Award Winning, Family Run, Independent
Caring Funeral Director In Cardiff Supporting You Every Step Of The Way
At Ivor Thomas Funerals, your local funeral director in Cardiff, we provide compassionate, personalised care when it matters most. We proudly serve families across Cardiff, Caerphilly, Barry and the wider South Wales, with two premises, including a branch less than mile from Thornhill Crematorium.
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Contact us today for trusted support from a dedicated team.
​Family-Run Business
Personal Service
Affordable Prices
About Ivor Thomas Funerals
At Ivor Thomas Funerals, we undertake one funeral service a day to ensure every family receives our complete care and attention. As an award-winning, independent, family-run team, we offer various funeral, burial, and cremation services tailored to your wishes. We're here to support you through every step, offering quality services at affordable prices. Based in Cardiff, we also serve Barry, Bridgend, and South Wales with compassion, professionalism, and dignity when it matters most. In times like these, it can be hard to know what to do — we’ve put together some guidance to help you through the next steps. If you are looking for information on recent memorials or funeral services, we encourage you to explore our funeral notices.
Meet The Directors
Mr. Mark Thomas
Funeral Director
Mark is a funeral director in the company and runs it with his father. Married to Natasha, he has previously worked in a children's hospice and Thornhill Crematorium.
Mr. Neil Thomas
Funeral Director
Neil is a funeral director in the company and does the day to day running of the business with his son. As a trained carpenter, he also makes high-quality wooden cremated remains, caskets and urns available to buy.
Our Extensive Services
Why Choose Us
Our family-run funeral service was established in 2018 and built on compassion, trust, and dedication. As an award-winning business, we take pride in offering a personal and thoughtful approach that larger firms simply can't match. Our 5-star reviews from families who value our support, respect, and guidance reflect our commitment to care. Choosing us means choosing a team that truly listens, understands your needs, and delivers professional service with empathy at every step. Shortlisted for Funeral Director of the Year for 2022 by Good Funeral Awards, we are the premium choice of many families.
Affordable & Transparent Funeral Pricing
At Ivor Thomas Funerals, we offer clear, transparent pricing to ensure you receive quality service within your budget. Our compassionate team will guide you through every option, helping you make informed choices. We’re committed to providing meaningful funerals at an affordable cost, tailored to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: I Haven't Received A Copy Of The Death Certificate. Can I Still Arrange A Funeral?A: Even though we cannot book a date without the paperwork from the registrars (or coroners), we can still complete the rest of the paperwork and sort out most of the finer details.
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Q: What's The Difference Between A Burial And Cremation?A: Burial is when someone is laid to rest within a grave, while cremation is when the person is cremated.
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Q: Can I Change My Mind About Funeral Details Once The Contract Has Been Signed?A: We understand things can change, so as long as you let us know ASAP, we will always endeavour to make any changes you request.
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Q: What Are Disbursements?A: Disbursements are essentially third-party costs. The most common within a funeral are the burial or cremation fee and officiant’s fees. Unlike most funeral directors, we include these within our advertised price to simplify the costs.
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Q: My Loved One Has A Different Funeral Home. Can I Change It To Ivor Thomas Funerals?A: You can change funeral homes at any stage of the process. We would pick your loved one up from wherever they are resting and liaise with the other home to exchange paperwork. Please bear in mind that there may be charges for services already provided by the former funeral home.
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Q: What Is The Difference Between A Minister, A Humanist, And A Celebrant?A: A minister will conduct a service within a religious framework; a Humanist will not allow any religious sentiment within the service; and a Celebrant will celebrate the person's life and can include religious material if desired.
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Q: Do I Have To Use A Place Of Worship For A Religious Funeral?A: Put simply, no. A minister can conduct a service at the crematorium or graveside only if you so wish.
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Q: Can I Stop Anyone From Coming To The Funeral?A: Although there is nothing we can do to stop someone from coming to a funeral, we can make the funeral more private so that only people you want to attend can be there.
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Q: Do I Have To Appoint A Funeral Director?A: You are not legally obligated to use a funeral director, and we are more than happy to provide services for things you cannot do yourself.
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Q: How Long Is It Usually Between The Initial Meeting And The Funeral?A: There is no set time between arranging the funeral and its taking place, as many factors could affect the timescale. We will work with you to organise a fitting date, whether it is ASAP or later in the future.
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Q: How Many People Can Be Seated In A Limousine?A: Seven people can sit in a limousine in two rows of three and one in front with the driver. However, we can also provide suitable transport for various numbers of people.
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Q: Can We Still Bury In A Grave If I Can't Find A Grave Deed?A: Yes, but we must organise a statutory declaration for £10.
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Q: How Long Does It Take To Get The Ashes Back After The Funeral?A: This depends on the crematorium, but we can generally hand you the ashes within a week of the cremation.
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Q: What Can I Do With The Ashes?A: There are three main options for dealing with the ashes: keeping, burying, or scattering them. However, there are hundreds of options for what you can do with a small amount of the ashes, from putting them in fireworks and vinyl records to making jewellery and candle holders.
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Q: Can We Have An Open Coffin Funeral?A: The final decision is to land at the location where you want the funeral to take place. However, we would generally suggest having an open viewing at a designated arena for those you wish to be present, as there won't be much time at the service for people to say their goodbyes.
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Q: Do I Have To Have An Urn Or A Casket?A: Most crematoriums return ashes in a cardboard casket, which you can receive. Although most people choose a casket or scatter tube, we have also had requests for a briefcase or a specialised urn, so we will work to ensure that the receptacle you choose best suits your loved one.
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Q: Does My Loved One Have To Be Embalmed?A: No, and we do not recommend it. Although we will provide it at a family's request, we use alternate methods that we believe are more dignified, respectful, work better, and greener for the environment.
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Q: When Is The Earliest I Can See My Loved One?A: Given that we already have the clothing you desire, we can book a viewing within 48 hours of receiving it in our care.
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Q: Can I Organise A Funeral If I Live Away?A: If you cannot or do not want to have the arrangement meeting in person, we can do this either over the phone or by video call. Any documents that need to be signed can be sent by post or email for your signature.
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Q: I Can't Make It To The Funeral. Is There A Way I Can Watch It?A: Most churches and crematoriums offer a webcast service, meaning people who are given the details can watch the service online. If they do not, we can work with the applicant to ensure that those most important can watch.
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Q: I Don't Know What To Do With The Ashes; What Can I Do?A: Deciding on the final resting place can be difficult, so please ask us any questions that will help. In the meantime, we will hold the ashes free of charge for two months, after which we will charge a fee of £1 per night.
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Q: When Do I Have To Pay For The Funeral?A: Our contract states that 50% of the initial estimate must be paid a week before the funeral, and the balance must be paid within 14 days of the funeral date. If the full payment is not received within 14 days, we retain the right to add a late payment fee of 15% of the initial balance. However, we assess each situation individually and will work with you to reach an agreement that works for both parties.
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Q: Are There Any Hidden Costs?A: Some funeral directors give their prices but don't include disbursement, so we don't do this. When we provide a price, it will consist of the major third-party costs you must pay. We believe in keeping the pricing simple, and if you want something with an additional fee, we will tell you before we act on it.
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Q: I'm Worried I Can No Longer Afford To Pay For The Funeral. What Do I Do?A: We accept funeral payments from the DWP and charitable organisations and can offer advice on where to find help. We also understand that situations change, so if you need to amend an agreed payment, let us know, and we will work with you to change the written agreement.
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Q: What Happens If There Is A Family Dispute?A: We understand families can disagree, especially at highly emotional times. If a disagreement cannot be resolved within the family, we will have to take the final decision from the person who signed the contract.
If You're Looking For A Funeral Director In Cardiff, We're Here To Help With Care, Compassion, And Experience You Can Trust.
Call Us Today To Arrange The Service That's Right For You.
