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Direct it yourself
Did you know you can arrange a cremation yourself directly with Worthing Crematorium?
It is often assumed that a funeral can only be arranged via a funeral director. However this is not the case and some people will find great comfort in being more intimately involved, either partly or totally, in being part of the arrangements for the funeral of a loved one.
The following information is to help you by outlining what is involved. Worthing Crematorium does not promote any specific type of arrangements and we are only offering this information to widen your choices when you are making funeral arrangements.
The steps of arranging a cremation
Things to bear in mind
There are various reasons why people decide on an independent funeral. It could be because they feel uncomfortable passing the responsibility of a loved one's body over to strangers, or that they would like to dedicate their time and energy to creating a more personalised tribute. It could also come down to money - funeral directors have to operate commercially and so can be expensive.
However, doing-it-yourself is quite complicated and it's worth considering what the funeral process is likely to entail before you make any decisions.
A funeral director will usually collect and move the body, arrange embalming and viewing of the deceased, provide a coffin and hearse and guidance throughout the ceremony wherever it takes place. If undertaken independently such tasks may prove unpleasant as well as difficult. The average coffin will not fit in most cars and will need four people to lift it. The deceased will also need to be kept somewhere cool leading up to the service.
Although there will be a lot of work to do with an independent funeral you will have complete control over content giving you the chance to create a very personal goodbye and costs can be kept low.
It is not a decision to be taken lightly and it is advisable to discuss the options with family and close friends before making any final decisions.
There are several good sources of information available on the internet which include:
We also suggest that you speak to local funeral directors as they are often willing to give you advice for free. Some may even be able to offer services, such as purchasing a coffin or transferring the deceased, for a much reduced fee.
See also: Check what to do after a death - how to register the death, notify government departments (and other organisations such as banks, utility companies, etc) and deal with the estate:
Forms
Form 1 - Application for cremation of the body of a person who has died (176KB)
Form 2 - Application for cremation of body parts (575KB)
Form 3 - Application for cremation of stillborn baby (576KB)
Confirmation of Booking (Print) (200KB)
Confirmation of Booking (Digital) (229KB)
Amended Ashes Instructions Form (208KB)
The Ministry of Justice also hold a number of cremation related forms on the GOV.UK website that you may require:
