There is no legal requirement in the UK to have a funeral.
Funerals are seen by many as an important way for family and friends to say their final goodbyes and celebrate the life of their loved ones. The traditional view of the funeral service is that it provides social support for those organising and attending.
Recent research, however, suggests there is no difference in ‘grief experience’ between those arranging traditional funeral services and those who chose not to. The research highlights the fact that a growing number of people are rejecting formal funerals in favour of direct cremation.
The study from the Centre for Death and Society at The University of Bath (CDAS) acknowledges that direct cremation is often seen as a low-cost alternative to traditional funerals. It shows, however, there is more involved in choosing direct cremation than financial considerations.
Dr Kate Woodthorpe, co-director of CDAS, says: “The trend also relates to evolving rituals and consumer behaviour – in fact, these might matter even more than cost. People want to bring their individual preferences to funerals and are less willing to conform to social norms.”
Should you have a funeral?
One of the findings of the CDAS study is that there is a growing recognition among the British public that there are other ways to commemorate someone’s passing.
Dr Hannah Rumble, co-author of the research, says: “A remembrance occasion is generally more meaningful when people with a shared history come together to grieve their loss, rather than everyone the deceased has ever known being marshalled into a room on the day of the funeral.”
Direct cremation, where the deceased is taken directly to be cremated with no one in attendance, gives loved ones more control over how they celebrate the life of the person they have lost. Without a formally scheduled funeral service, family and friends are free to plan a memorial event at a time and in a place that is convenient for them.
Personal choice
Whether or not you choose to have a funeral is very much a question of personal choice.
For some people, the simplicity of a direct cremation is the attraction. There is no need for them or their family to worry about the cost or organisation of a ceremony. Others want the formality of a final send-off to bring all of their friends and family together. And while you don't have to have a funeral, it may be very important to have an event that brings people together to remember and celebrate the life of the person that has passed.
If you are ready to make that choice, whether you want a traditional funeral service or a direct cremation - a pre-paid funeral plan will let you set the budget for the funeral you want, pay in advance and set out all your personal preferences.
