Dandelion Farewells

23/10/2025

Thank you Surrey Rotary for inviting me to your meeting this week ~ wonderful lunch, great conversation, and a valued opportunity to be your guest speaker ~ fair to say: we all came away inspired and informed.
Themes shared:
~ a bit about me: why & how I became a funeral director and founded Dandelion Farewells 😊
~ a snapshot of the history of funeral directors / undertakers, the current (non-regulated) sector and the (minimal) legal rules for funerals 🤔
~ some good pointers for choosing a funeral director that is right for you (because you have choices and it’s okay & advisable to ‘shop-around’) 🧐
~ unpacking some of the many questions to consider when planning a funeral, because to be empowered with information is a good thing 👍

The Q&A after my presentation began with an awkward pause (which I usually expect)… and then a vibrant conversation including (among other questions):
~ what to do with ashes
~ direct cremation / the value of a meaningful funeral
~ memorialisation and headstones
~ financial funeral plans (I’m not a fan, dispelling some assumptions)

The fantastic resources produced by The Good Funeral Guide CIC are invaluable, so these were available (see photo) ~ some people took several copies, for friends & family! 🤩

One attendee said:
“To be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to your talk, but that was actually one of the best we’ve had in a long time! So interesting!”

So, get in touch if you would like to provide your group with an interesting speaker and begin some life-changing conversations! ~ because a good funeral is important 🫶

18/10/2025

We had a very successful Open Day in September!
In response to feedback from some people who would have liked to visit but they had priority weekday commitments, we are hosting another opportunity on Saturday 15th November, 10am - 1pm.
You can read a few of the reflections we received in our poster added here.
All welcome! Please share these details with your friends, community groups and networks.

(This a double-sided flyer, the flip side is in the comments below.)

16/10/2025

~ sharing these details for those close to Cranleigh, who would find this group helpful.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT- CRANLEIGH

We have another upcoming Bereavement Support group, taking place in Cranleigh on Wednesday 29th October 2025.

This free 8-week structured programme is led by a professional facilitator for adults in Surrey who are struggling with grief. The aim is to learn new coping strategies and gain tools and techniques to help you navigate grief.

Sessions are limited to 12 people so pre-booking is essential.

Please contact our Service Manager Sarah at sarah.pattenden@brigittetrust.com to register for a free place, or to find out about future dates and locations.

[Alt text; A poster advertises our upcoming Bereavement Support group in Cranleigh, starting on Wednesday 29th October 2025 for 8 weeks. There are snowdrops in the background]

13/10/2025

Baby Loss Awareness Week 🩷💙

09/10/2025

03/10/2025

*Concern & Caution*

… a “no fuss funeral”
… “fuss-free direct cremation”
… “I don’t want a fuss”
~ these phrases in marketing and conversations around funerals has got us thinking:
What does the word “fuss” even mean?

Each of us will have our own use and interpretation of the word “fuss”; the daytime adverts apply this terminology to suggest that arrangements for an attended funeral would be an emotional and practical inconvenience!

~ But actually, we think that through connecting, participating, attending a ritual of farewell in the presence of the coffin (wherever this may be held) is deeply significant and the value of this shouldn’t be casually manipulated or disregarded.
(Note: if “fuss” involves the conventional funeral cars and flowers: don’t opt for this!)

We provide our Simple Farewell (direct cremation) https://dandelionfarewells.com/a-simple-farewell/ from our own premises, meeting with you in-person to make the arrangements, providing the option for you to visit your person in our care, travelling to the crematorium at a date & time of your choosing, with the identical care and dignity for each individual person as an attended funeral.
(~ this is not the format offered by many online companies)

At recent professional conferences (see previous posts) the theme of ‘direct cremation’ has been an interesting topic of concern, for multiple reasons. You can read the presentation given by the The Good Funeral Guide CIC in this link:
https://www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/2025/10/talking-about-direct-cremation/?fbclid=IwdGRjcANM6ZZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpwSUMxcTxKkObOeUyXI2RfYjo_5YGYLZhmuvyR5-bfU0Yu78VM1MLz9oCjN_aem_lgc53L1WLZiAh3_Ih7dXMA

Please get in touch with Dandelion Farewells if you want to discuss these options and possibilities in more detail.
And *watch this space* ~ we’re planning an opportunity for a community Q&A event in the coming weeks.

SAIF independent funeral directors

30/09/2025

‘Tis conference season in our sector and it’s true to say that Dandelion Farewells will endeavour to attend each opportunity for learning, discussion and networking.
Many of our colleagues tease us about this, “you love a conference (+ eye-rolling )” ~ well, Yes! Absolutely, we do! - because we are committed to developing ourselves and shaping our company in the light of accurate up-to-date information and best practice; and we benefit from the extensive multidisciplinary bereavement professionals network we are within and have developed trusted relationships sharing mutual support.
~ and this benefits the people in our care and those organising the funeral.

Today and tomorrow, we are at the annual conference for the ICCM - Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management for two days of learning and support:
~ Empowering bereavement professionals to achieve great things.
Conference theme: Embracing change


(Note too, our gratitude to the proficient colleague team continuing the work at Dandelion Farewells.)

27/09/2025

We are at a professional Education Day hosted by SAIF independent funeral directors.
It is important for us to meet with colleagues from other trusted independent funeral companies, to engage; discuss current themes in the sector and discern ideas we can consider to enhance our support to families and strength of our company.
Training and development is a significant focus for Dandelion Farewells; we understand that you place your trust in our team and we want to ensure we are informed and skilled to the highest standards.

25/09/2025

Reflections of our Open Day held on Tuesday:
~ thank you to Sophie Ward Photography for capturing great images which highlight many of the key people who have supported this significant phase of growing into our new premises
~ (top left) Jim (my very patient & supportive husband), Dave Barter (excellent builder), Darren Burns (inspired architect)
~ (top right) Alice Dubens-Chambers, local Horsham artist for beautiful bespoke paintings
~ (bottom left) Chrissy of Bud and Flower (Kirdford) who kindly gifted all the floral arrangements to enhance our premises
~ (bottom right) Luna & Geoff (Silvertip Films) who have curated our initial library of information films (see our YouTube channel and website) and visited to chat about the next schedule of filming
~ and TEAM DF (right to left) Clare, Andy, Den & Sarah ~ my incredible colleagues!
I am so grateful to you all.

We welcomed visitors from our village; celebrants; funeral directors; care professionals in residential and community services; hospice team; and our friends & family.
And not forgetting our gorgeous cakes, by Emma Foden (Set the Date Catering)

A very special day made possible through the support and partnership with you all,
~ “Thank you!”

23/09/2025

Open Day highlights aplenty; with deepest gratitude to many people, we will share our reflections in the next few days.
This evening, we are humbled and delighted to read & repost this feedback from Vern:

21/09/2025

Signposting to this opportunity for bereavement support ~ a warm invitation is extended to anyone who feels it would be helpful at this time.
(Dandelion Farewells is not involved in this group, but wholeheartedly endorses the resources being shared and those facilitating the group.)

‘The Bereavement Journey’ is for anyone who has been bereaved at any time and in any way. It provides a safe space for bereaved people to process their grief through films and discussions. While the course has optional Christian faith content, it welcomes people of all faiths and none.

Cornerstone Methodist Church at Cornerstone St Andrews, Crawley Road, Roffey, Horsham, RH12 4DX will be starting ‘The Bereavement Journey’ course, every Friday, 10.15am for 10.30am start, for 7 weeks, starting from 17th October. £5 for the whole course Contact Deacon Sarah to book: deacon@dhcircuit.org