What is a direct cremation?
Often called a 'no-fuss funeral', direct cremation is an alternative to a traditional funeral, where a cremation takes place at a crematorium without any mourners present.
A ceremony or celebration of life can then be held separately, if you choose to do so.
The ashes are then returned to the family, or can be scattered by our team.
What are your business hours?
If you require immediate assistance to arrange a cremation, please call 01245 202221 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you would like to contact us about funeral plans, general enquiries or anything else, please contact us Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
What is included in a direct cremation?
An EDC direct cremation includes collection from an Essex hospital, completion of all of the paperwork, the care and preparation of your loved one, the cremation fee, a wood effect coffin, and a standard ashes container.
Additionally, EDC also include one piece of music of your choice to be played during the committal, hand delivery of the ashes, a silk tribute on top of the coffin, a photo of the committal and a tree planted in their memory.
Can I attend the committal?
No mourners are permitted to be present for the committal in our direct cremation service, however if you are looking for an attended direct cremation, or a full service, please head to our funeral home website here: www.securehaven.co.uk
Which crematorium will my loved one be taken to?
At EDC we are environmentally-friendly, as we only use crematoria within 40 miles of our funeral home in Chelmsford, so you can rest assured that it will be local and that we do not travel long distances.
Will I be notified of the date and time of the committal?
Our team will notify you once the cremation has been booked, so that you can take a moment to light a candle or pause and reflect at the same time. If you would prefer to not be notified, please let us know and we will only notify you once the ashes are returned to us.
I have already instructed another funeral director; can I still use you?
Yes, you have the right to change funeral director or service provider, even if your loved one is already in their care. Simply let them know that you would like us to take over and ask them what their charge will be for the care they have given so far. This can be added to your total amount with us, so you only have to pay one bill. We will then transfer your loved one into our care and take care of the details for you.
Do you offer pre-paid funeral plans?
Yes, for all information about the plans we offer, please head to our ‘Pre-Paid Plans’ page.
Which type of coffin will my loved one be cremated in?
At EDC, we provide a simple and dignified wood effect coffin.
Is the coffin cremated with my loved one?
Yes. Once your loved one is safely placed into their coffin, they are kept together and will not be removed for the cremation. The coffins are only used once, and are never reused.
What will I receive the ashes in?
We deliver the ashes to you in the box provided by the crematorium, which is a plain and rigid cardboard box. We have lots of urns and keepsakes, including biodegradable options, which you can choose for an additional fee. To see these, please go to our 'Memorial Options' page.
Do you offer urns, keepsakes and jewellery for the ashes?
We deliver the ashes to you in the box provided by the crematorium, which is a plain and rigid cardboard box. We have lots of urns and keepsakes, including biodegradable options, which you can choose for an additional fee. To see these, please go to our 'Memorial Options' page.
What are the terms of payment for a cremation needed now?
Looking after your family comes first. If your loved one passes away at home, in a care home or hospice, we do not require any money before we bring them into our care. However, we do require full payment before booking the cremation. For collections from an Essex hospital, we ask for full payment before bringing your loved one into our care.
How can we make payment?
Payment can be made via direct bank transfer, over the phone, by card payment, cash or cheque. Please contact us for more information.
What additional charges are there?
Although our price of £950 is inclusive, there may be some additional costs depending on the circumstances. These are listed below:
- Doctor’s Certificate Fee - £82 (please note, if your loved one is under the care of the coroner then this is waived)
- Non-Hospital Removal in Essex - £250
- Hospital Removal outside of Essex - £2 per mile
- Non-Hospital Removal outside of Essex - £250 plus £2 per mile
- Alternate Ashes Container – prices vary
- Please inform us if your loved one is heavier than 17 stone or over 6’6″ in height as we will need to provide extra staff for safe and dignified transfer into our care. An additional fee of £390 will be applied for a specially-ordered coffin and additional bearing staff.