Cremations

The most popular type of funeral

Cremations

What is a cremation?

Cremation is a popular and respectful way to care for a loved one after they pass away. During the process, the body is placed in a special chamber where it is transformed into ashes using high temperatures. Cremations take place at dedicated crematoriums, and have facilities to hold the funeral service as well as conduct the cremation itself.

Many find comfort in the flexibility cremation offers, allowing for a variety of personalised memorial options. Whether you choose to keep the ashes in a beautiful urn, scatter them in a meaningful location, or incorporate them into keepsake jewellery, cremation provides a way to honour and remember your loved one in a deeply personal way.

Types of cremation

As a family-run funeral business, we are committed to providing affordable funerals. We work in a flexible way, going the extra mile to support you through the experience of arranging a funeral. We offer three main types of funerals for you to choose from…

Bespoke Cremation

A customisable, full-service funeral

A bespoke cremation is our most flexible option and is best suited to families who want to arrange a more personalised funeral. We’ll listen carefully to your wishes and take care of every detail to ensure your loved one receives a memorable and heartfelt goodbye.

Limited Service Cremation

A simple service cremation

A limited-service cremation includes everything you need to give your loved one a dignified and uncomplicated funeral. This option includes a service at the nearest crematorium but takes a simplified and streamlined approach. It is perfect for families who want a funeral service without the fuss.

Direct Cremation

Our lowest cost funeral

A direct cremation is a funeral without a service and is the most affordable type of funeral we offer. Your loved one will be taken straight from our premises to the crematorium. You only pay for the essentials, such as the coffin, funeral director’s fees and cremation costs. You can choose between a direct attended or unattended cremation.

How it works

We’ll collect your loved one and bring them in to our care

Our team will arrange a suitable time to discuss your funeral wishes

We’ll manage the funeral arrangements, taking care of all the finer details

A time and date will be agreed with your funeral director

We’ll collect your loved one’s ashes if required and bring them back to our premises for collection when you are ready

We can arrange interment of a loved one’s ashes or support you in organising a memorial

What are the benefits of choosing a cremation at Dillamore?

Cremations are typically more affordable than burials, with an unattended direct cremation being the most cost-effective funeral option
With a cremation you aren’t tied to a rigid schedule and can take your time choosing what to do with the ashes
Unlike burials, there are many different things you can do with a person’s ashes. This could include scattering or burying them, keeping them at home or turning them in to a keepsake

Dillamore will provide a caring, smooth and flexible experience
We go out of our way to support the families we work with, and are here for as long as you need us

Bespoke Cremation Pricing

A bespoke funeral service is tailored to a family’s individual wishes. Rather than adhering to a prescribed format, a bespoke funeral allows for individual preferences, and can include personal touches to create a meaningful and memorable tribute to a loved one.

There are three main elements to planning a bespoke funeral...

Our professional services fee - £2,300 Angle Down

Our professional services fee is a fixed fee that covers the arrangement and administration of the funeral. It includes;

Our professional services – £1,250 (included)
Care of the deceased – £275 (included)
Receiving your loved one into our care within a 15-mile radius – £295 (included)
Hearse – £480 (included)
Personal supervision of all the funeral arrangements before, during and after the funeral service
Preparation, collection and distribution of all necessary documentation, including liaising with externals parties on your behalf (such as doctors, ministers, crematoriums, cemeteries etc)
A funeral director and necessary personnel to carry out the funeral in accordance with your instructions
A suitable vehicle, equipment and staff necessary to bring your loved one in to our care
Preparing the deceased according to your instructions
Laying the deceased to rest in their coffin
Providing quality care for your loved one until the day of the funeral
The use of our Chapel of Rest to visit your loved one

A coffin - from £490 Angle Down

Below are prices of some of our most commonly used coffins in order to give you an idea of the price range…

• Traditional veneer coffin in oak or mahogany – £490
• Traditional solid oak coffin – £965
• Natural English willow coffin – £790

To discover our full range of coffins, along with their prices, speak to a member of our team.

Additional Chargeable Services Angle Down

Each limousine – £175
Dressing your loved one in their own clothes or gown, including embalming (if required) – £190
Notices – £TBA
Order of service – £TBA

Funeral Packages

For families who want a simple low-fuss funeral, or would like a more affordable option,
our funeral packages may be the best choice.

	Limited Service Cremation	Direct Unattended Cremation	Direct Attended Cremation
	From £1,785 + third party disbursements*	From £850 + third party disbursements*	From £900 + third party disbursements*
Our professional fees
A funeral service
Collection of your loved one (not exceeding 30 running miles) during normal working hours
A choice of date for the burial
A basic coffin
A hearse / funeral vehicle
Up to 4 pall bearers
An officiant
Collection of charitable donations online
Newspaper notices
Order of service sheets
Collection of the ashes back to our premises, if required
Interment of the ashes
Chapel of rest visits		At an extra cost	At an extra cost

Chargeable optional extras:
Dressing your loved in their own clothes
Visiting your loved one in our Chapel of Rest

*Payments made to third parties that sit outside our funeral director fees, such as venue costs, cremation/burial fees, a celebrant, flowers.

FAQs

Where will my loved one be kept before the funeral takes place? Angle Down

Unlike many funeral directors, your loved one will stay with us at our premises on Old Road throughout their time with us. This allows us to provide the very best care for your loved one and means you can visit them in our Chapel of Rest whenever you wish.

Where will the cremation take place? Angle Down

There are many different locations for cremation and burial in the local region. We are very happy to make recommendations but will always be guided by your own wishes for a loved one’s funeral. The nearest crematoriums to Dillamore are in Bierton, Milton Keynes and Luton. If you choose a direct cremation or limited service cremation with Dillamore, this will take place at Bierton Crematorium.

Can I choose the date and time of the cremation? Angle Down

This will depend on the type of funeral you choose. For direct cremations, the funeral director and crematorium will choose the date and time of the cremation. For limited service cremations, a small number of options will be given to families to choose from. For bespoke funerals there is more flexibility, and you’ll be able to choose from a selection of days and times to hold the funeral service.

How long after the service will cremation take place? Angle Down

The majority of cremations take place within 24 hours of the funeral service; however it may take up to 72 hours for a loved one to be cremated. This is due to several reasons, including reducing the environmental impact of cremation or helping to lower costs.

Do I have to attend the committal? Angle Down

If the whole service is being held at the crematorium chapel, the committal would form part of the overall funeral service. For funerals taking place elsewhere, the family have the option whether to accompany a loved one to the crematorium, which may include a short committal service in the crematorium chapel.

Can I attend the crematorium if I choose a direct cremation? Angle Down

This depends on whether you choose an attended or unattended direct cremation. At an attended direct cremation, a small number of mourners can visit their loved one in the crematorium chapel for a maximum of ten minutes. At an unattended direct cremation, no mourners can be present.

How soon will I receive the ashes after the cremation? Angle Down

The ashes are usually ready for collection within 7 – 10 days of the cremation taking place. We are able to collect them and bring them back to our premises should you want us to and will hold on to them until you are ready to collect them.

What can I do with the ashes? Angle Down

There are many different things you can do with a loved one’s ashes, from scattering them in a favourite place, to burying them, keeping them at home or creating a memorial keepsake out of them. Read our blog post: 5 Options for Cremated Remains.

Ready to find out more?

We hope this has answered some of your questions regarding cremations. If you would like to find out more, please complete the form or give us a call, our team will be happy to help.