S. Wellens & Sons Funeral Directors

10/11/2025

🌿 Monday Morning Reflections 🌿

As a new week begins, we take a quiet moment to pause, reflect, and appreciate the people who bring comfort and kindness into our lives.

At S. Wellens Funeral Directors, we understand that even on the busiest of Mondays, a little compassion can make all the difference.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and positive start to the week, may you find moments of calm, connection, and care in the days ahead. 💚

09/11/2025

Norman Wellens alongside our funeral arranger/director Sue and funeral operative Ian were honoured to lay a poppy wreath at the cenotaph in Middleton this morning paying tribute to all those who gave their lives in service to our country.

We remember them today and always.. Lest we forget. 🌺

09/11/2025

Today, we came together as a community to honour and remember all those who gave so much for our freedom. Their bravery, selflessness, and sacrifice will never be forgotten 🌺

As we paused for the two-minute silence at 11am, we held in our hearts not only those who served, but also the families who carried their memory forward.

“We will remember them.” 🇬🇧

From all of us here at S. Wellens Funeral Directors ❤️

07/11/2025

Our Gift Card offer ends on November 30th so still a bit of time left yet to take advantage, take out an attended funeral plan and receive a £150 gift card or a £50 gift card if you take out a unattended funeral plan.

Pop into branch to see our funeral plan consultant Anthony or give us a call on 0161 643 2677

Have you ever considered taking out a funeral plan? And in doing so giving peace of Mind for You and Your Loved Ones ❤️

Planning ahead can feel like a big step, but with a Dignity Funeral Plan, you can be sure that everything will be taken care of when the time comes.

✅ Protect loved ones from the stress of making difficult decisions

✅ Guarantee the funeral director’s services, no matter how prices rise

✅ Flexible payment options to suit your needs

✅ Backed by one of the UK’s leading funeral providers

It’s about more than planning a funeral, it’s about giving peace of mind, security, and dignity.

👉 Learn more today and discover how simple it can be to plan ahead with confidence. Call into branch or give us a call and one of our experienced funeral plan consultants can pop the kettle on and discuss your funeral planning needs

04/11/2025

A Day Late, But Full of Appreciation 🌿

Yesterday was Funeral Professionals Day, and although we missed the date, we didn’t want to miss the chance to say thank you ❤️

To every funeral professional who quietly supports families through loss, brings comfort in the hardest of times, and handles every detail with care and dignity.. we see you, and we appreciate you. 💛

At S. Wellens & Sons we’re proud to stand alongside so many dedicated people who make such a difference every single day.

Here’s to all those who serve with compassion, respect, and heart not just on one day, but all year round ❤️❤️

17/09/2025

Have you ever considered taking out a funeral plan? And in doing so giving peace of Mind for You and Your Loved Ones ❤️

Planning ahead can feel like a big step, but with a Dignity Funeral Plan, you can be sure that everything will be taken care of when the time comes.

✅ Protect loved ones from the stress of making difficult decisions

✅ Guarantee the funeral director’s services, no matter how prices rise

✅ Flexible payment options to suit your needs

✅ Backed by one of the UK’s leading funeral providers

It’s about more than planning a funeral, it’s about giving peace of mind, security, and dignity.

👉 Learn more today and discover how simple it can be to plan ahead with confidence. Call into branch or give us a call and one of our experienced funeral plan consultants can pop the kettle on and discuss your funeral planning needs

06/09/2025

The new football season started for our boys today and what a start it was coming away 9-3 winners!!

With no subs to use the boys all worked tirelessly to play some really great football and it was difficult to choose a Man Of The Match so it was given to the whole team, well done boys! ❤️💙

Louie stepped up into GK position today and was on a promise of Salmon for tea but due to letting 3 goals past him that has now been downgraded to Fishfingers, harsh but fair mum 🐟🐟

22/08/2025

Here are some interesting Friday Funeral facts for you all:

#⚰️ Victorian Mourning Rules – In the 19th century, widows were expected to wear black mourning dress for up to two years after their husband’s death. Some families even covered mirrors and stopped clocks in the home until after the funeral.

⚰️ Coffin Plates – In the UK, it’s tradition to attach a nameplate (often metal) to the coffin with the deceased’s name, age, and date of death. By law in England and Wales, this plate must match the death certificate details.

⚰️ Burial Depth Law – Graves in the UK usually must be dug to a depth that leaves at least three feet of soil covering the coffin (unless there are special exemptions).

⚰️ Funeral Directors’ Black Top Hats – Until the mid-20th century, many undertakers in the UK would walk in front of the hearse wearing a black top hat and cane, a tradition still followed by some ceremonial funeral directors today.

⚰️ Green Funerals – The UK is at the forefront of eco-friendly funerals. The first natural burial ground in the world opened in Carlisle in 1993, sparking a global movement for woodland burials without embalming or headstones.

⚰️ Royal Funerals & Lying-in-State – The UK is one of the few countries that still regularly has “lying-in-state” ceremonies, where the public can walk past a royal or state figure’s coffin to pay respects (most recently for Queen Elizabeth II).

⚰️ Churchyard Yew Trees – Many ancient UK churchyards have yew trees that are older than the churches themselves. Yews were considered symbols of immortality, and some may date back over 1,000 years.

⚰️ Cremation Pioneer – The UK was one of the first European countries to legalise cremation (in 1902). Woking Crematorium, opened in 1878, was the first in the country and is still operating today.

⚰️ “Glasgow Gravediggers’ Strike” – In 1979, gravediggers in Glasgow went on strike during the “Winter of Discontent.” Bodies had to be stored in a temporary morgue because burials couldn’t take place.

⚰️ Unique Hearses – In the UK, it’s possible to have your coffin transported by motorcycle sidecar, campervan, Land Rover, or even a converted double-decker bus, reflecting the deceased’s personality.

Which fact do you find most interesting?

20/08/2025

We thought we would share this wonderful tribute to a gentleman who was recently in our care.

He was a man who adored his gardening and was especially proud of his tomato plants, so what better tribute than this ❤️❤️

Thank you to Tina at Lovemyflowers for the wonderful arrangement 🍅🍅🍅

15/08/2025

When arranging a funeral a question that is asked is which type of person you would want to take the funeral service. Below are the options most used, which is right for you?

Funeral Celebrant:

Focus: Personalised ceremony that can be religious, semi-religious, or completely non-religious, it’s up to you.

Flexibility: Very adaptable , can blend spiritual elements, cultural traditions, and personal stories.

Tone: Often warm, storytelling focused, and designed to reflect your life and values.

Best for people who want a made-to-measure service, possibly mixing faith with personal touches, or no faith at all.

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Minister (Priest, Pastor, Vicar, Imam, Rabbi, etc.)

Focus: Faith-based funeral in line with religious teachings and traditions.

Flexibility: Usually less flexible, follows established prayers, readings, and order of service from the religion.

Tone: Sacred, scripture-led, with emphasis on afterlife beliefs of that faith.

Best for: People who have a strong religious identity or want their faith community involved in the farewell.

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3. Humanist Celebrant

Focus: Entirely non-religious, celebrating life from a humanist perspective.

Flexibility: No prayers or hymns, instead, uses poetry, readings, music, and personal tributes.

Tone: Focused on memories, human connections, and the life lived, without mention of an afterlife.

Best for: People who want a completely secular ceremony.

13/08/2025

The history of the funeral uniform is rooted in the traditions of dignity, respect, and symbolism within the funeral profession. In the 19th century, undertakers, often tradesmen such as carpenters or joiners began to adopt formal black attire to convey solemnity and professionalism, mirroring the Victorian era’s strict mourning customs.

Black, long associated with mourning in Western culture, served as both a mark of respect for the deceased and a visual cue of the undertaker’s role.

By the early 20th century, funeral directors began standardising their dress, often wearing black morning coats, waistcoats, and striped trousers, paired with top hats and gloves, creating a uniform that projected authority and composure.

Over time, this evolved into more practical yet equally formal attire, black suits, ties, and sometimes peaked caps, while in some cultures and military funerals, specific regalia and insignia reflect rank or tradition.

Today, the funeral uniform remains a powerful symbol of service, discretion, and reverence, connecting modern funeral practices to their historical origins.

12/08/2025

CATAFALQUE (n.)

A catafalque is more than just a structure—it’s a stage upon which history, ceremony, and remembrance play out.

Traditionally a raised platform, often draped in black cloth and adorned with candles, it is designed to support a coffin during a funeral service, or memorial service.

The word comes from the Italian catafalco, meaning “scaffold,” hinting at its solemn purpose as both a physical and symbolic support.

Catafalques have been used for centuries, from the elaborate, towering constructions of Renaissance Europe, sometimes lavishly carved and decorated with heraldic emblems, to the stark, dignified plinths used in state funerals today.

In military tradition, a catafalque may even be guarded by soldiers in full ceremonial dress, underscoring its role as a focus of respect and national mourning.

Whether ornate or simple, a catafalque serves as a powerful visual reminder of mortality, honour, and the weight of collective farewell.