Our Funeral Services
Cremations
We carry out many different types of cremation services, including unattended cremations (Direct Cremation), in-house ceremonies, commital services following a funeral church, and full services in the Crematorium chapel.
The Cremation Service
The cremation service itself can take many forms depending on your religious views, family tradition and the wishes of the deceased. Some families choose to first hold a funeral service in a church to celebrate the life of their loved one with family and friends. This might be followed by a short cremation service at a local crematorium, attended by a small party of close family members, or followed by an unattended cremation. Sometimes the cremation service takes place first, followed by a service of thanksgiving in church.
Often families prefer to hold the full funeral service at the crematorium so all proceedings take place together, at the same time. Cheltenham Crematorium Gloucester Crematorium Vale Crematorium all have chapels that are light and airy and can comfortably hold large numbers of people. These purpose-built rooms are equipped with modern technology to enable video streaming, music and slideshows.
We also arrange unattended cremations (known as a Direct Cremation) and can offer an intimate space for family and friends to say their goodbyes at our Tewkesbury Chapel of Rest as part of our In-House Ceremony service.
Whatever your wishes, we can help to arrange a cremation service that is tailored to the needs of your family.
After the cremation
After the cremation has taken place, we will arrange for the ashes of the deceased to be delivered to you or collected by you from your local Alexander Burn office. We can then advise you on the next steps. We will look after the ashes until you are ready to take this step.
Some families choose to scatter the ashes at a location that is meaningful to them or the deceased. Others prefer to mark the occasion with an interment service some time after the cremation has taken place. In this short service of remembrance, the ashes are buried, usually within a family plot, and the site marked with a memorial plaque. There are many options for ashes and we can guide you through them all.
Find out more
Frequently Asked Questions
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A cremation can work out more cost-effective than a burial as there are fewer associated costs but an unattended cremation is perhaps the most cost-effective funeral; take a look at our Direct Cremation page for prices. Or, take a look at our new In-House Ceremony that offers the convenience and cost-effectiveness of a Direct Cremation but also gives you the chance to say your goodbyes in a personal and intimate venue.
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Where you scatter the ashes after a cremation is largely down to personal choice. Some people choose to scatter ashes in the Garden of Remembrance that are often found at the crematorium, while others follow the funeral service with an interment some weeks later. Or you might prefer to scatter the ashes at a location that was close to your family and your loved one. Whatever you decide, it is important that you don’t rush into a decision.
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A cremation can be considered to be an eco-friendly type of funeral as there is no burial, which means less impact on the environment. However, there are other environmental costs associated with cremations which you might consider, such as whether the crematorium uses green energy in its proceedings.
