When someone dies, the world can feel like it suddenly speeds up, even though you may feel frozen in time. Shock and sadness are natural reactions in the early days. This is also often a time when families are asked to make decisions about venues, flowers, cars and music.
At Liberty Cremations, we believe you deserve a little emotional breathing space to consider costs, practicalities and what is best for you.
The Pressure After a Death
In the hours and days following a death, many families are exhausted. It is no surprise that families often feel rushed into decisions immediately after a death and may say afterwards, “I wish I had more time to think”.
Families are coping with a huge life event, and need support, care, and guidance. Not everyone wants a traditional funeral. At Liberty Cremations, we don’t believe you should be left with the impression that everything must be decided immediately.
What actually needs to happen first
There are a few practical steps that do need to happen after a death, and we will always guide families through these clearly and gently.
Many of the decisions that people worry about can wait.
For example:
- You don’t have to decide on a memorial service straightaway.
- You don’t have to know your loved one’s favourite songs
- You don’t have to know immediately how or when you want to say goodbye
Separating the practical from the personal
For many families, choosing a direct cremation provides breathing space.
It allows the necessary arrangements to be taken care of calmly and respectfully – without forcing emotional decisions during the early days of grief.
Families can then take their time to reflect on:
- What kind of remembrance feels meaningful
- Who they want to be involved in the remembrance
- Plan the event for when the time feels right
Some people choose a small gathering weeks later. Others hold a grand celebration of life months down the line. Some prefer something private, or no formal event at all. It is really up to you.
Giving yourself permission to pause
At the time of funeral planning, there can be a sense of worry around ‘not doing enough’, but many families have important concerns such as the cost of the funeral, and questions around who will attend the funeral, who will lead the funeral, and what exactly the person who has died may have wished for.
That is why we believe in providing choice, and just to reassure you, our direct cremation service follows many of the same steps as in traditional funeral planning. Whether you want a little more flexibility, the option to choose a more affordable funeral, or just have the time to plan a thoughtful and appropriate send off, we can help you by providing a respectful and caring direct cremation for your loved one, but local to you, so you have complete involvement in the funeral process.
You will need to take a small number of practical steps in the first few days such as registering a death and making arrangements for the care of the person who has died. These steps are important, but they don’t require you to have every detail worked out.
We keep in constant liaison with the you, guiding you through the days, with experience and care, and we understand that sometimes families can, and often do, change their minds.
What happens if I do change my mind?
Direct cremation offers freedom for many families and an opportunity to create their own moment of remembrance.
However, should a family decide that a more formal funeral service is preferred, there is the option to switch to this type of funeral. Being part of CPJ Field, a 300-year-old traditional family funeral director, we at Liberty Cremations have all options covered. We would be delighted to put you in touch with the right team to meet your requirements should that be a full funeral, burial, cremation or a simpler, unattended funeral.
Assisting you at all times
At Liberty Cremations, you can be assured of a caring service in which you will receive clear information, honest options and reassurance at a difficult time. For further information or just a chat, give us a call when suits you, and speak to one of our friendly, professional team of funeral arrangers.