Direct Cremation in Hastings and East Sussex
Get in touch
Send us a quick message and one of our team will get back to you.
Direct Cremation
From £1,460 including disbursements
What is a direct cremation?
Sometimes people say, “When I die I don't want a funeral. I just want my body taken to the crematorium and cremated without any fuss. I don't want any sort of ceremony and 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.
Towners has served Hastings and East Sussex since 1875, and we strive to fulfil any wish you may have. If you have questions about Direct Cremation or any other service, please get in touch with one of our team who can help with your query.
See below for full details and prices of our direct cremation. There is no VAT to add - funeral charges are exempt.
Below is the information about our direct cremation service - Please note: that a direct cremation specifically excludes parts of our service normally available for a traditional funeral. An easy to understand comparison chart can be found here.
What is included in our 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 plain, lamboard 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 may need to provide more bearers at a cost of £58 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 and printing of funeral stationery.
- (Please note that oversize coffins may incur an extra charge.)
- This list is not exhaustive.
What is the cost of our Direct Cremation?
Our current charge for providing a Direct Cremation is £849.00
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 £894.00 (alternatively £736.00 if we are able to secure the 9:30 a.m. time slot or £529 for the 9:00 or 9:15 a.m. time slot) and a fee of £82 for the doctor to sign a Cremation Certificate. All fees (ours and fees payable to other parties) are payable three working days before the day of the cremation. If this payment is not received the cremation cannot go ahead.
So - for a basic direct cremation at Hastings at 9:00 a.m. the total cost would be £1,460 (our fees £849 + Crematorium fees £529 + doctor's fee £82).
What is the difference between a direct cremation and a traditional funeral?
Our comparison chart also explains the differences between a direct cremation and a traditional funeral.
If you would like to discuss your requirements or find out more information please get in touch by calling 01424 436 386 or emailing us at info@towners.co.uk or fill in our contact form in the footer below. One of our friendly and experienced team will be on hand to help.