Attended funeral
Traditional Funeral
A complete funeral with an attended ceremony, hearse and funeral team, followed by burial or cremation.
- Religious or non-religious ceremony
- Hearse and funeral team
- Burial or cremation
Funeral services in Heathfield
Personal funeral choices, explained with care and without pressure
Every family and every person is different. We will help you understand the available funeral options and arrange a service that reflects the life, beliefs and wishes of the person who has died.
- Independent family funeral directors
- Religious and non-religious funerals
- Burial, cremation and simpler alternatives
Our family, helping your family
Replace with an authentic Wealden Funeral Services team photograph.
Independent
Family-owned in Heathfield
Available 24 hours
Immediate help when someone dies
NAFD accredited
Recognised professional standards
Clear estimates
Choices and costs explained
Choosing a funeral
There is no single right way to say goodbye
Some families want a traditional funeral with a procession, hearse and attended ceremony. Others prefer a simpler service, a private farewell before cremation, or an unattended direct cremation followed by a memorial gathering at another time.
The choice may be guided by the wishes of the person who has died, religious beliefs, family traditions, practical circumstances and budget. You do not need to understand every option before contacting us.
We will listen first, explain what is possible and help you make decisions at a manageable pace. Our role is to guide you, not to persuade you towards a particular type of funeral.
Our funeral options
Services that can be adapted around the person and family
The descriptions below provide a starting point. Most funerals can be personalised, simplified or combined with other choices.
Simpler attended option
Simple Funeral
A dignified attended funeral with fewer additional elements, designed for families who want simplicity without losing the opportunity to gather.
- An attended ceremony
- Clear core arrangements
- Fewer optional additions
A distinctive Wealden option
Private farewell
Attended Direct Cremation
A private service for a small number of people in our chapel before the person is taken for an unattended cremation.
- Private chapel service
- Up to 15 people
- Simple cremation afterwards
No attended ceremony
Direct Cremation
An unattended cremation without a funeral ceremony at the crematorium, provided through our specialist sister brand, Sussex Direct Cremation.
- No mourners at the crematorium
- Local family funeral care
- Memorial gathering can follow later
Burial
Burial Funeral
A funeral followed by burial in a churchyard, cemetery, natural burial ground or another permitted resting place.
- New or existing graves
- Churchyard and cemetery arrangements
- Memorial guidance
Cremation
Cremation Funeral
An attended funeral ceremony at a crematorium chapel or another venue, followed by cremation and your chosen arrangements for the ashes.
- Attended ceremony
- Choice of officiant and content
- Guidance about ashes
A funeral can reflect a whole life
Use authentic, sensitively photographed personal details.
Making the funeral personal
Meaning comes from the details that feel right
Personalisation does not need to be elaborate. A favourite piece of music, a route past the family home, photographs, flowers from a garden or a simple family tribute can make the ceremony feel deeply personal.
We can help you consider:
- Music, hymns, readings, prayers and poetry
- Family tributes and contributions from friends
- Flowers, charitable donations and meaningful objects
- Printed orders of service and photographic tributes
- Coffin choices and personal decoration
- Special routes, venues and styles of transport
We will also tell you when an idea may be difficult or unnecessary and help find a practical alternative.
Faith, belief and personal values
Religious, non-religious and blended funeral ceremonies
A funeral may follow the traditions of a particular faith, focus entirely on the person's life, or combine personal memories with selected prayers, hymns or spiritual elements.
We regularly work with local clergy, civil celebrants, humanist celebrants and other ceremony leaders. Where the family already has a connection with a minister or place of worship, we will coordinate directly with them.
Religious funeral
Arranged in accordance with the relevant faith and traditions.
Non-religious funeral
Centred on the person's life, relationships and memories.
Blended ceremony
Personal content combined with selected religious or spiritual elements.
Comparing the main choices
The most important difference is whether and how people gather
| Funeral option | Attended ceremony | Hearse and procession | Burial or cremation | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional funeral | Yes | Usually | Either | Families wanting a complete, flexible funeral ceremony |
| Simple funeral | Yes | May be limited | Either | Families wanting an attended funeral with fewer additions |
| Attended direct cremation | Private chapel farewell | No formal procession | Cremation | Small families wanting a private goodbye before cremation |
| Direct cremation | No | No | Cremation | Families who do not want a conventional funeral ceremony |
This is a general comparison. We will explain the exact arrangements, inclusions and limitations of each service before you decide.
Understanding funeral costs
We explain what is included and what each choice adds
Funeral costs vary according to the type of service, burial or cremation fees, coffin, vehicles, venue, officiant and any personal additions.
We provide a written estimate that separates our professional charges from third-party costs and optional items.
Time to listen and explain
Use the real family team and the Heathfield arrangement room.
Why families choose Wealden
You will deal with a local family team who remain involved throughout
Wealden Funeral Services is an independent family funeral director based in Heathfield. The people who answer your call, meet with you and make the arrangements are part of the same local team responsible for conducting the funeral.
Personal continuity
You are not passed through a distant call centre or an anonymous chain of departments.
Local knowledge
We work with local churches, crematoria, cemeteries, celebrants and other service providers.
Honest guidance
We explain the choices and costs clearly, including simpler options where they may be more suitable.
Professional standards
Our NAFD accreditation provides additional reassurance about the standards under which we operate.
If you are unsure which type of funeral is right, please call us. We will explain the differences without obligation or sales pressure.
Common questions
Questions about choosing a funeral service
No. Many families contact us without knowing which option is suitable. We will first establish what has happened and what immediate help is needed, then explain the funeral choices when you feel ready.
Yes. A religious funeral can include personal music, photographs, readings and family tributes while still following the relevant faith traditions. We will coordinate the content with the minister or ceremony leader.
A direct cremation has no attended funeral ceremony. Our attended direct cremation includes a private farewell for up to 15 people in our chapel before the person is taken for an unattended cremation.
Yes. An attended funeral does not need to include every traditional element. We can help you create a dignified ceremony with fewer vehicles, simpler choices and only the details that matter to your family.
Sometimes. The available alternatives depend on the number of people attending, access, timing, the coffin and what is permitted at the proposed venue. We will assess the practical requirements with you.
This is very common. We can help the family consider the person's beliefs, personality, previous conversations and what would feel appropriate for those closest to them.
Talk to our family team
We will help you find the funeral option that feels right
Tell us what has happened, what matters to your family and any wishes already known. We will guide you through the next step.
Call 01435 868844
Available 24 hours a day