If you’re looking into direct cremation, you probably have a lot of questions. We’ve answered the ones families ask us most often – in simple language and without jargon.
If you’d rather speak to someone, our local Swindon team is here to help.
Call us today on 01793 316900
If someone has died at home, contact the GP surgery or the appropriate medical professional so the death can be confirmed. If the death happens in hospital or a care home, the staff will guide you through the next steps.
Once that has happened, you can call Fond Farewell on 01793 316900 and we will explain what happens next in a calm, straightforward way.
You can call us as soon as you need us. Some families contact us immediately after a death has been confirmed, while others call once they have had a moment to gather themselves. There is no wrong time. We will guide you from there.
No. One of the reasons many families choose direct cremation is because it removes pressure at a difficult time. We will help you with the essential arrangements for the cremation first, then you can decide later if and how you would like to mark the person’s life.
That is completely normal. We keep things simple and talk you through each step clearly. You do not need to know all the answers before you call us.
Direct cremation is a simple cremation without a formal funeral service at the crematorium. There is no procession, no ceremony and no mourners present at the cremation itself. It gives families the freedom to say goodbye in their own way, at a different time and place.
A traditional funeral usually includes a hearse, a formal service, mourners attending the crematorium or church, and more structured arrangements on a set day and time. A simple formal funeral in Swindon costs around £3,500.
Direct cremation removes those traditional elements, which makes it simpler, more flexible and significantly more affordable.
Absolutely. Choosing a simpler funeral does not mean choosing less care or less dignity. At Fond Farewell Cremations, we provide the same professional standards of care as a traditional funeral – just without the ceremony.
Families often choose direct cremation because they want something simpler, more affordable, less formal, or more personal. Many people feel that traditional funeral rituals no longer reflect how they want to say goodbye. Direct cremation gives them the freedom to celebrate a life in their own way.
Not always. Some families want the structure and shared experience of a traditional funeral service. Others prefer the flexibility of arranging a separate memorial or celebration of life in their own time. The right choice depends on the person and the family.
We arrange a simple, respectful cremation with local care throughout. We bring the person into our care at our private, secure funeral home in Swindon. We guide you through the necessary paperwork, carry out the cremation at Kingsdown Crematorium, and then return the ashes to you — usually within a week or sooner.
We will explain the next steps, answer your questions, and guide you through the arrangements. We will also help with the paperwork and keep you updated so you know exactly what is happening at every stage.
Yes. Your loved one is cared for in our private, secure facility right here in Swindon. Local care is a key part of what we do. We believe you should always know who is caring for your loved one and where they are.
With Fond Farewell Cremations, all cremations take place at Kingsdown Crematorium in Swindon. Your loved one stays local throughout.
You will be dealing with our local Swindon-based team – not a remote call centre. That means clearer communication, more reassurance and a more personal experience throughout.
Our direct cremation at £1,945 includes bringing the person into our care, completing the necessary arrangements, carrying out the cremation at Kingsdown Crematorium, and returning the ashes to you. It is designed to cover everything that is needed without adding services you may not want.
For families who would like a small number of people to attend the crematorium before the cremation, we offer an Intimate Cremation at £2,780. This gives you a moment of quiet togetherness without the formality of a traditional funeral service.
No. Direct cremation does not include a formal service or mourners attending the crematorium. If you would like a ceremony, memorial or celebration of life, that can be arranged separately — memorial services start from £500.
No. A direct cremation is a simple service and does not include the ceremonial elements that are usually part of a traditional funeral.
No. Those are part of more traditional funeral arrangements. Many families who opt for a direct cremation choose to put their time and budget into a separate memorial or celebration of life instead.
An unattended direct cremation costs £1,945. An Intimate Cremation, where a small number of people can attend the crematorium, costs £2,780. Memorial services after the cremation start from £500. All pricing is clear and transparent.
It is more affordable because it removes the formal ceremony and many of the traditional funeral elements, such as procession vehicles, service arrangements and attendance at the crematorium. A simple formal funeral in Swindon costs around £3,500 – direct cremation with Fond Farewell Cremations costs £1,945.
No. We believe pricing should be clear, straightforward and easy to understand before you make any decisions. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Yes. Pre-paid direct cremation funeral plans are available through Fond Farewell Cremations. This can help you put arrangements in place early, lock in today’s pricing, and reduce uncertainty for your family later on. Call us on 01793 316900 to find out more.
Yes. In most cases, direct cremation costs significantly less. Our direct cremation at £1,945 is around £1,555 less than the average cost of a simple formal attended funeral in Swindon.
This depends on the paperwork and the circumstances of the death, but because direct cremation does not require organising a formal funeral service, arrangements can often be simpler and quicker than with a traditional funeral. We will always guide you through the timescale clearly.
Ashes are usually returned within a week or sooner after the cremation. We will keep you updated so you know exactly when to expect them.
You can collect the ashes, have them scattered at the Garden of Remembrance, or choose from a range of urns and memorial keepsakes. We will explain all the options clearly.
With direct cremation, families do not attend the cremation itself, so it is not arranged like a traditional funeral service with a fixed public time. If timing matters to you, we can talk you through the options.
There is some essential paperwork involved in every cremation. We will explain what is needed and help you through it in plain English – no jargon, no confusion.
You can have the ashes returned to you, have them scattered at the Garden of Remembrance, or choose from a range of urns, ashes jewellery and memorial keepsakes. We will explain the choices clearly so you can decide what feels right.
Yes. In fact, many families choose direct cremation specifically because it gives them more freedom to hold a personal memorial later, in a place and style that truly reflects the person. We can arrange a memorial service for you, prices start from £500 and can include scattering or interment of ashes.
Yes. Kingshill House is our funeral home and we can help you arrange a memorial service or celebration of life there. It is a welcoming, personal space – very different from a formal crematorium setting.
No. One of the benefits of direct cremation is that it gives you time. You can make the essential arrangements for the cremation first and decide later how you want to remember and celebrate the person’s life.
Yes. Ongoing support is an important part of what makes Fond Farewell different. We can help with memorial ideas, venue arrangements, ashes jewellery and keepsakes, and guide you through the options at your own pace.
Yes. Fond Farewell Cremations is a specialist local funeral business serving Swindon and Wiltshire. We are the modern, low-cost brand of Hillier Funeral Service, which has been caring for local families for over 100 years. Our base is at The Broadway, Whitworth Road, Swindon, SN25 3BL
For many families, local care means more trust, clearer communication and greater peace of mind. It means your loved one stays in Swindon throughout, cared for by people who know the area and are close by if you need support.
Yes. Your loved one is cared for in our private, secure facility in Swindon, and the cremation takes place at Kingsdown Crematorium. They stay local throughout.
Yes. We do not see our role as ending the moment the ashes are returned. We can help with memorial planning, ashes jewellery and keepsakes, and signpost you to local grief support services.
Fond Farewell Cremations is a trading name of Hillier Funeral Service Limited, a family-run funeral company with over 100 years of local heritage in Swindon. Fond Farewell was created to offer a modern, affordable direct cremation service with the same standards of local care.
Yes. Professional, respectful care is at the heart of everything we do. Choosing a simpler funeral does not mean compromising on dignity. We provide the same high standards of care as with a traditional funeral.
In our private, secure facility right here in Swindon. You will always know where your loved one is.
This depends on the arrangements and what has been agreed. We can explain the options clearly when you speak to us.
Any belongings in our care are handled respectfully and returned according to the arrangements made.
We have a chapel of rest where families can spend time with the person who has died before the cremation takes place. This is an additional option, and can be an important part of saying goodbye for some families.
No. You can contact us before everything is fully in place. We will explain what is needed and at what stage.
Yes. We know this part can feel daunting, so we guide families through the required forms and next steps as simply as possible. No jargon, no confusion.
Yes. Direct cremation follows the same legal and professional requirements as any other cremation. It is simply a different type of funeral arrangement.
If the coroner is involved, the process may take a little longer depending on the circumstances. We will explain what that means and keep you informed throughout.
No. It is simply a different approach. The main difference is that the ceremony happens separately – or not at all – rather than at the crematorium on the day. The care and dignity remain the same.
For many families, the main benefits are lower cost, less pressure, more flexibility and the freedom to create a more personal memorial later. It removes the “must-dos” of tradition and lets you do things your way.
Some families value the shared moment of gathering together on a set day. If that feels important to you, you may want to consider our Intimate Cremation option at £2,780, or plan a separate memorial service.
Yes. In many cases it feels more personal, because families can create a goodbye that truly reflects the person – rather than following a formal template that may not feel right.
Fond Farewell Cremations combines the affordability of direct cremation with genuine local care and personal support. Your loved one stays in Swindon throughout, cared for by a local team you can speak to directly.
National providers, such as Pure Cremation and Simplicity Cremations who you may see advertising on TV, often collect the deceased and transport them hundreds of miles to large mortuary facilities for a far-away cremation, with the ashes delivered back afterwards.
Many families feel more reassured when they know exactly who is caring for their loved one, where they are being cared for, and who to contact if they need help. A local provider offers a more personal, grounded experience – not a distant transaction.
Not always. Many national providers see their role as ending once the ashes are delivered. Fond Farewell Cremations offers ongoing support including the option to arrange a memorial ceremony, ashes jewellery and keepsakes, and local grief signposting. We are here for the next chapter, not just the cremation.
No. While affordability matters, many families choose Fond Farewell Cremations because they want simplicity, flexibility and local care – not just a lower price. It is about doing things differently, not just doing things cheaply.
Not necessarily. The “big TV brands” such as Pure Cremation and Simplicity Cremations, have large marketing budgets, but that does not mean a better experience for your family. Fond Farewell Cremations offers the same simplicity and affordability as national firms, but with the added reassurance of local support. We offer location cremation, care from a local team, local grief signposting and ongoing assistance that national companies are unable to match.
Both services offer direct cremation, but the experience is very different. Pure Cremation collects the deceased, cremates them at a facility that is far from Swindon, and delivers the ashes back many weeks later. The service ends there.
Fond Farewell Cremations keeps everything local – your loved one is cared for in Swindon, cremated at Kingsdown Crematorium, Swindon, and our support continues well beyond the return of the ashes.
Families may prefer Fond Farewell Cremations if they want to know exactly where their loved one is at all times, speak directly to a local team rather than a call centre, and have access to ongoing support including memorial planning, ashes jewellery and keepsakes, and local grief signposting.
Pure Cremation’s service typically ends at the delivery of ashes. Fond Farewell Cremations begins the next chapter. We can help you plan a memorial service, choose from a range of ashes keepsakes and jewellery, and connect you with local grief support.
With national providers like Pure Cremation, the deceased will be transported a significant distance for cremation. With Fond Farewell Cremations, your loved one stays in Swindon throughout – cared for locally, cremated locally.
No. Fond Farewell Cremations was created to offer something genuinely different: a modern, affordable direct cremation service with real local care, real local people and ongoing support for families in Swindon and Wiltshire.
We are the specialist low-cost brand of Hillier Funeral Service, with over 100 years of local heritage behind us. Rather than replicating a national model, we built Fond Farewell around the things national providers cannot offer – proximity, personal relationships and continuity of care long after the cremation.
Yes. Pre-paid direct cremation funeral plans are available through Fond Farewell Cremations. Planning ahead can give you clarity, peace of mind and the reassurance that your wishes are understood – and it secures the funeral services in your plan at today’s pricing for your family.
Some people want to reduce stress for their family, make their preferences clear, or pay for their direct cremation in advance. Others simply feel better knowing that everything is taken care of.
Yes. If you are considering a direct cremation and are exploring options, we can explain things clearly and honestly so you can decide in your own time. Call us on 01793 316900.
No. More people of all ages are planning ahead because they want simplicity, clarity and control over how they are remembered. Anyone over the age of 18 can take out a guaranteed pre-paid direct cremation plan.
Fond Farewell Cremations continues to support families after the cremation. We can help with arranging a memorial after a direct cremation, guide you through ashes options including jewellery and keepsakes, and signpost you to local grief support services.
That is very common. We can help you think through the next steps at your own pace – whether that means choosing what to do with the ashes, planning a memorial, or simply understanding your options.
Yes. Families often think of questions after the immediate arrangements are over. We are here to help whenever you need us.
If you can’t find the answer you need, speak to our local team. We’ll explain everything clearly and help you understand your options – without pressure.
