Hi all, as Mum has been getting worse lately with all sorts of health problems my thoughts have been racing ahead to what will happen. I've always been one of those people who like to "have a plan" so I guess it's probably a coping strategy to try and plan for grief if you like. Anyway, my question is, does anyone have any experience of abandoning a normal funeral and instead having a direct cremation which is basically where the funeral director handles the cremation and the ashes are returned to the family for them to do what they choose to mark the death. I sort of quite like the idea since I tend to believe that the person's spirit leaves the (failing) body when they die, so mourning the physical remains seems slightly odd I think. I would also very much like to celebrate Mum's life with people who knew her at different parts of her life in ways which are appropriate to how she knew them. Sort of close and intimate with family, but maybe with a meal out for people she liked to socialise with. I just wonder though if it will seem odd to people to not have a funeral as such....and do you guys think that matters? Any thoughts most welcome.