Thank you for that. You knew what your wife wanted, and what you and your family wanted for your wife, And that is the way it should be. I wish I had asked my mother years ago what she wanted - the time not to ask when it is their time. She thought she had hers paid for, unfortunately she didn't. That was not a problem. I have learnt. Mine is planned and paid for.When my dear wife to whom I married in 1975 died in November 2021, the Co-op Gold Plan covered all things that made it a notable occasion for people she had known over her lifetime to attend and pay their wishes. The church where the funeral service was held was packed to capacity with people from all areas of the country and the interment took place in the newly-dug family grave, which the Co-op and my twin sons were involved with, as a new grave cannot be now actioned until time of first bereavement. The celebration of her life was held, like our Wedding Breakfast in 1975, in a large Victorian building of note surrounded by well-tended parkland, which all of us thought was the best send-off to give her.
My concern is that those of advancing years may be persuaded to opt for a Direct Cremation because of the cost. Funerals are a sensitive area and I believe those advertising funerals (of any type) need to be particularly careful about how they promote them, whether that is including all the mandatory costs in advertising, indicating what is not included in the product and not trying to sell 'extras'.