For some time, leading undertakers have offered their services free to those arranging funerals for children under the age of 16.
Co-op Funeralcare has now extended this offer to all under-18s, in recognition of the trauma associated with losing a child.
Co-op estimates that this will save a grieving family up to $4,000 in fees for undertakers, embalming, coffin, hearse and transport. Charges for the burial or cremation itself, and any officiant or clergy, are separate fees which will still be incurred and may total on average £1,000.
Funeral providers are acting to counter the impression that they are seeing growing profits in an era of increasing costs.
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