George Preston Funeral Director

01/11/2025

Those wishing to view the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Norah Smyth (Bessbrook) may do so for free, via the below church link.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MAnzDTVhIw7TBxPje5J372qfUlFVxt8M/view?usp=drivesdk

28/10/2025

UPDATED NOTICE - The funeral and wake arrangements for the late Norah Smyth (Bessbrook), have now been updated in the main notice below.

28/10/2025

We regret to inform you of the death of Norah Smyth.

SMYTH (Bessbrook) (nee Little) 28th October 2025 peacefully at Carlingford Lodge Care Home Warrenpoint, Norah, late of 6 Cotter's Bridge, Bessbrook. Dearly beloved wife of the late Earl, loving mother of Edward and Kathryn, a dear sister-in-law and a loving cousin.

House private please.

Family and Friends welcome at George Preston's Funeral Home Bessbrook, on Friday from 4pm to 6pm.

Funeral Service on Saturday 1st November 2025, in Bessbrook Presbyterian Church at 12.30pm, followed by burial in the adjoining Burial Ground.

Family flowers only please, donations in lieu if desired payable to Bessbrook Presbyterian Church and forwarded to George Preston Funeral Directors 1 Main Street Bessbrook BT35 7DJ.

Norah will be lovingly remembered by all of her family circle and friends.

27/10/2025

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NOTICE from the Family of the late Albert Jones.

Janet and Colin Jones, would like to express their sincere thanks to those that supported them following the recent death of their father, Albert.

They would like to express a heartfelt appreciation to neighbours, family members, the PSNI, the doctors and staff of Meadowlands Surgery who provided immediate assistance.

Thank you to all who visited us at George Preston Funeral Home, those that sent cards and messages of sympathy, brought gifts of food and made donations in lieu of flowers, to Evora Hospice, Newry.

They are very grateful to those who attended the funeral service at home, particularly to those that travelled long distances. They are exceptionally appreciative to their cousin, Rev Geoffrey Jones, for conducting the service in accordance with Albert’s express wishes.

Thanks also to George Preston Funeral Directors, for their dignified professionalism, willingness to accommodate and guidance throughout.

They trust this acknowledgment will be accepted as a token of our profound appreciation to all.

Newry, London and Epsom.

23/10/2025

Those wishing to view the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Raymond Copeland (Newry), may do so for free, via the attached Church link:
https://youtu.be/wgmJs2-F4gk

21/10/2025

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NOTICE from The Hanna Family:

The family of the Late Sylvia Hanna, would like to express their heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude to the relatives, friends, neighbours and wider community who sympathised with them and supported them in their recent sad bereavement.

To all who attended the funeral, called at the home, brought and prepared food, sent cards, flowers, donations, telephoned or helped in the smallest way we say a huge Thank You to each and every one of you.

We deeply appreciate your prayers, expressions of sympathy, kindness and thoughtfulness to our family.

Thank you to all who kindly gave or sent donations in lieu of flowers. Your giving is appreciated by us all.

A special Thank You must go to Rev Keith McIntyre for all his pastoral care and love to Mummy over the years.

A very special thank you must go to Rev Nigel Reid for conducting such a beautiful funeral Service, and poignant tribute to our Mummy in Mr McIntyre's absence. We are very grateful also for his pastoral care to Mummy in the last few weeks of her life.

To the staff at Enable Care, especially Hanna, Katie and Emily who first cared for Mummy with such love and dignity, we say a heartfelt Thank You.

Special thanks to Lorna, Caroline and team for all the support and love they you showed to Mummy during her illness.

To the Southern Trust Home Care who supplied the wonderful team of angels that came into our home daily, we say a massive heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you.

We trust that you will all somehow know how much we value your love, care and support for both Mummy and us as a family.

To all the Doctors and staff at Bessbrook Surgery, Bessbrook Pharmacy, The Bessbrook/Newry District Nurses and all the staff from the Palliative Care Team who made it possible for mummy to stay in her own home, we say a heartfelt Thank You.

Many thanks go to the church organist, Mrs Olive Brown for providing the music. Also, our sincere thanks to William Conn, Simply Good Catering for the lovely refreshments in the church hall.

Our deepest thanks must also go to George Preston Funeral Directors, for their thoughtfulness and professionalism; especially Gavin McCullough, and Declan Treanor who ensured all the arrangements were carried out with both dignity and precision.

Trusting this acknowledgement will be accepted as a token of our profound gratitude.

The Hanna Family Bessbrook and Ahorey.

17/10/2025

We regret to inform you of the death of Raymond Copeland.

COPELAND (Newry) 16th October 2025 peacefully at Carlingford Lodge Care Home Warrenpoint, Raymond, late of “Sunnybrae” 17 Fullerton Road Newry. Dearly beloved husband of Valerie, loving father of Ian, dear father-in-law of Alison; much adored Granda of Faith and Jessica, brother of Maurice.

Family and Friends welcome at his late home on Friday from 6pm and on Saturday from 11am.

Funeral Service on Sunday 19th October 2025 in Downshire Road Presbyterian Church Newry at 3pm, followed by a private burial in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Armagh Road Newry.

Family flowers only please.

Raymond will be lovingly remembered by his entire family circle and many friends.

Ps 23 “The Lord is My Shepherd”.

15/10/2025

We regret to inform you of the death of Mena McConville.

McConville (Bessbrook) (nee Collins) 15th October 2025, peacefully at home 11 Derramore Crescent Bessbrook, Mary (Mena). Dearly beloved wife of the late Edward (Eddie), loving mother of Eddie, Philomena, Shirley, Ivan, Michelle and the late Alan, and a loving mother-in-law. Treasured grandmother of Sinead, Jason, Allan, Steven, Stephanie, Amy, Chloe, Lee and Josh; and a much loved great grandmother. Dear sister of Sheila, Anna, Denis and the late Tessie, Emelda, Kathleen and John.

Family and Friends welcome at George Preston’s Funeral Home 1 Main Street Bessbrook on Thursday between 6pm and 9pm.

Funeral Service in the Funeral Home on Friday 17th October 2025 at 2.45pm, followed by burial in Bessbrook Presbyterian Burial Ground.

Family flowers only please.

Mena will be lovingly remembered by the wider family circle and friends.

14/10/2025

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NOTICE from the family of the late William James (Jim) Revels.

The Revels family would like to sincerely thank all our family and friends who attended Jim’s funeral, as well as everyone who sent cards or helped in any way. A special thank you to The Box and the Brew Garden for the lovely tea served in the Church Hall.

We are deeply grateful to Rev. Alan Synnott for conducting the Thanksgiving Service for Jim and for his many kind visits to Ashgrove Care Home and the hospital.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Daisy Hill Hospital for their care of Jim in his final days.

Ashgrove Care Home has been Jim’s family for the past three years. He was given so much love, fun, and many smiles — even the occasional dance. We thank the management and each member of staff for their dedication and care. We also wish to thank the families of the other residents who so often stopped for a wee chat and a smile with Jim.

Finally, our thanks to George Preston Funeral Directors, especially Gavin and Declan, for their advice and support in organising the funeral. Your kindness will always be remembered.

Irene Revels and family.

09/10/2025

29/09/2025

We regret to inform you of the death of Albert Jones.

JONES (Newry) 29th September 2025 Albert, suddenly at home 4 Crieve Court, Newry. Dearly beloved husband of the late Eleanor, much loved father of Janet and Colin, father-in-law of Karen; treasured Grandpa of Eleanor and Hannah, loving brother of the late Sammy, Jim and Gladys and a dear uncle and great-uncle; and dearest friend of the late Hazel Acheson.

Family and Friends welcome at George Preston’s Funeral Home Bessbrook, on Wednesday 1st October 2025 between 5pm and 9pm.

At Albert’s own request, the funeral will be private.

Family flowers only please, donations in lieu if desired, payable to Evora Hospice Newry and forwarded to George Preston Funeral Directors 1 Main Street, Bessbrook BT35 7DJ.

Albert will be lovingly remembered by his entire family circle and friends.

“The Lord is My Shepherd” Ps23

26/09/2025

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NOTICE from the family of the late Doreen McIlwrath.

The family of the late Doreen McIlwrath Newry, would like to express their heartfelt thanks and sincere appreciation to everyone who sympathised and supported them during their recent bereavement.

They would like to extend a special thankyou to all the staff and volunteers at Evora Hospice Newry, who provided such outstanding care. Thankyou to everyone who donated to the hospice in Doreen's memory.

Sincere thanks to George Preston Funeral Directors Bessbrook, for all their professional guidance and support to us all.

Special thanks to Rev Dr John Nelson for such a beautiful service and helping us through a very hard time; and to Rev Norman Hutton and his wife Doris, for all their support.

Also a huge thanks to the ladies of the church who provided refreshments afterwards, it was very much appreciated.

Lastly, a massive thankyou to Dr. McKernan from Bessbrook Surgery, for her outstanding help and support to us all, our mum was in the best hands having such a wonderful Doctor.

Please accept this acknowledgement of our thanks to you all x.