’ll be no more for your family to pay for the services covered in the plan, regardless of when the plan is needed or how much costs may rise in the future. Your family will receive guidance from our professional telephone team; all they will need to do is make one phone call to get the arrangement process in motion.
As long as you are aged 50 years or older, you are guaranteed to be accepted for a Simplicity Cremations Prepaid Funeral Plan.
It’s easy to apply, simply request a free guide or buy online in a few simple steps.
Arrange a no funeral, just cremation service with Simplicity
Arranging a funeral without a service is a simple, straightforward process, and our expert team will guide you through every step. We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so we’ll be here whenever you need us. Contact us today.
^Instalment figure shown is for a Lily Plan being paid over 120 months. There is an extra charge if you spread the cost over more than 12 months. Alternative fixed instalment periods are available, provided that all payments over any instalment term longer than 12 months are completed by the 80th birthday of the eldest person named on the plan.