Frequently Asked Questions

The choice is entirely yours. It's not uncommon for people to divide the ashes of the deceased between their loved ones, so that everyone can have a reminder of them.

There are many benefits to choosing a direct cremation. Direct cremations offer a respectful, uncomplicated cremation with no attendees present.

These are a few of the key benefits:

• Families have flexibility over the farewell process so a loved one's life can be remembered in a personal and unique way.
• Direct cremations are a cost-effective alternative to traditional funerals, allowing families to invest more in the farewell event with the money saved or prioritise their finances elsewhere.
• Families of faith can hold a separate spiritual service instead of a traditional funeral.
• A celebration of life event can be postponed until a later date when everyone involved is emotionally ready.
• Busy and geographically scattered families have additional time to coordinate a gathering.

78% of Westerleigh Group’s crematoriums have mercury abatement technology installed which reduces air pollution. 27% of crematoriums have both mercury abatement technology and nitrogen oxide (NOx) filtration. These crematoriums are:

• Babworth Crematorium
• Mercia Forest Crematorium
• New Forest Crematorium
• North Wiltshire Crematorium
• Sirhowy Valley Crematorium
• Stirlingshire Crematorium
• The Vale Crematorium
• Waseley Hills Cemetery & Crematorium
• Arun Crematorium
• Herne Bay Crematorium
• Bishopsbriggs Crematorium

Installing nitrogen oxide (NOx) filtration and mercury abatement is a programme Westerleigh Group intends to continue and accelerate over the coming years. By 2032, all crematoriums in our network will have the same environmental credentials as those listed here. Keep checking back as we add more crematoriums to the list.

Yes, with a Distinct Cremations funeral you can choose to have a 30 or 60 minute long funeral service led by either a family member or a professional celebrant. These funeral options are available for a funeral that’s needed now or as a funeral plan for the future. You can also personalise the funeral with music, flowers, service stationery and more.

Pure Cremation does not offer attended funeral plans. However, families can choose to pay extra for a small family led service at the crematorium if they’re arranging a funeral now or when the time comes to redeem a plan.

It typically takes between one and two weeks for the funeral to take place, although this time can increase if there are outstanding factors such as the need for an inquest. Funerals may also be delayed if there's limited availability at the crematorium.

A direct cremation is a simple fuss-free cremation without a funeral service. Having no mourners attend the cremation reduces the costs and stress of arranging a traditional funeral.

For many, a direct cremation allows them to separate the cremation from the celebration of the deceased’s life, allowing them a dignified opportunity to say goodbye in a way that better suits them.

At Distinct Cremations, we handle all the direct cremation arrangements including collecting your loved one, caring for them in our mortuary and carrying out the cremation itself.

Upon arranging a funeral, once you’ve agreed the type of service that you’d like, one of our Customer Service Specialists will take the payment in full, which can be made by credit or debit card.

For those planning ahead, we offer funeral plans that can be paid for upfront or in monthly instalments, allowing you to arrange and pay for your funeral in advance.

We suggest you tell a loved one that you have a plan in place, so that they know who to call when needed. Some people choose to add the details to their will, but a will is often not read until after the funeral has taken place.

Put the paperwork in a safe place with your other important documents. There’s nothing more to do.