Our direct cremation services are ideal if you're looking for a simple cremation in Reading. Choosing a low-cost cremation without a funeral gives you the freedom to respectfully mark the occasion in your own unique and individual way.
Our West Berkshire crematorium is located just 12.5 miles from Reading city centre. Our no-fuss cremations prioritise care and respect just the same as traditional funerals but in a much more cost-effective way.
Our caring and compassionate team are on hand to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have any questions at all about direct cremation, please call 01543212000.
We’re here for you whether you are looking for our direct cremation services today or planning for tomorrow.
Find our services below or alternatively you can view our price list or our CMA standardised price list.
Whether your loved one has died or is close to passing, our team is available 24/7 to support and talk you through the next steps; from collection and care of your loved one, completion of all paperwork, to the day of the funeral itself.
Relax knowing that the arrangements are agreed and paid for. There are no medical questions and acceptance is guaranteed. You can also pay in monthly instalments.
** Price advertised is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £2,332.80 and includes administration fees.
Increasingly, people are choosing an unattended funeral, otherwise known as a direct cremation, instead of a more elaborate service.
This cremation only funeral option allows for a more flexible and personal remembrance. The steps below let you know what to expect from our service.
We're here for you 24/7. You can call us on 01543 212000 before a passing to give you and your loved ones time to prepare or you can call us when the time comes. All we need from you is some basic information to get things moving.
Read moreOur caring team will collect the deceased from anywhere in the UK mainland, whether your loved one is at home, in a care home or at a hospital. The deceased will then be taken to our professional mortuary facilities before cremation.
Read moreWe will prepare your loved one for cremation, bathe them, remove any artificial items and dress your loved one upon request. We will then lay them to rest in the coffin, transport them to the crematorium and we will inform you of the date of cremation.
Read moreThe cremation will take place at one of our 40 crematoriums in the UK. The body is taken through the front door, rested on the catafalque while a song of your choice is played or a moment of silence is respected, then the cremation takes place.
Read moreThe ashes will be hand-delivered back to you within 14 days or scattered in the garden of remembrance upon request. You may then like to arrange a memorial service or celebration of life to commemorate the life of your loved one.
Read more12.5 miles from Reading
West Berkshire Crematorium Bath Road, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 4LD
If you are interested in a personal, intimate, attended cremation to celebrate the life of a loved one, this can take place at our beautiful crematorium just outside Reading. Up to 8 people can attend a 10 minute service from just £1,599 or 20 people can attend a 20 minute service from just £1,749.
Set in 10-acres of picturesque countryside, West Berkshire Crematorium works in harmony with the rural backdrop thanks to its Newbury red brick design that resembles a country house and a light, open chapel, which features a natural wood and stone finish. As the largest purpose-built chapel in the county, it also offers a digital music system to cater for any request allowing you to create a truly personal service.
Our Reading funeral services are also available to all those in the surrounding areas and across mainland UK. Wherever you are, you can feel reassured that your loved ones will be professionally and compassionately looked after.
There are many meaningful locations in and around Reading for scattering ashes once they have been hand-delivered back.
However, please note before you do so that you must gain permission from the landowner or local authority first.
Scattering ashes over water is a popular choice. Both of Reading's rivers, the River Thames and the River Kennet, are beautiful and peaceful locations for scattering.
With permission, you can scatter ashes in a park. You may like to consider Bug's Bottom with its Reading views or the nearby National Trust property Basildon Park.
Locations that have sentimental value, like Reading football stadium for Royals supporters or the quad of the University of Reading for alumni, are also worth thinking about.
With a direct cremation, you have the freedom to arrange a personal memorial service of your choosing in your own time. Places in and around Reading that may be suited to your memorial service include church halls, village or town halls, sports or social clubs, pubs, restaurants and hotels.
Located in the heart of Reading town centre just a 2 minute walk from the station, Reading Town Hall accommodates events in the museum gallery, concert hall or period assembly room.
Surrounded by the scenic views of Prospect Park, The Mansion House is now a Harvester restaurant with three function rooms as well as catering, bar facilities and parking.
Situated on the outskirts of Reading, De Vere Wokefield Estate offers the convenience of fast rail and road links, hotel rooms for guest accommodation and a choice of 39 meeting rooms.
Below are a selection of reviews from those who followed their instinct with Distinct and chose to buy a funeral with us.
Distinct Cremations leave out the funeral fuss and needless extras but leave in great service and a wonderfully caring attitude. That’s why my instinct is Distinct.
Sue Cook, TV Presenter
Not only are our funerals carried out with love and care, but we also offer one of the UK’s best value services.
From your very first phone call, right through to the hand delivery of the ashes, you can rest assured that you will be in the most caring and attentive hands with Distinct Cremations
Our caring team are here 24/7 to support you through the most difficult of times
Rhiannon Pearson
Team Leader
At Distinct Cremations we offer an alternative to a traditional funeral director. Our Reading direct cremation services can be arranged entirely from the comfort of your own home. Our empathetic and respectful team can support you in arranging a direct cremation over the phone and help you fill out all necessary paperwork.
Unlike a traditional funeral, a direct cremation is simple, fuss free and low cost. As a direct cremation is an unattended funeral service your family and friends can come together at a different time in a more personal and meaningful place to share memories of your loved one and pay their respects.
If you would like to arrange a direct cremation in Reading for yourself in the future or you know you will be responsible for planning someone else's funeral, you can also arrange a direct cremation in advance with a direct cremation funeral plan. As well as providing direct cremation services at the time of need, we also offer the option to set up a Unattended Direct Cremation Plan.
A Reading direct cremation is an unattended cremation without a conventional funeral service. Choosing a direct cremation funeral gives you the freedom to hold a celebration of your loved one's life at a place which has personal significance and takes away the time pressure so you can plan a memorial in exactly the way you would like.
Some alternatives to a traditional funeral are taking a walk to scatter ashes, having a family meal, holding an event at home or at a local venue or something to reflect your loved one's unique hobbies and interests.
Choosing a direct cremation in Reading has a number of benefits. A direct cremation is an unattended funeral service. It is the most affordable funeral option and keeps planning the funeral simple. With a direct cremation you are free from traditional obligations, allowing your family to remember your loved one in a way that best represents them and their life.
Our friendly and experienced team can help you arrange a direct cremation in Reading. We will support you through each stage of the process to help alleviate the stress of planning a funeral. To find out more information about our Reading direct cremation services, give us a call on 01543 212000. Our lines are open 24/7.