Cremations in Guernsey are conducted at Le Foulon, though there is no need to have a service there if you do not wish to.

You can choose to have a ceremony in a number of venues after which the deceased can journey to Le Foulon in our care or you can accompany them for a short committal.

Le Foulon have specific regulatory requirements and currently only allow certain types of coffin. Please see here for more detailed information.

Following the cremation, usually within three days, Beckfords will collect the ashes and keep them in a secure and respectful place whilst you advise us of what you would like to do with them.

For many people, it’s not something they will have done before, so having information about your choices is important.

One of the first things we want families to be aware of is that, unless you specify an alternative, your loved one’s ashes will be returned from the crematorium in a very basic cardboard box. Most people would prefer something more personal, and there is a huge choice of containers, but your choices will be determined by the ashes final resting place.

The usual options in Guernsey are:

• Ashes plot at a cemetery
• Memorial wall or columbarium
• Scattering ashes at sea
• Casting the ashes over land
• Keeping the ashes at home
• Interring in an existing grave

Ashes plots are available at Le Foulon and most of the Parish cemeteries. They are smaller than burial plots but allow for family ashes to be interred and for a memorial headstone to be placed.

There are memorial walls at Le Foulon and at some cemeteries. These are walls with plaques on them as a permanent memorial. The ashes are either buried in the vicinity or could have been scattered elsewhere.

For plots or memorial walls you may wish to opt for an ashes casket.

Columbariums are walls that contain niches where the ashes are kept in either an urn or a casket, sizes vary considerably so please do check with us and we will help you make an appropriate choice.

When scattering ashes at sea we recommend fully biodegradable ashes cushions. The cushion is placed in the water and will slowly sink after about 5 minutes, gently releasing the ashes as it does.

On land, scatter tubes are a more convenient choice as they are specifically designed to help you to disperse the ashes in a controlled way.

You can also choose to bury the ashes on your own land and plant a tree, rose bush etc. In which case we can provide a selection of biodegradable and eco containers. In addition, there are a wide range of garden memorials such as bird baths and sundials that are designed with spaces to keep ashes in.

Should you prefer to keep the ashes at home, then you can choose from a large variety of urns and caskets.

You can find further information about the options for ashes here.

We understand that when it comes to the final resting place of a loved one’s ashes, you may need time to make your decision. So we can keep them securely and respectfully until you advise us of what you would like to do with them.