When it comes to making arrangements for a loved-one's final journey, many people these days are choosing direct cremation or direct burial, rather than a traditional funeral.  But what does direct cremation/burial entail?  Read on to find out more as you make your funeral arrangements. 

What is direct cremation/burial?

As the term suggests, direct cremation or burial means that the body of the deceased is removed to the crematorium or burial place without the preamble of a funeral service.  You don't attend the funeral home to view the deceased's body, there's no hearse or funeral procession, you don't decide the time or date of the disposal, no-one attends the cremation or burial, and no words are said at the crematorium or graveside.

Why choose direct disposal?

People opt for this form of disposal for various reasons including:

• the deceased expressed a wish not to have the fuss of a funeral
• the deceased had no close relatives
• the deceased's relatives could not afford the expense of a funeral
• the deceased's religious beliefs meant that they did not want a funeral
• the deceased died abroad and direct cremation would make repatriation of the deceased's remains much easier

Many people view direct cremation as the prelude to a proper 'farewell' for the deceased, preferring instead to hold a private memorial event for family and friends.  If the deceased has been cremated, you can have the ashes returned to you, or simply scattered on your behalf at the crematorium.

Who carries out direct cremation/burials?

The direct cremation/burial industry is unregulated so it's important that you deal with a reputable organisation.  Your local funeral director will be able to arrange direct disposal for you, so have a chat with them, rather than just 'Googling' and hoping for the best.

Although direct disposal is considerably less expensive than a conventional funeral, there are still some expenses that will be incurred including:

• the funeral director's time and any overheads
• the funeral home's charge for storage of the body
• a charge for the removal of any pacemaker, prosthetics etc.
• a crematorium or graveyard fee
• a fee for transport of the body to the disposal site
• a simple casket or coffin
• a doctor's fee for certification of death, unless already certified by the Coroner

In conclusion

A direct cremation or burial is an increasingly popular option for those faced with arranging for the disposal of a loved-one's body after they've died.  If you think that direct disposal could be something you'd like to consider, contact your local funeral home and have a chat with the funeral director or a company like Lee Adam Funeral Services to ask about what arrangements can be made.