https://fullcirclefunerals.co.uk/funeral-directors-altrincham/, https://linktr.ee/full_circle_funerals

Full Circle Funerals Partners in Altrincham, 23 Ashley Road, Altrincham (2025)

22/08/2025

When someone we care for dies, our relationship with them doesn’t come to an end, it changes. The Continuing Bonds theory suggests that the bond we share can remain just as strong, evolving over time. Gentle rituals and meaningful activities can help us nurture that connection and keep our person present in our lives.

Here are just a few ideas that many people find comforting:
• Creating a memory bear from their clothes
• Going on their favourite walk
• Writing a poem or song in their memory
• Making a playlist of their favourite songs or those you enjoyed together
• Cooking their favourite meal and sharing it with others
• Visiting a place that holds special meaning
• Sharing your story online or in a podcast, so others can connect and relate

You can find more suggestions on our website:

https://fullcirclefunerals.co.uk/bereavement-support/continuing-bonds/

If you’d like someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always here, day and night, to listen and support you.

15/08/2025

We believe every person we support should have the opportunity to arrange a funeral that truly reflects what’s meaningful to them and their person. That’s why we take the time to create a calm, supportive space where you can explore your choices and decide what feels right for you.

Our approach is completely tailored; the style, tone, and level of involvement are shaped around the needs of each individual or family we work with.

It’s a privilege to walk alongside people at such an important time, and we’re grateful to every family who allows us to support them.

12/08/2025

Images can be a powerful way to honour someone’s life. For some families, this might mean a single framed photo on or near the coffin. For others, it could be a collection of images in the service sheet, a display board, or a slideshow set to music.

Photographs can capture different stages of a person’s life: doing things they loved, with the people who mattered most. Many families find these displays trigger shared memories and help guests connect.

Videos can also be included during or after the service, and it’s increasingly possible to live-stream a funeral for those who cannot attend in person. Some choose to have the service photographed or recorded, creating a lasting record to look back on.

There’s no single right approach…the best choice is the one that feels most meaningful and reflects the wishes of the person being remembered.

The attached image has been kindly shared with us by Birches Crematorium & Remembrance Park and shows their indoor chapel with two screens that are able to display a single photo, a slide show or a natural landscape as depicted in the image.

08/08/2025

Choosing a coffin is one of the most visible and symbolic parts of a funeral.

Some families prefer the timeless look of a wooden coffin - from simple designs in oak or pine to more ornate finishes. For natural burials, unvarnished sustainable wood with wooden handles can be an environmentally conscious choice.

Other families choose alternative materials such as wicker (woven from banana, willow, or bamboo), wool, or cardboard. These can offer a softer appearance, a more natural feel, or greater opportunity for personalisation. Some families invite guests to add their own messages or artwork during the service.

The right choice will be the one that reflects the individual’s life and values, that fits in with any budget you have in mind and feels meaningful.

05/08/2025

Supporting Teenagers Through Grief

Supporting bereaved families, we often meet parents who are looking for ways to best help their teenage children through grief. The young people may have lost a grandparent, a friend they saw every day, or even someone they mainly knew online, and parents naturally want to offer comfort but aren’t always sure how.

Here’s some gentle guidance we often share:

Make space for their emotions
Teenagers can grieve in ways that don’t always look how we expect. One moment they might seem fine, and the next they’re completely overwhelmed. It helps to stay open, steady and patient, and to let them know you’re there when they feel ready to talk.

You don’t need to fix it
As adults we often feel the urge to say the “right thing”, but it’s more important just to be present. Teenagers don’t always want advice, they often just want to be heard and not judged.

Support small, meaningful ways to remember
The young person may want to go to the funeral, create a memory box, write a letter, or just take a quiet walk. Whether the person they lost was a close relative, a school friend or someone from their online world, simple rituals can help them process what’s happened.

Be aware of the online world
If the person who died was part of your child’s online life, the loss may feel different, but no less painful. Some teenagers will want to engage with memorial posts or group chats; others might prefer to step away. Either response is ok, and they’ll benefit from your support in setting boundaries that feel right for them.

Watch for changes over time
Grief can affect sleep, appetite, motivation and mood. If your teen seems especially withdrawn or stuck in sadness, it may be time to explore extra support - through school, a GP or a bereavement service.

Helpful resources:

YoungMinds – Mental health support for young people

Cruse Bereavement Support – Support for all types of grief

Winston’s Wish – Specialist support for grieving children and teens

However your teenager expresses their grief, knowing you’re alongside them, with patience, kindness and no pressure; can make all the difference.

30/07/2025

Did you know it’s possible to be involved in caring for the person who has died – if that feels right for you and your family?

Spending time with someone after they have died is a deeply personal choice. For some, being involved in the process of care, or simply spending quiet time with their person can feel comforting and offer a sense of closeness and connection.

If this is something that feels right for you, we are here to guide and support you with care and sensitivity.

You may wish to:

- Be with us in our visiting room while we care for the person who has died;

- Help with gentle acts of care, such as brushing their hair, applying hand cream, dressing them in a chosen outfit, or painting nails;

- Care for the person yourself in the visiting room, if that feels meaningful and we can be on hand to offer guidance and support if you wish;

- Bring meaningful items to personalise the space, such as blankets, music, flowers, religious or spiritual items, perfume, or artwork

There is no “right” way to do this. We will always work at your pace and support you to be involved as much or as little as you feel comfortable.

If you would like to visit or ask about ways to be involved in caring for your person, please know you can talk to us at any time. We are here to help you in the most compassionate and supportive way we can.

jeremy.fixter@fullcirclefunerals.partners / 0161 928 6080

26/07/2025

Some families ask us: Can our family and friends carry the coffin, or do we need your staff to do this?

In many cases, yes. We’ll support you if that’s something you’d like to do.

We’ll help you decide what’s possible and safe. Some coffins can be carried on shoulders, while others can be carried at waist height using the handles. This might be a good option if some of the people would prefer not to lift overhead.

If carrying the coffin isn’t suitable, for example, if it would be too physically difficult or if you’d rather not think about this detail on the day, we can provide professional pall bearers to take care of this part of the service for you.

What is pall bearing?

Pall bearing simply means carrying the coffin. The word “pall” originally referred to the cloth placed over the coffin, but over time it came to describe the people carrying it too.

It can be a meaningful role that some people choose as a way to honour the person who has died. But it’s also completely okay if that doesn’t feel right for you. We’re here to support whichever choice feels most comfortable.

If you have any questions about what’s involved, we’re always happy to talk things through.

Jeremy.fixter@fullcirclefunerals.partners / 0161 928 6080

24/07/2025

Who will support me to make the funeral arrangements and will that same funeral director be there on the day?

It’s a question we're sometimes asked, and the answer is simple: yes, wherever possible.

Continuity makes a difference. It’s reassuring to see a familiar face on the day of the funeral, someone who’s been alongside you from the start, who understands your person, the choices you’ve made, and what matters to you.

You may well have quite a few conversations and meetings with the person you arrange the funeral with-usually Jeremy. And if you’ve built up that relationship, we feel it’s really important that he’s there on the day itself.

On the rare occasion Jeremy isn’t available, we’ll always let you know...and I (Sara) will step in to support you instead. We’ll make sure we’ve spoken in advance (if we haven't already) and that I understand everything that’s important to you and your person.

We think it matters that you're supported by someone you know and trust, not by a series of different people.

21/07/2025

Do we offer home visits to make funeral arrangements?

Absolutely, if that’s what feels right for the people we’re supporting.

Everyone’s needs are different. Some feel most comfortable meeting in their own home. Others prefer meeting at our funeral service, or even a familiar café or community space.

We’re always happy to meet wherever feels right. It’s important that people feel comfortable and have the time they need to talk things through.

19/07/2025

We’re often asked for our thoughts on whether children should be part of a funeral.

It’s a really important question and we think it depends on the family and the child.

We’ve found that many children benefit from being included, especially when the adults around them feel confident and supported. Children often bring a sense of openness to funerals and can even help others to feel more relaxed. But we know it’s not always an easy decision, and we would never want anyone to feel pressured.

Our approach is to support open, honest conversations:
- Ask the child what they think;
- Talk through what a funeral involves. Child Bereavement UK has wonderful resources about what happens at a cremation and what happens at a burial: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/what-happens-at-a-cremation-animation and https://www.childbereavementuk.org/what-happens-at-a-burial-animation
- There are often gentle ways for children to be involved in planning the funeral. We’ve supported many families in doing this, and we’re always happy to talk through what might feel right for your family;
- We keep a range of books in our arranging room to help explain death and funerals in child-friendly ways; and
- We also share ideas for creating memories and staying connected after someone has died, such as Continuing Bonds activities.

If you’re supporting a child who is grieving, we’re here to help however we can.

16/07/2025

Grief can take many forms, and everyone’s experience is different.

Whilst each person’s bereavement is unique to them, there are certain emotions that people can typically experience when they are grieving. Knowing that there are a great number of feelings associated with and part of everyday grief can be reassuring for people.

Grief can feel intense and changeable. Most people associate grief with sadness, some with anger...but there are many more emotions that people describe after they’ve experienced bereavement. These include shock, numbness, guilt, relief and helplessness.

There’s no right way to grieve. What we feel can shift and evolve over time and all of it is valid.

At Full Circle Funerals Partners, we signpost people to bereavement support; both the families we’ve supported and those we meet in the community. If you’re looking for support or want to know what’s available, we’re always happy to help.

sara.fixter@fullcirclefunerals.partners / 0161 928 6080

15/07/2025

What does good funeral care actually feel like?

It’s something I (Sara) have been thinking about a lot lately.

Families often tell us that the support we offer makes a difficult time a little easier, that it helps them to feel less overwhelmed, more supported, and better able to face what’s ahead.

And I wonder if, for those we care for, it might feel a bit like this:

– The comfort of knowing there’s a calm presence behind the scenes
– Relief in not having to know what to do, or how to do it
– Feeling safe to ask again, or change your mind, and know that’s completely okay
– Trust that your person is being looked after with genuine care and dignity
– Space to take things at your own pace; no pressure, no expectations
– Feeling seen, listened to, and gently supported through it all

Good funeral care isn’t showy or scripted.

It’s quiet. Thoughtful and rooted in kindness.

It’s about being there, listening and supporting, helping people to build a funeral in their own time, and in their own way.

Full Circle Funerals Partners in Altrincham

22/08/2025

15/08/2025

12/08/2025

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05/08/2025

30/07/2025

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