Unattended Funeral: Direct Cremation only £1,540
With no hidden costs

A Direct Cremation differs from a Traditional Cremation in that there is no service beforehand and there are no mourners in attendance. This gives you the opportunity to arrange a dignified funeral for your loved one now with the opportunity to arrange a memorial service or gathering at a later date when it is safe to do so. This will allow you to commemorate your loved one’s life in a way that you, and your family, would wish.

The financial advantage of a Direct Cremation is considerable, saving over £1,500 on a Traditional Cremation. This allows you the financial freedom to arrange a memorial service at a later date, at a venue of your choice, while still keeping your budget well below the cost of a traditional cremation. We are very happy to help you arrange a minister or celebrant for such a memorial service at no extra charge.

Please note that our Direct Cremation, which is £1,540, includes everything that is required without hidden costs such as collection, return of ashes or removal of pacemakers or artificial limbs. We also bring your loved one into our care immediately* and provide a full hearse for the cremation instead of a ‘Funeral Vehicle’ which is usually a van or estate car.

*Some online companies leave the deceased in the hospital until the day before the cremation which merely transfers the costs and the pressures of storage onto the NHS which we consider morally indefensible at this time.

We also care for, and cremate, your loved one locally rather than transporting them many miles away to a distant crematorium.

Unattended Funeral - What’s Included
Direct Cremation
Direct Cremation

Arriving in an elegant hearse and accompanied by one of our Funeral Directors and staff the coffin will be placed with full honours in the chapel at Southend Crematorium.

A standard coffin
A standard coffin

We will provide the same stately oak effect coffin that we use for Traditional Cremations.

Doctor's Fees
Doctor's Fees

A cremation requires certification by a medical Doctor, this fee is fully covered.

Transportation
Transportation

Immediate collection of the deceased into our care where they will remain until the day of the cremation when they will be transported in an elegant hearse to Southend Crematorium.

Care of your loved one in our mortuary
Care of your loved one in our mortuary

The deceased will be fully cared for and prepared appropriately for cremation at our mortuary facilities in Westcliff.

Handling of ashes
Handling of ashes

We will collect and care for the ashes which you can collect at your convenience from our office in Westcliff. You can also choose to have the ashes scattered in the Garden of Remembrance at Southend.

We also include, at no extra cost
Collection of ashes
Collection of ashes
Ashes will be collected and available for return usually within one week
Ashes Containers
Ashes Containers
We will provide a beautiful scatter tube (select from our range) or a biodegradable urn free of charge and place the ashes in this for you.
Local Crematorium
Local Crematorium
Your loved one will be cared for locally and cremated in Southend. They will not be transported to a distant crematorium, plus you will be fully informed of the time and date that the cremation will occur.
Elegant Hearse
Elegant Hearse
Most budget Direct Cremations offer a ‘Funeral Vehicle’, which is usually a van or estate car, but we include a full hearse as standard.
Funeral Director
Funeral Director
The presence of an experience Funeral Director on the day of the cremation.
Removal
Removal
If the deceased has a pacemaker or any artificial limbs etc we will remove these at no extra cost.
Family Attendance
Family Attendance
Direct cremations are not designed for the attendance of family or mourners. With that in mind the crematorium has placed a number of restrictions on Direct Cremations. These include that no one is allowed to enter the chapel, no officient may hold any kind of service and no music is allowed. Only funeral staff may be involved whilst the coffin is placed in the chapel. Please note that the crematorium provides Direct Cremations on the understanding that there will be no family members present and requests that this be respected.

Please note, we can provide a ‘Reflection Service’ for an extra £550. This service would be at 9am and  includes 10 minutes for the family in the chapel with the coffin for personal reflection and private goodbyes.  The Reflection Service does not include any minister or celebrant and no music is provided or played during the service.

Want more information?
01702 436000
What might be required that is not included in the £1,540?

There are only two things that may be required that are not covered in our price. The first is an out-of-hours collection, i.e. a collection that does not happen between 9am and 4pm. This will not be relevant if the deceased has passed away in hospital, but if they have passed away at home, or in a care home or hospice, then an out-of-hours collection may be required. We only charge £180 for out of hours collection.

The second is if the deceased is over 20 stone in weight in which case we will require extra staff on the day. Within reason this will require two additional staff so the additional cost would usually be £100 for this.

What is not included in a direct cremation

So that you fully understand what a Direct Cremation is we have included the following list of things that are not included in a Direct Cremation.

If you are considering plans for your own funeral please see details of our pre-paid plans where you can order further information with a single click.

Testimonials

Dear Penrose team,
We need to let you know we appreciate how kind, compassionate and professional you were and to say thank you for giving the best care and send off to my nan, Barbara

Your services gave me and my family comfort and faith in such an awful time.

Again, thank you for all you did!

Natalie Wilson - December 2023

Dear Brendon and all the team at Penrose Funeral home,

Just to say thank you very much for the dignified and beautiful send off you provided for Sacha St….n and for the care and kindness you showed to all the family.

Thank you

Suzanne Gray and Tamsin Davies - March 2022

I really can’t thank the team at Penrose enough for the beautiful funeral they managed for my dear husband Fred. Especially Nathan for helping us plan the day with such care and dignity.

I met Nathan’s dad Jeremy for the first time when he arrived with the cortege to collect us from home. Immediately I felt totally at ease with this charming charismatic gentleman leading the service perfectly from begining to end.

Thank you so much

from Georgie

Georgina Bateman - February 2020

To the Penrose Team,

Thank you all so much for the amazing efforts you put into making our father, Tony Hogan’s, funeral run so smoothly. we so appreciate all of your professionalism and care.

Kind regards

April and Emma - June 2023

A very professional family run business who were very understanding and kind and nothing was too much trouble. They immediately alleviated any worries and concerns I had and arranged for a lovely celebrant Laura Manvell to conduct the Celebration of Life, who was probably one of the sweetest ladies on this earth I have ever met.

Julie Adkins - February 2024

Sending you a great big hug –

Dear Nathan, the family and all at Penrose!

Many thanks for a very tailored, personal and respectful relationship after my father’s passing.

With kind regards and best wishes

Georgia Duffee -

To Nathan and all at Penrose, I just wanted to thank you for the sensitivity, care and respect you showed my Grannie yesterday. She looked amazing and I’m sure you caught a glimpse of her incredible 100 years as my dad spoke at the grave-side. You don’t have an easy job but I hope you know how grateful people are that you do it so well.

Your manner and conduct was gentle, considerate and supportive, thank you for all you did to make yesterday so special. You have been given the gifting and attitude needed to help bring peace and blessing during difficult circumstances. May you know God’s peace and blessing as you continue to serve others in this way, Thank you

Cally (Winnie’s Granddaughter) - Oct 2016

Brendon,

Thank you for everything to do with Mirka’s last journey. We could not have done this without you.

Julie, Sam, Shaun and Levi - Sept 2023
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