An Unattended Funeral also referred to as a direct or unattended cremation, is ideal for those who would prefer a simpler funeral. An Unattended Funeral is different to a traditional funeral as there is no funeral service beforehand and no mourners present at the cremation. It gives you the chance to arrange a dignified and respectful funeral now - allowing you the opportunity to hold a memorial service or celebration of life at a later date so you can commemorate your loved one's life in a way that suits you and your family.
An Unattended Funeral is arranged with the help of our telephone-based arrangement team who are available 24/7 to ensure arranging your loved one's funeral is a simple and straightforward process.
- Your loved one will be collected from their place of rest a few days prior to the funeral and cared for in our high-quality mortuary facilities
- A Simplicity representative will contact you to help complete the necessary forms and paperwork to allow the cremation to go-ahead
- They will be taken directly to the crematorium on the day of the cremation in a specialised funeral vehicle.
- An unattended cremation takes place without a procession beforehand and without the attendance of any mourners
- Your loved one’s ashes will be scattered in our gardens of remembrance or can be returned to you upon request at additional cost
If you would like to plan ahead and arrange this type of funeral for yourself, please see our Lily Plan, which guarantees an unattended cremation anytime in the future, but at today's prices.
Alternatively you can view our Standardised Price List and Additional Optionals Price List here
Our Unattended Funeral costs from just £995 and includes doctor's fees and cremation fees - something not all providers will cover - provision of a simple wood effect coffin^, collection from the place of rest a few days prior to cremation* and transportation in a specialised funeral vehicle.
Lines are open now and we're happy to answer any questions you may have
Unattended Funeral - What's Included
Supervised by a qualified chapel attendant. An unattended cremation is ideal for those who do not want to have a service or ceremony prior to the cremation
Provision of a simple and respectful dark wood effect coffin with linings and fittings^
The ashes will be scattered in our gardens of remembrance or can be returned to you upon request at additional cost
Collection of the deceased and transportation on the day of the cremation in a specialised funeral vehicle
The flexibility to add on additional services as you wish
ADDITIONAL FEES
Should you require additional services, we can arrange these for you on the phone.
Return of ashes (within 4 weeks)
£75
Ashes will be hand delivered in a simple container at a mutually agreed time Monday to Friday, AM (9am – 1pm) or PM (1pm – 5pm). This service is only available within mainland Great Britain. Please note while we do our very best to continue to provide services to you the return of ashes may be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The return of ashes can take up to 4 weeks to be returned.
A Simplicity wooden urn
£50
Return of ashes in a wooden urn instead of a simple container
Bring the deceased straight into care
£250
Should your loved one pass away at home, in a care home or in a hospice setting, we’ll take them directly to our mortuaries where we’ll care for and prepare them until the day of the cremation
Out of hours collection
£195
Collection of the deceased outside of 9am-5pm on working weekdays
What's not included in our Unattended Funeral
An Unattended Funeral does not allow for the presence of mourners. If you'd prefer the opportunity to attend the committal, our Intimate or Family Led Funeral may be more suited to your needs.
Please refer to the Funeral Services Terms & Conditions for further information.
*We will usually bring your loved one into care a few days prior to cremation. Should they need to be collected straight away, an additional charge of £250 will be incurred to cover care in our quality mortuary facilities until the day of cremation.
^Please let us know if your loved one is heavier than 20 stone or taller than 6’7”, so we can provide a suitable coffin.
UNATTENDED FUNERAL
Arranging an Unattended Funeral is a simple, straightforward process. Here we've answered some of the most frequently asked questions.
Can I attend if I want to?
You cannot attend an Unattended Funeral. This type of funeral (a direct cremation) takes place without a service beforehand or the presence of any mourners.
If you’d prefer a funeral with the option to attend, you may find our Intimate Funeral (up to 12 people can attend) or Family Led Funeral (full capacity at the crematorium) will suit your needs better.
Where does an Unattended Funeral take place?
The cremation will be held at a CMG crematorium local to the deceased’s place of rest. We have access to over 45 crematoria nationwide.
You can find your local CMG crematorium using our crematorium finder.
When and how do I have to pay?
Full payment must be made over the phone by debit or credit card prior to us undertaking any services.
In which areas is an Unattended Funeral available?
An Unattended Funeral is available throughout the whole of mainland Great Britain including Scotland (this excludes Northern Ireland, Scottish Isles, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands).
Can I choose the date of the cremation?
Due to the direct nature of this service, you will not be able to choose a cremation date. We will book a cremation date for your loved one at a CMG crematorium local to the place of rest, at our earliest convenience. We will contact you to let you know when the cremation is complete.
PREPAID FUNERAL PLANS
Ensure your funeral is paid for and your wishes are known with a Prepaid Funeral Plan. We offer three simple funeral plans for those looking to make arrangements for their own funeral ahead of time, including an unattended cremation funeral plan from £1,495 or £15.97pcm.
See our funeral plansREVIEWS
Our customer experience is very important to us and we strive to deliver a high quality service every time.
Very straightforward and uncomplicated, fulfilled what the deceased wanted. Would like this service for myself.
No Location Provided
The package was reasonably priced. the job we paid for was completed and went smoothly. It was easy to order. The staff were always ready to help, were always respectful and profrssional. I would definitely use rhe company again and highly recomend their services to others
Coulsdon
My needs on losing my wife were dealt with in an extremely sympathetic and efficient manner and for what I consider to be a reasonable fee.
No Location Provided
exellant very straight forward and simple
No Location Provided
First class service, professional, courteous, and understanding. Wouldn't hesitate in recommending Simplicity funerals.
No Location Provided
