Not everyone wishes to have a funeral ceremony with the body of the person present.  And sometimes people say, “When I die I just want my body taken to the crematorium and cremated without any fuss.  I don’t want anyone else there.”   This is often called ‘Direct cremation’ (direct burial is also possible).  If funds are limited and preclude a traditional funeral it is also the cheapest way of laying someone to rest. It is still possible to have a separate Memorial Service or Ceremony of Thanksgiving without the body. We are able to offer two types of direct cremation service - Basic and Enhanced.  Please note that both specifically exclude parts of our service normally available for a traditional funeral. Specification of our Basic Direct Cremation service: Removal of the deceased to our Chapel of Rest within office hours and from a local address, and storage in our refrigerated mortuary. Provision of a simple cremation coffin. Conveyance of the coffin to Hastings Crematorium in a closed van and attendance of two bearers to transfer the coffin into the care of the crematorium staff (please note that if the deceased weighs more than 75 kgs we will need to provide more bearers at a cost of £56 each). Making arrangements for a cremation at Hastings Crematorium (no funeral ceremony), the date and time of which to be left to our discretion. Making arrangements for the cremation ashes to be placed in the Crematorium Garden of Remembrance in an unmarked area, and at the discretion of the Crematorium management.  Alternatively the family may collect the ashes from the Crematorium. Items not provided in our direct cremation service include: Conveyance of the deceased outside office hours and outside the local district. Embalming. Visiting the Chapel of Rest. Provision of funeral limousines. Provision of a funeral ceremony at the Crematorium Chapel. Discussion and co-ordination of all matters relating to: floral tributes; obituary notices; dispersal of cremation ashes (other than provided for above); catering; 'In Memoriam' charitable donations and printing of funeral stationery.  This list is not exhaustive. Our current charge for providing a Basic Direct Cremation is £807.00 In addition to the funeral director's fees every direct cremation will incur charges payable to other agencies.  These disbursements usually comprise Hastings Crematorium fees of £688.00 (or £569.00 if we are able to secure the 9:30 a.m. time slot) and two Doctors' Cremation Certificate fees of £82.00 each.  All fees (ours and fees payable to other parties) are payable in advance of the cremation. Our Enhanced Direct Cremation service provides everything offered by our Basic Direct Cremation service with these important additions: Provision of a hearse (rather than a closed van) to convey the coffin to the crematorium. Attendance of a funeral director at the crematorium to oversee, advise and assist. Attendance of four bearers to convey the coffin, shouldered, into the crematorium chapel (please note that if the deceased weighs more than 100 kgs we will need to provide more bearers at a cost of £56 each). If you felt you wanted to attend the cremation we would recommend choosing our Enhanced Direct Cremation service so that the funeral director would be in attendance to help you. Our current charge for providing an Enhanced Direct Cremation is £1,163.00 In addition to the funeral director's fees every direct cremation will incur charges payable to other agencies.  These disbursements usually comprise Hastings Crematorium fees of £688.00 (or £569.00 if we are able to secure the 9:30 a.m. time slot) and two Doctors' Cremation Certificate fees of £82.00 each.  All fees (ours and fees payable to other parties) are payable in advance of the cremation.