If you're interested in preparing for the future, one of our Reading funeral plans may be ideal for you. A prepaid funeral plan lets you pay for a funeral in advance for yourself, a family member or a friend.
One of the benefits of getting a funeral plan is to protect yourself from rising funeral prices. Since 2004, in the southeast of England including the Reading area, funeral costs have more than doubled.* Pre-paying for a funeral plan also takes the organisational stress away from your family when the time comes.
As part of the Westerleigh group, we have 40 crematoriums across the UK where our prepayment funeral plans are fulfilled. So even if the person covered by the funeral plan moves out of the Reading area in future, their funeral will still go ahead exactly as planned, as long as they're still based somewhere in mainland UK.
* Based on the average cost of a funeral in the South East & East of England in 2004 (£2,109, SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2015) and in 2023 (£4,643, SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
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.
12.5 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.
At Distinct Cremations, our services allow you to have a funeral in two parts. Firstly, there is the cremation itself, which we take care of. We collect the deceased, carry out the cremation, and hand-deliver the ashes back making things as fuss and stress-free as possible for families. Secondly, there is the memorial service or celebration which the family organises. Loved ones can gather at a time and place of their choice to commemorate the deceased.
With our direct cremation, we allow families to say goodbye when they want, where they want and how they want. These are just some of the many places in Reading where you could consider having your memorial service.
A venue that's steeped in history can be a meaningful way to evoke memories and reflection. Reading is home to many historic locations like Reading Abbey ruins in the heart of the town.
Natural surroundings offer a peaceful and scenic way to remember a loved one. Forbury Gardens offer the opportunity to picnic on the beautifully maintained lawns.
You might like to choose a venue located conveniently nearby. Many pubs, restaurants and hotels like the Roseate Hotel will have private rooms to accommodate your celebration of life.
We offer the highest level of support, but don't just take our word for it. Below are recent reviews from customers who bought 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
When taking out one of our Reading funeral plans, it's completely understandable to want the security that your money is being looked after and the assurance that your funeral will go ahead. Distinct Funeral Plans Limited (DFPL) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). See our Keeping Your Money Safe page for full information about how we keep our funeral plans safe.
We offer two options for basic funeral plans in Reading. Our Unattended Direct Cremation Plan costs just £1,699 and provides a simple cremation that does not have any mourners present. Choosing this option allows your life to be celebrated in an alternative way without being limited by tradition. If you would prefer a more conventional funeral, our Intimate Cremation Plan is an attended cremation service and costs £2,099.
There are a number of different Reading funeral plans that could suit your personal funeral wishes. At Distinct Cremations, we specialise in simple, respectful low cost cremation funerals including direct cremation. Our Unattended Direct Cremation Plan is available for £1,699 for those who would like their cremation to be carried out without attendees. Our Intimate Cremation Plan is available for £2,099 and includes a 10 minute service for 8 mourners. Our Private Cremation Plan is available for £2,299 and includes a 20 minute service for 20 mourners. Lastly, our Simple Funeral Plan includes a full length celebrant-led cremation service with no restrictions on the number of attendees.
A direct cremation funeral plan lets you choose and pay for an unattended funeral ahead of time. Planning your own funeral protects your family from funeral costs and ensures your wishes are known for the type of funeral you'd like. If you know you'll be the one making funeral arrangements for someone else in future, you can take out a funeral plan for them for peace of mind.
When the time comes we'll carry out every part of the process and deliver the ashes to your family at no extra cost. Our funeral plans include cremation, fees, collection, care, return of the ashes and much more. For full details of what is and is not covered with our different funeral plan options, please read our price list and terms & conditions.
We offer a number of different ways to pay for our funeral plans in Reading. For those who prefer to pay in full, we offer the option to pay upfront in a single payment. Or if you would rather split the cost of the payments so you're not paying as much in one go, we also offer the flexibility of paying in monthly instalments over 1, 5 or 10 years.
Yes, it is possible to plan your own funeral and doing so has a number of benefits. With our Reading funeral plans, you can pay for your funeral in advance to relieve your family of the financial burden when the time comes. Funeral planning ahead of time also gives you and your family peace of mind about what will happen and leaves no uncertainty about your wishes. Once your funeral plan in Reading is set up the price is set so you are protected from any future rises in funeral costs.