A funeral of any type – as long as it’s black
Considering all the personal and very individual ways in which we live our lives, it’s amazing how most people conform to an expected standard when it comes to arranging a funeral.
Sure, there are some things that are absolutely necessary to carry out a cremation or burial, but there is also a whole lot of ritual and tradition that is often associated with a funeral, that isn’t exactly necessary, but has become the norm on most occasions.
You’ve probably experienced a funeral like this yourself. The coffin is driven in a black hearse, followed by black limousines in a procession to a service venue. Sometimes this is a place of religion followed by the crematorium or cemetery, but often it is straight to the crematorium. All the mourners, mostly dressed in black, will go through a service in a chapel at a location that the person who died probably never visited in their lifetime. There are possibly lots of flowers that will be seen for just a couple of hours. After the service, everyone will go to a local pub or back to a private house for a wake and a chance to speak with other attendees.
Now, this is all a very respectful and often a lovely way to say goodbye to someone dear. But is it all really necessary?
Wearing black
This comes from Elizabethan times and was embedded further following Queen Victoria’s extended mourning for Prince Albert, when it was expected that widows would wear full black mourning clothes for two years. It is now more common for more colourful funerals, but for the most part, this dated protocol is still adhered to for funeral services….but thankfully not for the 2 years anymore.
The Procession
These date back to Roman times, where the scale of the procession was a marker of the wealth and power of the individual. More recently the open hearse and procession was around a small community, where everyone knew who the funeral was for. Whereas nowadays, most journeys to a crematorium are along a busy dual carriageway – and the need for a hearse or procession is arguable.
Flowers
Flowers are lovely and meaningful, but one of the original reasons they are used at a funeral was a way of disguising smells, which are now less of an issue thanks to advances in mortuary care.
The Service
The service was traditionally held in the local church, at a time when most people in the community would attend their local church regularly. This isn’t the case nowadays. And although many services have changed in recent years to be led by celebrants, with modern music and readings, they still often take place on a weekday in a location that probably meant nothing to the person who has died.
So why all this fuss? Especially when a lot of this comes with a significant cost associated with it. Well, there is an alternative. A way to arrange a funeral that deals with everything that is necessary, removes the extravagance, and allows for a life to be remembered in a way that is truly meaningful and personal to that individual.
Distinct Cremations, one of the UK’s leading cremation providers, will collect and care for the individual at their leading mortuary facility. They will then conduct a dignified cremation at one of their own crematoria and personally return the ashes.
Then with the ashes present, friends and family can gather in a location that has meaning to the individual. Words can be said, music can be played, stories can be shared, and a life can be celebrated somewhere with fond memories associated with it.
The result is a simple, affordable funeral, that does not compromise on quality, but does allow for a truly personal and memorable goodbye.
Distinct Cremations provide cremation services today from £1,099 or you can plan ahead with a prepaid plan starting from £1,699. Visit distinctcremations.co.uk or call 0808 304 8759.
