Cremation
Why choose a cremation?
Locally to us in Stroud we have three crematoria: Gloucester, Cheltenham and Westerleigh. The duration of service times differ slightly, as do prices.
For a cremation to take place, certain paperwork needs to be completed which we will do with you. Unless the death has been referred to a coroner, there will be a fee of £82 to pay to the attending doctor for the paperwork they complete.
Usually, the family have a civil celebrant or a minister to lead the service with family members or friends stepping in to read a poem or a tribute or eulogy. Sometimes a family member may lead the service, or the family might know someone who can do this.
Music often forms an important part of the ceremony and tracks are booked onto the crematorium’s music system – no more potentially unreliable CDs. There is the option to have an organist play. Friends or family can also perform live music.
Westerleigh and Gloucester have onsite facilities for food and drink after the funeral service has taken place. They are happy for families to bring pictures etc to display in the room. For other venue suggestions, click here.
At our local crematoria, the coffin doesn’t go anywhere until after everyone has left the chapel. It will then pass through to the cremation area behind the catafalque for cremation.
The curtains can be closed as part of the ceremony, or they can stay open, allowing family a final moment with the coffin before leaving the chapel. Some crematoria offer the option of a voile, a thin transparent curtain. This gives the feeling of ‘closure’ and means the coffin doesn’t disappear from view.
