Elderly Father insists no funeral

I plan to have a Direct Cremation
Then a get together in the local with music, fish and chipsand and my kids can place my Teal coloured urn on a speaker with a glass of Jamesons beside it !

The same for my mum, she requested no funeral. She was cremated with no family present. We had a lovely celebration of life at a local woodland centre, she was a runner so a few friends went for a run or a walk in the woods, then my husband and a few of her friends said a few words, we had pizzas and coffee and everyone went home. Unconventional but perfect for the woman my mum was.

It seems to be becoming a lot more common these days and it's something I think id prefer. The cost is so prohibitive for funerals and it seems a waste to me. Perhaps a lovely party to celebrate his life? I really love that idea. I realise this isn't the same for everybody of course.

You did the right thing. Funerals aren’t for the dead, they’re for those who are left behind.

My mother didn't want a funeral.

We held a memorial service. My siblings and I felt we needed the closure.

If that makes us bad children then so be it. We had as good an afternoon as you ever can at these things and saw lots of her friends.

My Grandfather didn't want a funeral. He wanted a party or something similar so we called it "A celebration of life"
He had an 'unaccompanied cremation' so no funeral with none of us there and the ashes were scattered elsewhere.
A few weeks after this we had a gathering at his local favourite venue. Buffet, open bar, no one in black. My mum made up a few A2 boards with different photos of family and friends throughout his life.
I did a wee speech/toast about his life - history, funny stories etc. and invited others to chip in with nice stories etc. so we didn't have anyone official like a celebrant or whatever. We just did it ourselves and it was really nice, and I think he would have been happy.

Oh I'm so sorry. I misread your post.

Funeral celebrants will go anywhere you are prepared to pay them! However, isn't this exactly what your father doesn't want?

Not quite an answer, but my father didn't want a funeral either. We had a couple of his closest friends around and reminisced about him. They brought an unfinished bottle of whisky and we finished it in his memory. Slightly unorthodox, but is a comforting memory of saying goodbye.

I am sorry for your loss. I hope your memories bring you comfort.