Considering cremation? Get all your questions answered! Variety Funerals™ offers affordable cremation options. Learn about the process, legalities, & ash scattering. Call today for a free consultation on 0800 774 7804 or Click Here for more information.

Considering cremation services? Variety Funerals™ offers dignified and affordable cremation options throughout England and Wales. This guide answers all your questions, from the cremation process to what happens to the ashes.

What is a Cremation?

Cremation services involve using intense heat to turn the deceased’s remains into ashes. The process typically takes around two hours within a specialised cremator. Following cremation, any remaining bone fragments are pulverised into ashes, which are then placed in a container for the family.

Attended Cremation Services Explained:

  • Arrival at the Crematorium: Mourners may gather outside or wait in the chapel before the coffin arrives.
  • Service: The service typically lasts 20-30 minutes and can include hymns, music, and eulogies. Additional time can be booked for longer services.
  • Committal: As the service concludes, the coffin is usually moved from view for mourners to pay their respects.
  • Departure: Mourners offer condolences, view flowers and wreaths, and may proceed to a wake.
  • The Wake: (Optional) This gathering allows loved ones to celebrate the deceased’s life with food, drinks, and memories.

Click Here to learn more about Variety Plus, our attended cremation service. For a simpler, unattended option, consider Variety Solo.

Beyond the Basics of Cremation Services:

  • Cremation vs. Committal: During a cremation, the committal occurs when the coffin is removed from sight at the service’s end. A burial committal happens when the coffin is lowered into the ground.
  • Required Paperwork: Proper documentation is essential for cremation to proceed. This typically includes a green form obtained during death registration and a completed cremation application form. In cases of unexpected death, a coroner will be involved and handle the paperwork.
  • Preparing the Deceased: Funeral directors typically care for and dress the deceased in a gown or their preferred clothing. The deceased may be held in a refrigerated mortuary facility until cremation.
  • Coffins and Cremation: The law requires the deceased to be suitability covered which is a coffin for cremation due to cremator design specifications. Variety Funeral Plans include a simple wooden coffin with brass effect handles and name plate. Our coffins are fully combustible and meet FFMA standards. The coffin is cremated with the deceased.
  • Individual Cremations: UK law mandates individual cremations and the cremation chamber size limits cremations to 1 individual at a time.
  • Cremation Process Duration: Cremation typically takes 1-3 hours, with an additional 1-2 hours for cooling. This timeframe can vary depending on temperature, body size, and coffin material.
  • Code of Practice: Strict codes of conduct govern crematoriums, typically displayed in public areas. For further information please visit the Federation of Burial & Cremation Authorities here.

What Happens to the Ashes?

Variety Funerals™ provides ashes to our customers in an eco-friendly container. You can choose to purchase an urn for permanent placement of the ashes.

  • Receiving Ashes: Most crematoriums can have the ashes (also known as cremated remains) available to collect within two business days. For an additional fee Variety Funerals™ can arrange for the ashes to be returned by private driver to a private address in England or Wales within 28 days.
  • Who Gets the Ashes? Only the person who signed the cremation application form can collect the ashes. Since there’s no legal definition of who possesses the ashes, families should discuss this beforehand to avoid disputes. Common options include the executor of the will or the closest relative.

Variety Funerals™ – Cremation Aftercare

  • Cremated Remains Disposition: Ashe can be scattered or an interment arranged, such as in a family plot or private garden (consider a burial container for interment). Scattering ashes elsewhere requires landowner permission. Alternatively the ashes can be scattered at the place of cremation – this option is included in the Variety Funerals™ package price for both our Variety Solo and Variety Plus packages.
  • Cremated Remains Jewellery: Variety VIP offers discounted ash jewellery, an increasingly popular way to keep ashes close. Click Here to learn more about Variety VIP benefits.
  • International Shipping: Unfortunately, we are unable to arrange international shipping however this can be arranged separately.

How to Arrange Cremation Services:

Contact your chosen funeral director to discuss your specific needs and preferences. Variety Funerals™ dedicated consultants are available 24/7 to answer your questions and guide you through the cremation process. Call us for free on 0800 774 7804 or fill out our contact form here.