Recommended Funeral Directors
«Back to Recommended Funeral Directors list
Gateway Funeral Services
Address: Arnold House, Southfield Terrace, Birkenshaw BD11 2AN
Phone: 01274 653115 Email: Janice@gatewayfuneralservices.co.uk Web: www.gatewayfuneralservices.co.uk
Funeral Director/s: Janice Hutton Dip FD, and Richard Arnold. Janice always wanted to be a funeral director but found it difficult to get a foothold – it was hard for women, and family businesses tend to be a closed shop. She got her chance ten years ago: an offer to volunteer followed by the offer of a job. Richard was drawn to funeral directing when he was thirteen. The role of the FD intrigued and attracted him. For him, too, entry to the industry was far from straightforward and he worked as a joiner until he got his break. Janice is married with two daughters. Out of death interests include eating out, trips to the shows and holidays in the sun. Richard is married with three young children. He enjoys eating out, socialising and travelling. Spacious premises in an old mill on the edge of a housing estate. Decor trad but modern and welcoming. Important feature: a chapel/ceremony space which seats 30, and where you can hold your funeral ceremony. Good website.
Specific Gravity: Formal, as most of their clients expect, top hats, the lot. They like to soften that for children and will consider any request—though they may find jeans a little hard to bear! Very nice Daimler fleet, the classiest funeral vehicles. The hearse runs on LPG.
What’s important? “Our service is about quality not quantity. We endeavour to make every family feel special and cared for and carry out any request the family make if possible. In this world of living in the fast lane, we feel it is important to give our families time—time to grieve, time to talk, and following the funeral, time for them.” Janice is a fully qualified civil funeral celebrant. They have their own scheme to encourage and help children to come to terms with death—their excellent STAR programme. See details on website.
What’s different? Gateway offers you a choice of male or female funeral director. Neither will hurry you. These are kind and intelligent people who want you to take things at your pace, however long that takes. They don’t charge you for time! Highly aware of changing trends and the need for funerals to be personal, so they offer all the choices there are. These are no stick-in-the-muds. Huge believers in professionalism: “We think that it is important that all funeral directors should hold some qualification in order to maintain standards and professionalism. As a company we ensure that all employees are trained to the highest standards.”
Services: Your call will be answered by Janice or Richard. The person you first meet will see it all through with you. Very happy to visit you at home to make arrangements, yes to coming in as a family to wash and dress your loved one and for a same sex person to be provided. They'll recommend embalming if you want to come and visit the person who's died. Full range of coffins available and they are very happy to be consultants to home funeralists. Much experience of all ethnic backgrounds. If you want a non-religious or a semi-religious service, Janice can do that for you.
Remarks: This is a young business and Janice and Richard have all the zeal and commitment you would expect from people brave enough to start up on their own. Genuinely forward looking, extremely caring and very, very nice people.
There are no comments about this funeral director