Funerals in Britain are becoming a celebration of life rather than sombre occasions, with alternatives to hearses, cardboard coffins, and mourners asked to wear colourful clothing, new research has revealed.
A study by the Co-operative Funeralcare found an increasing trend of favourite songs being played, photographs on coffins, and funerals being held in gardens, sports venues or beauty spots.
Some coffins have been transported by bus, motorcycle, Cadillac, tandem bicycle or horse-drawn carriage, it was revealed.
A survey of 2000 adults and research among the Co-op's 2500 funeral directors showed a rise in a "destination funeral", with services held in settings other than churches or crematoriums.
A lifelong fan of TV's Only Fools And Horses had his coffin transported in a Reliant Robin (a small three-wheeled car) in south Wales.
Sam Kershaw, operations director for the Co-operative Funeralcare, said: "What we're seeing is a culture shift in the way that we deal with loss.
"It's becoming ever more common to hear people refer to funerals as a celebration of life and that's certainly a trend we are seeing even more frequently from the families that we support."
Actor Richard Wilson, star of One Foot In The Grave and narrator of end-of-life documentary Two Feet In The Grave, said: "Death is the most certain thing in life but as a nation we struggle so terribly to talk about it and come to terms with our own and others' mortality.
"Life is short and so I understand why people don't want to dwell on the inevitable, but as the possibilities are endless, it makes sense to at least share some thoughts about what you may want.
"Whilst I haven't planned my own funeral, I know that I would want people to have a good time, a party perhaps."
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