Funeral Consultant at Memoria Funerals
Senior Funeral Arranger at Memoria Funerals
When we think about a funeral, many of us have a vivid mental picture of what it might involve – and this probably hasn’t changed in decades. Perhaps there will be a procession or cortège, where black-clad mourners follow the hearse and limousine to the venue; we assume there will be a service, either at a church or a crematorium, with a eulogy or readings, hymns or music; after the committal, which takes place either at the crematorium or the graveside, there is often a wake.
Some people find great comfort in these traditions, but this isn’t what everyone wants – either for themselves, or for grieving family and friends.
In recent years, direct cremation plans – which don’t include the option for any kind of service – have become an increasingly popular choice. However, we know that, for some families, a funeral service is an important part of the grieving process. They would prefer a middle ground: they want to gather before the cremation to say goodbye, but don’t like the idea of a formal or impersonal ceremony – and are conscious about keeping costs down.
This is why Memoria offers an alternative: two modern, prepaid funeral plans, both of which include a customisable attended service. You can still choose to include traditional elements, like pallbearers, flowers and readings, opt for a small, morning ceremony for close family, or put plans in place for a more elaborate and unique farewell.
For example, rather than focusing on grief and loss, some families prefer the idea of a celebration of life. This is a modern and relaxed type of funeral that’s more flexible in format. It’s common for guests to wear bright colours rather than black, and there’s often music, readings and stories about the person who has died, so that family and friends can remember them with love and laughter.
Both our attended options provide an opportunity to say goodbye at the crematorium – and, if you thought that a direct cremation was the only low-cost funeral option available, you may be surprised to discover that a modern attended funeral doesn’t cost as much as you would think; simply stripping back the extras like pallbearers, a hearse and funeral cars helps to keep costs down.
You can pay in full or spread the cost with monthly instalments, making it easier to put your plan into place in a way that suits you best.
Many people decide to buy a prepaid funeral plan primarily because arranging and paying for everything upfront means those closest to you won’t have to worry about making complicated arrangements when you’re gone. If this is your main motivation, it’s easy to overlook the importance of considering your family’s wishes, too.
Perhaps you’ve already given some thought to what you would want for your funeral – or maybe you have a better idea of what you don’t want. Discussing a prepaid funeral plan can be a helpful way to start this conversation with the people closest to you, giving you an opportunity to express your wishes and reflect on how family and friends would like to say goodbye when the time comes.
Whatever your preference, a Memoria Prepaid Funeral Plan can be customised to create a personal and meaningful farewell.
‘When it comes to funerals, there’s no one-size-fits-all – it’s all about what families want and need. It helps to remember who the funeral is for: really, it’s for the living as they are the ones who have to cope with the loss. When people choose a direct cremation for themselves it’s usually because they don’t want any fuss, but what does their family need? A direct cremation is devoid of almost all personalisation, and in my experience, some families can find that hard. This is why the option to personalise the way you say goodbye is so important.’
Although traditional funerals are expensive, a simple, attended service doesn’t have to be. In fact, if your wishes include a separate memorial, an attended service provides the opportunity to gather with family and friends without the need to organise and pay for a separate event, which is
typical with a direct cremation.
Both of our modern attended plans include the essentials, such as funeral directors’ fees, services and cremation fees, collection from any hospital or mortuary, a quality wood coffin and the option to have the cremation at any crematorium in mainland UK.
If you would prefer a few traditional touches, you can add extra services such as a hearse, limousine or officiant to conduct the service. For a more personal touch, you can add music, photographs, readings and reminiscences. When the time comes, our specialist team will support your loved ones with funeral arrangements and paperwork, delivering a personal farewell that suits your personality and wishes.
The Memoria prepaid Personal Funeral Plan includes a service for up to 25 people and takes place in the morning to keep costs down. This is a good option if your close family and friends would prefer a short and simple gathering that gives them the opportunity to spend time together and reflect.
The Celebration of Life Funeral Plan covers everything that’s included in the Personal Plan but provides more flexibility – which is helpful if you or your family would like to plan a larger or more elaborate gathering. It’s a longer service, which can take place at any time of day, at any crematorium in mainland UK, with no restriction on the number of people who can attend.
An experienced member of our team will arrange everything needed for a truly unique send off, leaving your loved ones with minimum fuss and maximum memories.
Do you need to arrange a funeral for someone today? If someone has died and there is no funeral plan in place, our experienced team are here to help. Call us on 0800 007 3620. We'll listen, explain your options and guide you through the process.
