15th February 2022

Funerals on Saturday in Leicester

funeral service

Independent · Family-run · Lady-led

Can you have a funeral on a Saturday in Leicester?

Yes. A Saturday cremation funeral can sometimes be arranged in Leicester and Leicestershire. Saturday times are limited, though, so I will check the crematorium, explain any additional cost and only confirm the date when every part of the arrangement is in place.

You do not need to ring several crematoria yourself.
Tell me which Saturday you are hoping for and what matters to your family. I will check the realistic options and guide you from there.
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Available day and night, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calling does not commit you to using Bay Tree Funerals.

Saturday availability checked We speak to the crematorium and the people needed for the service.
Clear written costs Weekend and third-party fees shown before anything is agreed.
Cared for here in Blaby Your loved one stays in our own private Chapel of Rest.
One familiar person Personal guidance from Samantha and our small family team.
Samantha Ward, lady funeral director at Bay Tree Funerals in Blaby, Leicester
Samantha Ward Lady Funeral Director at Bay Tree Funerals

A practical choice for many families

Saturday may be the day your family needs

A weekday funeral does not suit every family. Work, school, caring responsibilities and long journeys can make it difficult for the people closest to you to attend.

If a Saturday would allow your family to be together, please ask. I will give you an honest answer about what is available rather than assuming the funeral has to take place from Monday to Friday.

More people may be able to attend
Family and friends may not need to take a full day away from work or education.

Long-distance travel can be easier
A Saturday can give relatives travelling to Leicester more time for the journey.

The family can gather without rushing
It may be easier to hold the funeral and come together afterwards on the same day.

The honest answer

Saturday funerals are possible, but availability is more limited

A Saturday service depends on more than the funeral director being available. The crematorium, chapel staff, celebrant or minister, vehicles and any other suppliers must all be free at the same time.

Times are limited

Saturday services are often offered at fewer times than weekday funerals and may be concentrated in the morning.

The date is not automatic

A particular Saturday cannot be promised until the crematorium has accepted the booking and the necessary paperwork is progressing properly.

Additional fees may apply

Crematoriums and other professionals may charge more for a Saturday. Every known amount will be shown in your written estimate.

This page focuses on Saturday cremation funerals. Ordinary cemetery services in Leicester are normally arranged on weekdays, so we will not lead a family to believe that a routine Saturday cemetery booking is readily available.

What we can arrange

A Saturday funeral can still feel completely personal

Choosing a Saturday does not mean settling for a restricted or impersonal service. Subject to availability, we can help you shape the day around the person you are remembering.

A traditional, simple, religious, non-religious or celebration-of-life service

A minister, priest, faith leader, humanist or independent celebrant

Music, hymns, readings, prayers, poems and a personal tribute

Photographs, a slideshow, video tribute or webcast where the venue provides it

A hearse, limousines and a funeral route that includes home or a meaningful place

Flowers, printed orders of service, charitable donations and funeral notices

Time in our private Chapel of Rest before the day, if your family would like to visit

Horse-drawn, motorcycle or other specialist funeral transport, subject to supplier availability

Faith and cultural arrangements: we support Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Sikh and other faith and cultural traditions, as well as families who want a non-religious funeral. I will listen to what needs to happen and check the right people and facilities rather than making assumptions.

Local crematoriums

We will check the Saturday options around Leicester

The right crematorium may depend on the Saturday times available, where family members are travelling from, accessibility, faith requirements and the kind of service you would like.

South Leicestershire Crematorium

In Countesthorpe, close to Blaby and convenient for many families in South Leicestershire. Saturday services may sometimes be available and must be checked for the chosen date.

Read our Countesthorpe crematorium guide →

Gilroes Crematorium

Gilroes may offer Saturday morning cremations by request, subject to staff and chapel availability. We will check the current position before discussing a firm date.

Read our Gilroes crematorium guide →

Great Glen Crematorium

A calm local option for families around Oadby, Wigston, Great Glen and the wider county. We can ask about the suitable service options and current weekend availability.

Read our Great Glen crematorium guide →

Please do not announce a date until it is confirmed. We understand why families want to let people know quickly, but it is safest to wait until we have written confirmation of the crematorium booking.

How it works

I will take it one step at a time

You do not need to understand the booking system or have every decision ready before you call.

Step 1

Tell me what has happened

I will explain what needs to happen now and what can wait.

Step 2

Tell me the Saturday you hope for

I will check the crematorium and the people needed for the service.

Step 3

See the complete cost

You will receive a clear written estimate, including any weekend fees.

Step 4

We arrange the day

Our family team coordinates the details and supports you throughout the funeral.

Saturday funeral costs

You will know the full expected cost before anything is agreed

The total normally combines Bay Tree’s attended-funeral charge with third-party costs such as the crematorium, celebrant or minister, floral tributes and any optional vehicles or printed materials.

A Saturday may involve an additional crematorium or supplier fee. I will separate Bay Tree’s charges from the amounts paid to somebody else, so you can see exactly what you are paying for.

We will never hide a weekend fee inside a vague package or pressure you into extras. If the Saturday cost does not feel right for your family, I will explain the alternatives clearly.

“Tell me what matters to your family and the budget you need me to work within. I will explain what is essential, what is optional and whether a Saturday is realistic.”

Samantha Ward · Bay Tree Funerals

If no Saturday crematorium time is free

There may still be a way for everyone to come together on Saturday

If the crematorium cannot offer the Saturday you need, that does not have to end the conversation. Depending on your family’s wishes, one of these alternatives may work better.

A nearby Saturday date

We can check the Saturdays immediately before or after your preferred date, or another suitable local crematorium.

A separate Saturday service

A memorial or celebration of life can be held on Saturday, with the cremation taking place privately at another time.

A weekday funeral that is easier to attend

We can look at a later time, webcast or other practical choices that help more people take part.

Common questions

Saturday funeral FAQs

Straight answers to the questions families most often ask us.

Can you arrange a funeral on a Saturday in Leicester?

Yes, an attended cremation funeral can sometimes be arranged on a Saturday. Availability is more limited than during the week and depends on the crematorium, staff, paperwork and other professionals being available.

Are Saturday funerals more expensive?

They can be. A crematorium, celebrant, minister or another supplier may apply a weekend charge. We will show every known fee clearly in a written estimate before anything is confirmed.

How far ahead should we book a Saturday funeral?

As early as you reasonably can. Saturday slots are fewer and can be requested quickly. We can begin discussing options before every decision has been made, but the funeral cannot be confirmed until the necessary arrangements and documentation allow it.

Which Leicester crematoriums may offer Saturday services?

Availability changes. We can check South Leicestershire Crematorium in Countesthorpe, Gilroes Crematorium, Great Glen Crematorium and any other suitable local option. Gilroes states that Saturday morning cremations may be available on request and subject to staff availability.

Can we have a religious or non-religious service on Saturday?

Yes, subject to the right officiant and facilities being available. A Saturday funeral can be led by a minister, priest, faith leader, humanist, celebrant or family member and can include the readings, prayers, music and traditions that matter to you.

Can the Saturday service be watched online?

Many crematorium services can be webcast or recorded, depending on the venue and its current facilities. This can help family or friends who live abroad, are unwell or cannot travel. We will explain the available options and cost.

Can the funeral procession leave from the family home?

In many cases, yes. The hearse can leave from a family home or travel past a meaningful place, provided the route and timing are practical. Tell us what matters and we will plan it carefully.

Can we arrange a wake or family gathering afterwards?

Yes. A Saturday can make it easier for family and friends to stay together after the funeral. We can help you think through the funeral timing so it works with the reception venue, caterer and travel arrangements.

What happens if our preferred Saturday is unavailable?

We can check a nearby Saturday, another suitable crematorium or a separate Saturday memorial or celebration of life. I will explain the realistic choices without pressuring you into a date that does not feel right.

Do we need to visit Bay Tree before asking about dates?

No. Start with a phone call. You do not need documents, a crematorium or a complete funeral plan ready. I will listen, explain the immediate next step and then arrange a private appointment if needed.

Supporting local families

Saturday funeral guidance across Leicester and Leicestershire

From our funeral home in Blaby, we support families in Leicester, Wigston, South Wigston, Oadby, Countesthorpe, Whetstone, Enderby, Narborough, Aylestone, Braunstone Town, Glenfield, Leicester Forest East and surrounding Leicestershire villages.

Your loved one will be cared for here with us in our own private Chapel of Rest in Blaby, personally overseen by Samantha.

Whenever you need us

Ask me whether a Saturday funeral is possible

You do not need to make any decisions before you call. Tell me what has happened, which Saturday you are hoping for and who needs to attend. I will calmly explain the next step and check what can genuinely be arranged.

Bay Tree Funerals · 7A Welford Road, Blaby, Leicester LE8 4FT · Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.