Dying abroad - what next?

I have made my wishes clear, direct funeral not sure about my ashes. My dad died last year, he wanted a old fashioned funeral and wake, that's what he got. Mother in Law and my mums partner have both had direct funerals which is what they wanted. I do however now wonder, if the funeral for some is part of the grieving process, so close next of kin should have a say.
I'm sure I've read in travel insurance about repatriation, I'm sure the insurance company will wriggle and squirm though.
 
Some years ago the insurance broker for whom I worked had a large chain of UK funeral directors (no, NOT the Co-op) as a client. I learned from them that it was generally accepted 'in the trade' (or for I know it could be the Law) that you could only transport bodies within your own county - so if you live in Bedworth and conk out in Brighton and need bringing back to Bedworth cos friends and family will expect it, then one or another undertaker in Brighton has to start the transport of your body from wherever to your family's chosen 'local to home' funeral director but from what I was told when working, they wouldn't usually bring it all the way in one go - staging posts at other funeral directors on the way for transfer to the next plain van.

If they have to do this within the UK - goodness knows how complex it might be abroad.
 
gus-lopez said:
Or you just cremate & let them wonder?
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It must happen quite often.
If you were clever, you could then apply for their OAP pension, etc.
Much easier than keeping the body in the freezer.

After the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 the Home Office tried to ascertain the number of 'missing' UK citizens by counting those that appeared to have left and not returned.
Even after trimming by checking things like bank statements and mobile phone usage and asking near relatives they still ended up with hundreds of thousands on the list.
Further enquiries showed that most were living in other countries unregistered.

They still don't really have much of an idea how many UK citizens were killed, one person they 'confirmed' as missing presumed dead turned up alive and well 18 months later.
 
Brains said:
It must happen quite often.
If you were clever, you could then apply for their OAP pension, etc.
Much easier than keeping the body in the freezer.

After the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2014 the Home Office tried to ascertain the number of 'missing' UK citizens by counting those that appeared to have left and not returned.
Even after trimming by checking things like bank statements and mobile phone usage and asking near relatives they still ended up with hundreds of thousands on the list.
Further enquiries showed that most were living in other countries unregistered.

They still don't really have much of an idea how many UK citizens were killed, one person they 'confirmed' as missing presumed dead turned up alive and well 18 months later.
Click to expand...
They recon that quite a few people, disapeared after 9 11, who should have been at work and were lucky enough to be elsewhere.
 
sedge said:
If they have to do this within the UK - goodness knows how complex it might be abroad.
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It is complex, just make sure your insurance covers it. There is Government advice about repatriating bodies on the internet.

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Widge said:
I heard a story about a similar case, not a carpet but a proper container on a roof rack. The person stopped in a services for a quick bite to eat and a trip to the loo, only to find his car had been stolen while he was there.
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Sorry, that made me chuckle
 
Brains said:
It must happen quite often.
If you were clever, you could then apply for their OAP pension, etc.
Much easier than keeping the body in the freezer.

After the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 the Home Office tried to ascertain the number of 'missing' UK citizens by counting those that appeared to have left and not returned.
Even after trimming by checking things like bank statements and mobile phone usage and asking near relatives they still ended up with hundreds of thousands on the list.
Further enquiries showed that most were living in other countries unregistered.

They still don't really have much of an idea how many UK citizens were killed, one person they 'confirmed' as missing presumed dead turned up alive and well 18 months later.
Click to expand...
When they had a national reorganisation of the health service about 12 years ago here in Spain, & we all ,including pensioners, had to start paying for prescriptions; in Andalucia alone 77,000+ dead people were found to still be in receipt of their pensions along with medical services ,prescriptions & drugs.
Pausim said:
about repatriating bodies on the internet.
Click to expand...
is that sort of like how they do it on Star Trek?:unsure:
:giggle:
 
Very interesting read, thanks everyone, still none the wiser if we die abroad . Guess I’ll have to ring up Comfort ,
Direct cremation works for us. Body picked up immediately. End of. Ashes returned I think, no expense or organising needed for our kids. Leave instructions/wishes for our own memorial service or not.
£19 a month till £1,100 paid I think.

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Jac Sprat said:
Very interesting read, thanks everyone, still none the wiser if we die abroad . Guess I’ll have to ring up Comfort ,
Direct cremation works for us. Body picked up immediately. End of. Ashes returned I think, no expense or organising needed for our kids. Leave instructions/wishes for our own memorial service or not.
£19 a month till £1,100 paid I think.
Click to expand...
I read somewhere that most holiday insurance companies will not repatriate a body because it is too expensive. Not sure if they pay for the cremation abroad,
 
I did look into transport of ashes abroad to Spain from UK when dad recently died. Went to the Co op day after death, paid about £995 for direct cremation. If you have a coop supermarket membership card, you also get a £25 ish discount!! (that made us laugh out loud when the director gently and sensitively asked us if we had a membership card…). The actual cremation was a couple of days later, they give you an idea what time of day so you can collect your thoughts at that time If need be, picked him back up in a tube a day after. Be prepared as they asked us about dad so the ‘workers’ loading him into the retort could say a few words about him as a final send off…wasn’t expecting that.

for transporting the ashes, I found you could via easyJet in hold luggage as long as you notified them and had the death AND cremation certificate. It appeared quite easy, in practice, not sure though. I assume the same type of paperwork would be required the other way round.

maybe an expat forum based in the country where death occurred may be of help. I did morbidly look up what happens if you die in Greece once and a expat forum based in Greece had loads of info…of course, with loads of older expats, it happens all the time.

I think though, unless you have an absolute need for an intact body to be repatriated, quick cremation in country of death and then leisurely trip back then a wake / life celebration back home is probably the way. Do note, some countries aren’t very good with cremations…I think I found that out with Greece.
 
A friends mother died in covid.
She has paid for her funeral.
My friend spoke to them stating there were no visits allowed for funeral, less car flowers etc although she had paid for it.
He received a partial refund.
How many others have been caught out?
 
gus-lopez said:
It would/has never occurred to me to even ask permission to transport ashes? Why would uou? It's dust.
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I guess any sealed container could be used for drug smuggling and would show up in scanned luggage. Better to inform them and have the correct paperwork than have a sniffer dog snorting on the ashes.
 
gus-lopez said:
It would/has never occurred to me to even ask permission to transport ashes? Why would uou? It's dust.
Click to expand...
Not a problem for me but I suspect it’s the ‘human remains’ bit. Also, X-ray of baggage, a lump or mass of something unidentifiable in your baggage, opening up and customs getting excited, add to that any considerations for religious sensitivities of the country etc etc…I’d rather just let them know!!
 
Jac Sprat said:
Hi we’re signed up to Direct cremation in the UK.
If we die abroad - will Comfort cover the return of our bodies to UK and the Direct cremation take over ? We have the standard motorhome insurance with them (Aviva)
Trying to get our heads round it to make it easier for our kids if it happens.
Cheers,
Jac sprat x
Click to expand...
Ok
Jac Sprat said:
Hi we’re signed up to Direct cremation in the UK.
If we die abroad - will Comfort cover the return of our bodies to UK and the Direct cremation take over ? We have the standard motorhome insurance with them (Aviva)
Trying to get our heads round it to make it easier for our kids if it happens.
Cheers,
Jac sprat x
Click to expand...
surely the question should be directed and answered by the insurer? Simple telephone call.
Funerals are big profit making businesses so it’s no surprise that so many people are opting for a simple no fuss cremation.
 
We're going down the Direct or Pure cremation route. We have discussed with daughter's.
Colin's mum has stated not to try and get a flight across when she goes as she'll probably be cremated day after.
 
Theonlysue said:
A friends mother died in covid.
She has paid for her funeral.
My friend spoke to them stating there were no visits allowed for funeral, less car flowers etc although she had paid for it.
He received a partial refund.
How many others have been caught out?
Click to expand...
I organised three funerals during the pandemic.

One had been paid for up front (with full instructions, full church service, right down to the music and guest list, followed by the crematorium and a tea party 'wake')

At the time we were limited to no church service and only 8 people attending at the crematorium.
Which was a big difference to the entire village turing up to the local church.
We had about 30% of the money paid out returned to us.

The fixed things like coffin, fees etc remain the same, but the church service, printing the Orders of Service, the organist, and so on were costs all returned to us.

We did the 'memorial' tea party (as was part of the original request) 14 months later.
A lot of family and friends turned up which was good.

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Lenny HB said:
Our ex-neighbor's husband died in Spain just after they moved there, he was cremated in Spain she had tremendous hassle with the legal side & paperwork just to bring his ashes back to the UK. Best to put them in a suitcase and not tell anyone.
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Or, in Great Escape fashion, tie up the bottom of your trouser legs and pour the ashes inside.
 
Pusscat said:
I did look into transport of ashes abroad to Spain from UK when dad recently died. Went to the Co op day after death, paid about £995 for direct cremation. If you have a coop supermarket membership card, you also get a £25 ish discount!! (that made us laugh out loud when the director gently and sensitively asked us if we had a membership card…). The actual cremation was a couple of days later, they give you an idea what time of day so you can collect your thoughts at that time If need be, picked him back up in a tube a day after. Be prepared as they asked us about dad so the ‘workers’ loading him into the retort could say a few words about him as a final send off…wasn’t expecting that.

for transporting the ashes, I found you could via easyJet in hold luggage as long as you notified them and had the death AND cremation certificate. It appeared quite easy, in practice, not sure though. I assume the same type of paperwork would be required the other way round.

maybe an expat forum based in the country where death occurred may be of help. I did morbidly look up what happens if you die in Greece once and a expat forum based in Greece had loads of info…of course, with loads of older expats, it happens all the time.

I think though, unless you have an absolute need for an intact body to be repatriated, quick cremation in country of death and then leisurely trip back then a wake / life celebration back home is probably the way. Do note, some countries aren’t very good with cremations…I think I found that out with Greece.
Click to expand...

Until recently cremation was not allowed in Greece and some people took the deceased to Bulgaria to get around this.

I am not sure how many crematoria have opened since the restrictions were lifted.
 
My husband died suddenly in Spain in 2020, our travel insurance sorted out the repatriation of his body, my flight home and additional hotel expenses. All done with no fuss, he did need to be embalmed, but was still able to be cremated here in the UK. He had a funeral plan and the repatriation team delivered him directly to the undertaker the plan was with. On receipt of his ashes I received an official letter identifying the contents that I can use if I wanted to transport them anywhere else.
My motorhome insurance was with Comfort, as I was the only driver named on the policy I had to organise the return of the vehicle, however, they did pay for 1 months storage as a good will gesture so I could go home and make arrangements as they understood I didn't want to drive alone in the circumstances.
 
Our trust plans here in the U.K. cover to collect us from the point of entry in the U.K. and thereafter. If we decided to get cremated abroad then they would refund the cost we paid of the plan but not any accrued savings in the trust fund.
 
What worries me about Funeral Plans that you pay for upfront what happens if the Company goes broke as I believe one did !!

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Widge said:
I heard a story about a similar case, not a carpet but a proper container on a roof rack. The person stopped in a services for a quick bite to eat and a trip to the loo, only to find his car had been stolen while he was there.
Click to expand...
Apparently an urban myth with multiple variations.
www.snopes.com

Granny on the Roof Rack

Did a car thief steal an automobile with a dead body in it?
www.snopes.com www.snopes.com
 
Puddleduck said:
One of my Grandmothers had a prepaid plan and had arranged everything herself even to the hymns and readings.

My other Grandma just said she wanted a service in church, cremation and then to be scattered where we scattered my Grandad's ashes.

My Dad had a prepaid plan but all it said was "cremation". He didn't fill any of the other parts of the form in so we were left not knowing what he really wanted although in some ways it gave Mum something to think about in the days after the death. Dad was not at all religious so it was a humanist service. Mum was really worried about what their friends would think and I pointed out that if they really were people of faith they would respect Dad's beliefs.

Mum also has a prepaid plan and has written out some of what she wants.

The only extras we had to pay for Dad's funeral were the service sheets as Mum wanted a more expensive sheet than Dad had paid for and the notice to go in the paper. Obviously the funeral tea was an extra as well because we hired a room in a local hotel and they catered (except for Martin, my daughter, me and my ex-brother-in-law as they couldn't cater for special diets without a special request which my sister had failed to do).

I have to admit that a direct cremation with no service would suit me as long as my friends and family had a party at some point as a celebration of life. No tears allowed.

It would be worth checking the pre-payment policy you have to ensure that would cover the costs of a cremation outside the UK. Bringing a body back is not easy, especially given that you will be numb and in grief. Martin's uncle died on holdiay in Spain and it was far from easy to arrange repatriation as there had to be post-mortums both in Spain and again in the UK.
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Hi.
We went to a funeral of a friend. Her Wishes were,everybody should wear something Pink. The church area was Awash with pink.her husband said afterwards,when they drove in,His heart nearly stopped at the sight, just a mass of Pink. Her " Wickerwork coffin " was placed at the centre and there were tubes of little flower bundles set around. We walked up,picked out a clip of flowers and wove them into the Wickerwork . That was a send off. RIP Jane.
Tea Bag
 
Hi.
Super Dad. " Put me in a wheelbarrow and tip me up on the compost heap................... " He ended up at Markeaton Crem Derbyshire RIP 'owd lad.
Tea Bag
 

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