I took a couple of days off recently and decided to have a lazy morning. I turned the TV on and was actually shocked at the amount of advertising there was for direct cremations. For someone who is a professional in the funeral industry I was flabbergasted at the blatant simplification of the grieving process. I realise that we offer this option, and have done for many years but it is done so with the acceptance of grief and not to avoid it and therefore you will receive support before, during and after the process of entering into a direct cremation.
Grief is the price we pay when we love someone and we have to be allowed to grieve, we need to feel it deeply, we need to go through grief to enable us to come out the other side without the weight of constantly mourning. This is something that cannot be bypassed, underestimated or ignored. Yes you can avoid it but it will always be there in you, not healed, just raw and as it was in the beginning. They don’t tell you that on TV. So I thought I would drop a short video for anyone thinking of “Not having a fuss”
While direct cremation can be a valid choice for some, the way it is advertised on television can have significant implications for how individuals and families experience and express grief. It is essential for such advertising to approach the topic sensitively, recognising the emotional complexities surrounding death and mourning, and to support individuals in making choices that truly reflect their needs and values during these difficult times.
Remember, funerals are for the living.
