These newish 'Simple' funerals

1finny

1finny

Well-known member
Looks like these are really popular now with over 11% market share.
The most popular being - asking a company to take collect the body and they bring back the ashes 2-3 weeks time.
Also, on the horizon is 'resomation' - reduces the body to ashes using water and a small about of alkali.

All sorts of reasons make these attractive; price; (at least a third of the price of traditional) environmental and you can grieve when and where you want - with friends and family down the pub for instance.
Also some 'cons' no traditional way for people to give the body a send off.

Of course, there is the conundrum of who is the funeral for and, therefore, who gets a say?
We had this with my mum last year - she wanted it relatively simple (cheapest coffin, no cars etc). My sister had other ideas - big car for her and her sons and opulent oak coffin - I was frickin paying tooo_O

We've had the discussion with our kids - its as simple as we can get when we go.
I'm kinda hoping its a bin bag and down the tip by then.
 
One of the saddest things i had seen on tv was one of these prgrams with bailiffs or sheriffs as they like to call themselves and people getting doors knocked on for getting into debt and failing to repay funeral costs. How anyone thought this good tv i do not know, but i would hate to think my final act for my family would be put them in debt over my own funeral.
 
Some Himalayan type area people , they just take you up the mountain side and lay you on a rock outcrop and have a blessing and come back down. The eagles and vultures and any other prey birds do the work .
I'd fancy a bit of that but the only high point is Roseberry topping and not sure the day trippers are going to be keen on seeing my bones
But yes , when I get round to planning written details about it I will be settling for these simpler affairs , but I'm not paying upfront for it as no chance of knowing if they wil be still in business when needed.
 
Last edited:
1finny said:
Looks like these are really popular now with over 11% market share.
The most popular being - asking a company to take collect the body and they bring back the ashes 2-3 weeks time.
Also, on the horizon is 'resomation' - reduces the body to ashes using water and a small about of alkali.

All sorts of reasons make these attractive; price; (at least a third of the price of traditional) environmental and you can grieve when and where you want - with friends and family down the pub for instance.
Also some 'cons' no traditional way for people to give the body a send off.

Of course, there is the conundrum of who is the funeral for and, therefore, who gets a say?
We had this with my mum last year - she wanted it relatively simple (cheapest coffin, no cars etc). My sister had other ideas - big car for her and her sons and opulent oak coffin - I was frickin paying tooo_O

We've had the discussion with our kids - its as simple as we can get when we go.
I'm kinda hoping its a bin bag and down the tip by then.
Click to expand...
My mother recently died and she had clearly specified a 'Cremation Only' arrangement.
Other members of the family wanted more - it got a bit emotional.
Everything worked out perfectly in the end. Less expensive, and in my view, less traumatic with no coffin disappearing behind a curtain.
We were able to have our own version of a memorial service. It was in her care home lounge, which meant that a lot of her friends and neighbours could attend who probably wouldn't have otherwise.
Nothing special, just sandwiches and drinks with a compilation of her favourite music playing in the background while people got up to share memories.
We went for a family meal the night before at her favourite restaurant. It was really relaxed and lovely.

Even those that originally tried to insist on a more traditional service are now changing their own arrangements.
 
Boro_Interlinked said:
Some Himalayan type area people , they just take you up the mountain side and lay you on a rock outcrop and have a blessing and come back down. The eagles and vultures and any other prey birds do the work .
I'd fancy a bit of that but the only high point is Roseberry topping and not sure the day trippers are going to be keen on seeing my bones
But yes , when I get round to planning written details about it I will be settling for these simpler affairs , but I'm not paying upfront for it as no chance of knowing if they wil be still in business when needed.
Click to expand...
I'd go for that. A North Eastern version of the Tibetan Sky Burial. Just leave me on Huntcliff with the seagulls.
 
My mum had a funeral plan so it was covered but even then there are a lot of costs. I was surprised as I suggested to her that she record a video for everyone so she could say her final words herself and she loved the idea. She wrote what she wanted to say and I recorded it on my iPad.

Funeral home charged something like £200 for the video playback and to livestream it to her brother in Thailand (was during Covid) the costs to do so would have been extremely minimal. Mad.

Cheapest route for me and the Mrs.
 
It's sad for the folks that are left behind.. but once were gone.. were gone. Wouldn't want my family paying anything tbh.. as for a funeral.. I don't like them. I find the whole industry pretty sick and distasteful tbh.
 
Cardiffdaffs said:
Co-operative funeral company possibly doesn’t like them.
Click to expand...
Last year we arranged a direct cremation through the Co-op for my father in law, and they were really great in supporting us.

He was a religious persona and was a no fuss kind of guy and didnt want the whole service and ceremony. he was also pleased that he could pay for it all before hand and not worry about passing the burden on to us.
 
Boro_Interlinked said:
Some Himalayan type area people , they just take you up the mountain side and lay you on a rock outcrop and have a blessing and come back down. The eagles and vultures and any other prey birds do the work .
I'd fancy a bit of that but the only high point is Roseberry topping and not sure the day trippers are going to be keen on seeing my bones
But yes , when I get round to planning written details about it I will be settling for these simpler affairs , but I'm not paying upfront for it as no chance of knowing if they wil be still in business when needed.
Click to expand...

Can't see my lot carting me all the way up the Himalayas (or even Roseberry). Chuck him in the bushes and go to the pub would be their approach...
 
Can’t agree with all this cheap malarkey I expect the full works, solid oak coffin (lead lined & sealed so those pesky critters can’t get me) Giant stone cross that can be seen for miles with the words ‘What Are You Looking At‘ carved on it. Paid actors at the ceremony to weep and wail my passing, and instead of a hearse and pallbearers, a dance troupe of scantily clad 20 something females dressed in black (keeping it respectful) silk stockings, bodices and top hats with me, in an adapted silver sparkly stretch limo to take me to the service and final resting place. Its what my family and friends would want.
 
1finny said:
Looks like these are really popular now with over 11% market share.
The most popular being - asking a company to take collect the body and they bring back the ashes 2-3 weeks time.
Also, on the horizon is 'resomation' - reduces the body to ashes using water and a small about of alkali.

All sorts of reasons make these attractive; price; (at least a third of the price of traditional) environmental and you can grieve when and where you want - with friends and family down the pub for instance.
Also some 'cons' no traditional way for people to give the body a send off.

Of course, there is the conundrum of who is the funeral for and, therefore, who gets a say?
We had this with my mum last year - she wanted it relatively simple (cheapest coffin, no cars etc). My sister had other ideas - big car for her and her sons and opulent oak coffin - I was frickin paying tooo_O

We've had the discussion with our kids - its as simple as we can get when we go.
I'm kinda hoping its a bin bag and down the tip by then.
Click to expand...

My mam has told me she wants the cheapest option, as you describe - body taken away and ashes returned a few weeks later. Says she wants the money we’d save on a big funeral to be spent on a holiday for her kids and grandkids, so we can create some nice memories to associate with her passing. Which is quite nice.
My Dad is happy with this, so long as 1) he doesn’t have to come on the holiday and 2) he can flush the ashes down the loo.
 
coluka said:
Can’t agree with all this cheap malarkey I expect the full works, solid oak coffin (lead lined & sealed so those pesky critters can’t get me) Giant stone cross that can be seen for miles with the words ‘What Are You Looking At‘ carved on it. Paid actors at the ceremony to weep and wail my passing, and instead of a hearse and pallbearers, a dance troupe of scantily clad 20 something females dressed in black (keeping it respectful) silk stockings, bodices and top hats with me, in an adapted silver sparkly stretch limo to take me to the service and final resting place. Its what my family and friends would want.
Click to expand...
Jimmy Saville spoiled the fancy headstone and burial for me
 
1finny said:
My sister had other ideas - big car for her and her sons and opulent oak coffin - I was frickin paying tooo_O
Click to expand...


Did you stand your ground? I will end up with a similar issue for the father in law when he goes. He’s got 4 kids 3 of them will want the works the wife will want it simple but no doubt we will be expected to foot the majority of the bill, as he won’t of put anything away for it and has no savings or property and neither do his other kids.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top