Poppy

Cremation

Cremation funerals offer flexible, personalised services, from religious or non-religious ceremonies to direct cremations. Families can choose how to memorialise ashes, with various options for scattering or keeping them.

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After the funeral

A crematorium is the building where a cremation takes place. Your local crematorium will normally have a service chapel for the funeral service but you may prefer to hold the service in another place, like a church, and then have a shorter service called a ‘committal’ at the crematorium afterwards.

The charge for the crematorium will vary depending on where you live. Your local Funeral Director will be able to let you know what the crematorium fees are in your area.

You may wish to play music at the cremation service. Many crematoriums will provide an organist or a computer based music system of popular pieces of music.

There are restrictions about what items can be cremated with the person who has died – for example, materials such as some metals, plastics and rubber are not permitted. Any electronically operated implant (e.g. pacemakers) will be removed by the funeral director before the cremation can take place. If you would particularly like an item to stay with your loved one, please contact your local Southern Co-op funeralcare home.

The final resting place of a loved one’s cremated remains (otherwise known as “ashes”) is an important and personal decision and we recommend you take time to consider all the options and discuss these with your loved ones. Most crematoriums will retain the ashes for a period, giving you time to make your decision.

Keeping a loved one’s ashes at home can be very comforting. We have a selection of decorative urns and keepsakes for you to keep close to at home. You may wish to divide the ashes amongst family members in miniature keepsake urns or place within a piece of jewellery. Your local Southern Co-op funeralcare home will be able to advise you on the memorial options available.

You may wish to bury your loved one’s ashes and place a memorial at the site to visit and remember. There is a wide variety of caskets available for the burial of cremated remains ranging from a traditional wooden casket to eco friendly bamboo urns.

Ashes can be scattered at a special location that was meaningful to your loved one. We can provide scatter tubes, and help to look into any restrictions in place at your chosen location. You may be required to obtain the landowner’s permission, so it is important to check in advance.