Independent Burial Funerals
The majority of funerals are completed by funeral directors who
provide the coffin, hearse and following cars. This is often
referred to as the "package" funeral, and it is designed for people
who wish to leave everything to the funeral director. The funeral
director must cover his or her operating costs and a typical
funeral involving burial will cost about £3,500, including cemetery
fees. A memorial for the grave may add at least £800-1000 to this
charge.
You may not be aware that you can arrange burial (and cremation)
direct with Bereavement Services, and limit your use of a funeral
director or not use one at all. This enables you to control the
funeral and make it more personal and meaningful. If you do not use
a funeral director at all then you also ensure that no strangers
handle the body of the deceased. This approach will require you to
spend time making the arrangements, and where you do not use a
funeral director, you will need a vehicle to collect and transfer
the coffin, and people to act as bearers. If this type of funeral
appeals to you, then we have a leaflet called "Funeral Arrangements
Burial in Carlisle" to guide you through the procedure. We provide
all the forms necessary, although you will need to obtain a
certificate from the Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
If the death is reported to the Coroner, he or she will issue a
certificate instead of the Registrar.
Transporting the Deceased
Many people do not wish to collect the body of the deceased
themselves, or may lack a suitable vehicle. This part of the
funeral can be contracted out to a funeral director. Costs
can vary so it is worth shopping around.
Holding the Service
We have a burial chapel at Richardson Street cemetery for use
for a religious or secular funeral service. This is heated and
electronic music is included in the fee. An organ is available
although the organists fee will be an additional charge. A small
chapel is also available at Stanwix cemetery, at a cost. This is
heated and also has an organ available.
Funeral Costs
The estimated costs of the funeral using different grave
types are shown below:-
| Woodland grave burial |
Cost |
| Purchase of woodland burial grave (person over 18
years, for 50 year term) |
£357.60
|
| Interment fee, to prepare and backfill the grave |
£532.50 |
| Add minister or secular officiants fee @ approximately |
£120.00 |
| Add least expensive biodegradable coffin (approx) |
£200.00 |
| Add funeral director cost to transport coffin @ minimum |
£100.00 |
| Total for woodland burial grave |
£1310.10 |
| Traditional grave burial |
Cost |
| Purchase of traditional grave (person over 18 years, for
50 year term) |
£916.50 |
| Interment fee, to prepare and backfill the grave |
£532.50 |
| Add minister or secular officiants fee @ approximately |
£120.00 |
| Add least expensive biodegradable coffin (approx) |
£200.00 |
| Add funeral director cost to transport coffin @ minimum |
£100.00 |
| Total for traditional grave |
£1,869.00 |
| Recycled grave burial |
Cost |
| Interment fee, to prepare and backfill the grave |
£532.50 |
| Add minister or secular officiants fee @ approximately |
£120.00 |
| Add least expensive bio-degradable coffin (approx) |
£200.00 |
| Add funeral director cost to transport coffin @ minimum |
£100.00 |
| Total for recycled grave |
£952.50 |
As you do not purchase a recycled grave and make it 'private',
you cannot reserve space for further burials or place a memorial
upon the grave. The grave will be re-used in 75 -100 years. A
bio-degradable coffin is a requirement of this grave choice.
If the ceremony is conducted by a member of the family or a
friend, the ministers fee shown above will not apply. If you are
not a resident of the Carlisle District Council, an additional cost
will apply to the interment fee shown above. Flowers, funeral teas
and obituaries will increase the costs shown above. If you use a
coffin supplied by the funeral director or request cosmetic
treatment (embalming) or the use of their Chapel of Rest, then you
should confirm these costs before you proceed. Any memorial placed
on the grave will be an additional cost.
Overnight Chapel
The deceased's body can be retained in our overnight chapel.
This is a small room near the entrance to the crematorium, which
you can also use for viewing. In addition, we also have a
refrigerated unit at the crematorium for retaining bodies. The
deceased can be retained for any period leading up to the funeral,
should you not wish to keep the deceased's body at the mortuary or
at home. With a burial, of course, it is necessary to convey the
coffin from the crematorium to the grave at the time of the
funeral. This will require a vehicle and bearers a short time
before the funeral is due at the grave side or burial chapel.
The fee for this service is:-
- Up to 24 hours £14.00
- Up to 48 hours £27.00
- Up to 72 hours £40.50
Keeping the Deceased at Home
Generally, those who arrange funerals independently leave the
deceased's body at the mortuary until the day of the funeral. If
you prefer to keep the deceased's body at home, we have a leaflet
to advise you about this. Please contact us for a
copy.