03/10/2026
Here's the irony. We are constantly besieged on television by commercials from 'funeral' companies, meaning that if you use them and not the traditional methods, you will somehow magically save a fortune. Some of these ads have been reported and pulled by the advertising watchdog for being misleading. How do you think that these companies save money? First, your loved one is collected in a van, (yes a van) and I can assure you, they will not be the only deceased occupant (up to four at a time). Secondly, they are taken to a warehouse facility to be stored. Literally a warehouse hub. Thirdly, they are cremated in the company's crematoriums, which run non-stop, 24 hours a day. These locations are guaranteed to be nowhere near where you or your family members live. If you have no deep feelings for whoever has passed, then this might be absolutely fine for you. I get that. It is entirely a personal choice. But if you are mourning the loss of a loved one, then please be aware of the actual process that these companies that advertise employ. What these television advertisements do not convey is that if you go to your local, preferably family-run, firm of funeral directors, they will, in all probability, be even less expensive and offer a far better, fully-bespoke service. I'd be more than happy to recommend firms that I have worked with who are absolutely excellent. And no, I am not on commission!
The best summation of all of this came from a funeral director that I work with regularly, who said so succinctly to me, "We are in the funeral business, not the disposal business".
And that's the bottom line, because Stone Cold says so.