Independent Funeral Director - Funeral Celebrant - Bereavement Counsellor

24/12/2025

On this Christmas Eve my heartfelt thanks go to the funeral directors and staff who reach out to me with such trust and care. Your dedication, compassion and professionalism never go unnoticed and I am deeply grateful to work alongside you. 🎄🥰🙏🏻

I also hold close in my thoughts and prayers all those navigating their first Christmas without a loved one. This season can feel especially heavy, and the absence can be painfully sharp. May you be wrapped in gentleness, comfort and moments of peace as you honour love that never leaves. 🥰

To all the families….. I feel truly blessed and honoured to be asked to facilitate this work. I am humbled each time I am entrusted with your stories…. helping to recapture memories spoken with love that will forever live on in your hearts and your homes.
Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas Eve, filled with love, light and remembrance. ✨🤍

22/12/2025

Today, we said goodbye to Malc.

A devoted dad, grandad and great-grandad…. and a man whose kindness quietly touched so many lives.
Malc made some truly special friendships at his beloved allotment. Each friend was given a rhyming title of their own, a small reflection of his warmth and humour. The allotment was a blessing in more ways than one…. if Malc didn’t show up, his amazing friends would phone his daughter to check in on him. Nothing went unnoticed and nothing was ever taken for granted.
The produce he grew there was never just his own; it was always shared generously with family and friends.

Malc was a kind hearted man. As a proud member of the Royal British Legion, he spent over 20 years selling poppies, quietly honouring remembrance and service with dedication and respect.
In his younger years, Malc was a keen and confident swimmer, taking part in the local water polo team. His strength in the water became part of many treasured family memories, as he patiently taught his grandchildren the swimming skills he knew so well, these were moments filled with encouragement, laughter and pride.

This heavenly Christmas is one of reunion. Malc is now lovingly reunited with his beloved wife Dora and their three children…. together again, forever in peace and love.

20/12/2025

Counselling sessions at school last week centred around loss. Not only were the children breaking up for the festive period but when they return, their teacher sadly will not…. For one class, Miss Shaw is travelling and won’t be returning in the New Year.

For some children who have already encountered loss, this change added another layer to their grief. For others, it was their first experience of loss felt through attachment…. the trust, safety and relationship they had built now coming to an end.

It reminded me of the beautiful poem “Reason, Seasons, or a Lifetime.”People come into our lives for a reason, some for a season, and some for a lifetime… each teaching us invaluable life lessons. And sadly… some relationships come to and end.

Our sessions were a gentle mix of farewells and grounding. The children made farewell cards and keepsake gifts: (bracelets), giving them something tangible to hold onto. We also practised grounding techniques, tensing each body part individually, then altogether, before allowing the body to relax, feeling the tension slowly slip away.

I am so incredibly proud of the children… of their honesty, their courage and their resilience. I hold great hope for their continued healing and for a brighter future ahead

20/12/2025

Can’t wait to visit bertiescoffeecart on Monday! Please save me two mince pies!!! ❤️

18/12/2025

Today, we said goodbye to Peter.

A man with a heart as big as the universe. 💙

In 1997 Peter travelled to Lourdes to help others in need, never expecting that this journey would lead him to the love of his life and soulmate Gill.

Over the years, Peter endured unimaginable loss. The unexpected death of his son at just 18 years old was followed by the passing of his daughter at only 39 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Peter’s heart, though deeply wounded was tenderly filled again through the love and devotion of his stepchildren and grandchildren. Together, they helped heal the grief that Peter so often carried quietly within.

Gill and Peter truly ticked off their bucket list, travelling the world together by plane, motorbike and Mustang….. sharing adventure, laughter and a life richly lived side by side.

Peter’s time here was far too short. He will be lovingly missed by all his family and friends, a truth reflected today by the huge turnout to honour such a fabulous man.

17/12/2025

Today we said goodbye to Trish

A woman who devoted her life to her family. The homes she filled with love and the hearts she held so closely feel the enormity of her absence.

Trish was a cherished Wife, Mum, Nan and Great Nan. She worked nights so she could lovingly care for her grandchildren by day, taking them to school each morning and welcoming them home again each afternoon.
Trish was fiercely protective of every family member, she made it clear that those she loved were never to be messed with.

She was fun loving and full of life, enjoying nights out and holidays abroad with her nieces, whom she cherished not just as family, but as her closest friends.

Trish’s sudden passing has left an immeasurable void in both the hearts and homes of her family but none more than her husband Eddies.

17/12/2025

Today, we said goodbye to Brian.

A much loved husband, dad and grandad.

Brian truly was the heart of the home. He was also the family’s animal whisperer, adoring animals just as deeply as he adored his family.

Brian will always be fondly remembered for his unmistakable head of white hair…. so much so that he even became famous on Google Maps!

He was incredibly kind hearted and soft to his core, never once raising his voice at any of the children or grandchildren. Instead, he would gently tap his nose and say, “Don’t tell your nan.”

Holidays will never be quite the same without Brian’s obligatory text message, always accompanied by a photograph of “the first pint of the holiday.” And being as tech-savvy as he was, you quickly learned never to ask Brian to adapt a photograph…. You would end up with seventeen almost identical images, each just slightly different… or perhaps with a piece of music added for good measure.

Brian’s love, humour and presence will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

16/12/2025

Yesterday we said goodbye to John.

He was an old-fashioned Lancashire lad in the truest sense…. owning a mobile phone but never having it switched on. If you wanted to keep in touch with John, it meant knocking on the door.

John loved shopping at the market and would often return with pies and pasties. Fruit however, was firmly off the menu after being sick at the age of four from eating an apple. His version of five a day was his cherished cherry bourbon whisky!

John leaves behind fond memories of his nieces’ childhoods, he would sit with them for hours drawing, strumming his guitar and teaching them that little bogies were for flicking and the big ones were for keeping…. lessons they will never forget! 🤣🥰

He had an incredibly kind heart, a wonderful sense of humour and a way of making people smile without even trying.

John was a devoted brother and uncle, he cherished the people in his life and loved their company and their conversations.

John will be dearly missed.

16/12/2025

Yesterday we said goodbye to Sam.

A devoted dad, grandad and great-grandad. Sam’s love story was a remarkable one. He first met his beloved wife Rita when he was just eight years old, growing up and playing on the same street. Their bond blossomed over the years and as teenagers they began dating, building a love that would last a lifetime. After a wonderful 90 years of life, Sam is now lovingly reunited with his late wife Rita.

Sam had a wonderful sense of humour. After getting a new pair of glasses, he made his family chuckle when he said, “It feels like someone’s washed my eyes out and put them back in!”
Even into his 90s, Sam was still out walking and driving, enjoying his independence and most of all, the time spent with his two children.
Regardless of his age, Sam’s passing came as a shock…. It was totally unexpected.

Sam will be incredibly missed by all who knew and loved him.

05/12/2025

Yesterday we said goodbye to Mavis.

A lady who was always so closely in sync with her sister. Throughout their lives there were many moments…. sometimes ironic, sometimes uncanny when their paths crossed in extraordinary ways, even finding themselves in hospital at the same time. But the most profound of these was the passing of her only sibling just 2 weeks and 5 days before Mavis herself.

Over the years there were many events and experiences that could describe who Mavis was, but none more fitting than a devoted, caring and unconditional partner, mum and grandparent.

Christmas was always Mavis’ favourite time of year. She loved saving with Park Hampers for the people she cherished. The moment those vouchers arrived, she would be out shopping, full of excitement….. and then it was time for the decorations. Certainly a ritual she adored.

Mavis will be remembered throughout the year, but especially in this month. Not only because it now marks her passing, but also because of the wonderful festive memories she created.
🥰🎄❤️

04/12/2025

Yesterday I had the privilege of counselling four wonderful children in school. We embraced a Christmas theme, creating snow globes together while talking about their past memories and hopes for future Christmas mornings.

For some, this season carries a bittersweet shift, celebrations that feel different without a loved one. For others, Christmas now looks different as they transition into foster care or residential homes. Yet despite their experiences, their hearts held hope… hope for exciting times ahead and gentle wishes for what Christmas might bring.

Our sessions always evolve around each child’s unique needs. Today, one child used music as a way to gently deflect while still talking deeply…. finding their path back to difficult emotions.

Another chose to write, using words as a therapeutic outlet to express what they’ve been holding inside.

It is always an honour to guide each child through these moments and a lovely thought that they leave the room carrying not just their feelings, but a magical creation to reflect on our time together.

The snow globes were an absolute hit, each of them eager to share their sparkling little world with their friends.

27/11/2025

There’s so much that goes on behind funeral plans that most people never see. Strict legislation was introduced to prevent situations where someone could open a funeral home, take people’s money and then close overnight—never to be seen again!! Staff members dealing with your funeral plan enquiry will have undertaken in depth training.

Please be assured that your finances are held securely by an independent provider. (in this case, Golden Charter) who safeguard all payments. This ensures that; should anything ever happen to the company you’ve entrusted with your funeral arrangements, your plan remains protected.

That said, Kenyons Funeral Home is an exceptionally well-established firm with a dedicated, compassionate and supportive team. I have been truly proud to work alongside Carl and his team as a Funeral Celebrant
💙🙏🏻❤️

RECOGNITION THAT REASSURES FAMILIES

We are receiving more enquiries recently regarding pre-paid funeral plans.
When families see the Golden Charter seal, they know they’re in safe hands.

It connects our business directly to Golden Charter, one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers. This offers families reassurance that they can plan with confidence with us, their local, independent funeral director.

We encourage people to seek professional advice from local funeral homes such as ourselves about the differences between funeral plans, policies and insurances.

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to give us a call at Meridian Funeral Home 01257 234377.