Funeral director to offer ‘traditional funeral’ for half the average cost

A funeral director has launched a unique new funeral service providing people with all the practical and essential elements of a cremation, without the obligation to pay for traditional ceremonial elements they might not want.

Simplicity Cremations is to offer “the first service of its type available across the UK” for half the cost of a traditional funeral, giving people the freedom to choose when the funeral takes place rather than having to accept a time slot allocated by the provider.

Consumer demand for alternative and lower cost funerals is said to be rising, with the company’s entire service costing £1,895 including crematorium and doctors’ fees. It offers almost a 50 percent saving on the average cost of a traditional funeral quoted by the 2018 Royal London National Funeral Cost Index Report.

The new service includes:

• All the practical and essential elements of a cremation funeral, including a simple coffin.
• A dedicated 45-60 minute time slot at the closest Dignity crematorium, available Monday to Friday, without time or attendee restrictions.
• Cremation and doctors’ fees, plus the collection of the deceased on the day of cremation and return of ashes to the family.
• Support in making the arrangements provided over the telephone by funeral professionals.
  

The service lets customers choose exactly the funeral arrangements they want for their loved ones, including the ceremonial format, music, visual tributes and selection of a minister or celebrant. The arrangements are made over the telephone with help from funeral professionals.

Mark Hull, group head of marketing at Simplicity Cremations, said: “There is a rising consumer demand for lower cost funeral options. We believe our new fully attended funeral offers a level of value and choice not previously available on a national scale.

“We’ve focused on the thing we believe many consumers will value most, attending the actual service. If you don’t have to pay to visit to a funeral director or for the expense of a hearse and limousines, you can significantly lower the cost. It complements our direct cremation offering, which we launched in 2016, providing a greater choice and flexibility for families to remember their loved ones in the way they want.”