The things people are afraid to ask

A direct cremation is a simple cremation without a funeral service beforehand. We bring your loved one into our care, handle all the paperwork and the cremation, and return the ashes to you. There is no chapel, no procession and no cost for things you did not ask for.

A direct cremation with Ashes to Ashes is $1,990 plus GST. That covers the transfer into our care, mortuary care, all permits and paperwork, an environmentally friendly coffin, the cremation itself and the return of the ashes. Transfers outside office hours may cost more, and we will tell you first.

Yes, and many families do. A direct cremation simply separates the cremation from the service. Once the ashes are back with you, you are free to hold a memorial whenever and wherever suits your family, in your own time and without a funeral director setting the schedule.

Read our guide to holding a memorial after a direct cremation

It depends on how quickly the medical certificates and permits come through, which is outside anyone’s control. In most cases families have the ashes back within one to two weeks. Shane will keep you updated at every step so you are never left wondering where things are at.

The ashes are delivered to your family, or to a friend you nominate, once the cremation is complete. There is no extra charge, it is included in the price. If your family is spread across Far North Queensland, talk to Shane and he will work out the simplest way to get them to you.

Yes. Someone answers the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, because a death does not wait for business hours. We can arrange a transfer at any hour across Cairns, Port Douglas and the Atherton Tablelands. Office hours for paperwork are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

We can bring your loved one into our care from anywhere: a home, a hospital, a hospice or an aged care facility anywhere in the region. Call us and we will speak to the facility directly and arrange the transfer. You do not need to organise anything yourself.

We look after families across Cairns, Port Douglas, the Atherton Tablelands, Atherton, Mareeba, Innisfail, Mossman and the surrounding Far North Queensland region. If you are not sure whether we reach you, give Shane a call and he will tell you straight away.

No. Ashes to Ashes is a cremation service for people only. If you have lost a pet we are very sorry, but you will need a dedicated pet cremation service and we are not able to help with that.

No. The price is the price, and there is no upselling. The only variable is an after-hours or weekend transfer, which may cost more, and we will always tell you the amount before we do anything. You will never receive an invoice with a surprise on it.

A direct cremation does not include a formal viewing. If seeing your loved one matters to your family, say so when you call. Shane will tell you honestly what is and is not possible in your situation rather than promising something that cannot be arranged.

The legal next of kin, or the person named as executor, signs the cremation authorisation. We prepare every form, tell you exactly where to sign, and lodge everything ourselves. You do not need to work out which document goes where or deal with the registry.

No. Your loved one is cared for with exactly the same dignity. The difference is only that the cremation happens without a service attached to it. Plenty of families choose this and then hold a gathering that feels far more personal than a formal funeral would have.

Yes. A death notice is arranged separately and is not part of the direct cremation price. You are free to place one yourself with the local paper, and Shane can point you in the right direction if you have not done it before.

When a death is reported to the Coroner, nothing can proceed until they release your loved one, and that timing is entirely theirs. We can still take your details, get the arrangements ready, and step in the moment the release comes through so nothing is delayed at our end.

Give Shane a call to talk it through. Rather than list something here that may not suit your circumstances, he would rather have a straight conversation about what you are trying to organise and tell you plainly what is possible.

Shane will go through payment with you when you call, and everything is put in writing before anything proceeds. You will never be asked to commit to anything before you have seen the cost in full.

That is very common and it is not a problem. Everything can be handled by phone and email, including the paperwork. We will keep whoever needs to be informed up to date, and we can return the ashes to a nominated person locally or discuss sending them to you.