The cost of living crisis is still crippling families across the UK but it's not just supermarket prices and that are overwhelming, as more and more people heartbreakingly can't afford funerals.
In 2024, the average cost of dying increased to £9,797, leaving Brits struggling with finances on top of their grief. costs are 134% higher than they were 21 years ago, according to the SunLife Cost of Dying Report, with prices rising much faster than inflation. As prices skyrocket, people have been forced to find ways to on funerals while still giving their loved ones the send off they deserve.
Cat Shehu, 47, from Bristol arranged a Pure Cremation for her mum, Jennifer Keeling, who passed away on New Year's Day. Jennifer had previously made it clear to Cat that she wanted a pure cremation as it meant no fuss and she felt traditional funerals were far too expensive - that could be better spent investing in her business.
A pure cremation is a funeral that doesn't have a ceremony at the crematorium or church where people can organise their own gathering at a time that suits them.
In line with her mum's wishes, Cat paid £1,800 for the service and spent an additional £200 on a memorial bringing the total cost to £2,000. She says she saved £3,500 by doing it this way as she had other quotes for around £5,500 for a funeral the size she wanted.
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And she didn't feel like she was doing a disservice to her mum as Jennifer wanted a celebration of life rather than a sombre gathering. She believed in waiting until everyone had come to terms with her passing before having a memorial—so it could feel more like a joyful remembrance than a sad farewell.
To remember Jennifer, the family gathered at Clevedon Pier, where they had cake and a celebrant to say a few words. Afterwards, about 20 guests held a 'wake' at Marine Lake. Some of Jennifer's ashes were scattered over the pier, while others were kept to be spread in the Scottish Highlands, a place that had a special meaning for Jennifer.
"Mum had written exactly what she wanted and we did exactly that," says Cat. "A celebration of her life with her closest family and friends: she wanted a cake with candles and to look out over the Clevedon seafront, which we also did. It was a magical day."
Ian Atkinson, Chief Marketing Officer at Pure Cremation said there are two main reasons people choose a direct cremation. "Firstly, it cuts out unnecessary funeral expenses – the hearse, funeral director fees, a service at the crematorium, fancier coffin handles and so on. All the things that are usually bundled in with a traditional funeral, whether you want them or not, and which push up the cost so much.
"Secondly, it means families can arrange their own, more personal send-off. A service at a crematorium will usually have restrictions on when it can take place, how many people can attend, how long it can last, what you're able to do. But because a direct cremation is less than half the cost of a traditional funeral, there’s often more money for family to arrange a more personal send-off, whether that’s a formal remembrance or a celebration of life.”
Reasons to choose a direct cremation:1. Less than half the price
According to the Sunlife Cost of Dying report the average cost of an attended cremation is £3,980, in comparison a direct cremation with Pure Cremation, without a funeral plan, can cost as little as £1,645.
2. Less fuss, less stress
At an emotional time, the last thing many people want to deal with is organising an event involving hundreds of people. A traditional funeral can involve extra elements unnecessary to what you or your loved ones want, such as flowers or a celebrant. Asking family to travel from miles away, or working around holidays, work and school can make it a logistical nightmare at the worst possible time. Thanks to a pure cremation, you can make your own plans when you feel up to it.
3. Traditional funerals can feel old-fashioned and Victorian
At a time when we want to remember our loved ones, and celebrate the unique person they were, having a ceremony which doesn’t reflect them can feel impersonal. And the advantage of a pure cremation is that you have the freedom to decide every part of your ceremony. Once the ashes are delivered you can choose to have a celebration or not, do something immediately or wait, or give yourself time to work out what to do.
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