Thomas Furber & Co.

17/10/2025

Every life is unique, and so should be your funeral arrangements.

We partner with Golden Charter to provide Pre-Paid Funeral Plans to match your preferences and budget.

Discover how you can get the send off you really want.

Find out more here: https://www.thomasfurber.co.uk/planning-ahead/prepaid-funeral-plans/

15/10/2025

Tonight at 7pm, families around the world will light a candle for the Wave of Light, uniting in remembrance of babies gone too soon.

We will join in lighting a candle to remember these precious lives. 🕯💗💙

12/10/2025

Our Chapels of Rest provide a peaceful space where you can spend time with your loved one before the funeral. 💚

We have three private rooms available, each one provides a quiet and tranquil space giving you a private space to say goodbye in your own way.

To make the Chapels even more personal to you, we add or remove any religious symbols from the room to ensure it reflects the values and beliefs of your family and the deceased.

If you would like to arrange a Chapel of Rest visit or have any questions, our team is here to support you.

📍 Supporting families from our funeral home in Harborne since 1868
📞 0121 427 2233
🌐 https://www.thomasfurber.co.uk

09/10/2025

This week is Baby Loss Awareness Week 💗💙

We stand with families who have experienced the unimaginable loss of a baby. If you are grieving, please know you are not alone.

🕯 We are here when you need us.

Find out more about support that is available:
https://babyloss-awareness.org

Help in dealing with grief:
https://www.thomasfurber.co.uk/after-the-funeral/help-in-dealing-with-grief/

06/10/2025

Planning ahead for your own funeral can feel daunting, but it’s a true act of care. 🕊

It helps to give your family clarity, eases their stress and ensures your wishes are followed.

We encourage everyone to plan ahead for their own funeral, and to not be afraid to talk about funeral wishes with family and friends.

Find out more:
https://www.thomasfurber.co.uk/planning-ahead/

02/10/2025

Today is National Poetry Day. Many families find comfort in sharing meaningful poems and readings at funerals.

Poetry can bring comfort and reflection when words feel hard to find.

Some favourites include:
🌿Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye
🕊 Crossing The Bar, by Alfred Tennyson
🤍She Is Gone, by David Harkins

She Is Gone is the poem that was read at the funeral of the Queen Mother in 2002, which helped bring it to widespread public attention.

Do you have a favourite poem that brings you comfort? Share your favourite poem in the comments.

01/10/2025

A direct cremation is a simple and dignified option where your loved one is cremated without a service or mourners present.

It gives families the space to plan a personal memorial in their own time.

With Thomas Furber and Co., your loved one always stays in our care here in Harborne, treated with dignity and respect. 🕊

Learn more about your options:
https://www.thomasfurber.co.uk/arranging-a-funeral/funeral-types/direct-cremation/

30/09/2025

Protect your loved ones from unexpected costs. 💰

A Pre-Paid Funeral Plan with Golden Charter gives you the chance to make decisions in your own time and take care of the costs in advance.

It’s a simple, thoughtful way to reduce stress for your family and ensure your wishes are respected when the time comes.

👉 Find out more: https://www.thomasfurber.co.uk/planning-ahead/prepaid-funeral-plans/

28/09/2025

At Thomas Furber & Co., we’ll help you include personal touches that reflect your loved one, from favourite flowers to memory displays, music choices or unique readings.

Because every life deserves to be remembered, beautifully.

📍 Serving families in Harborne, Birmingham
📞 0121 427 2233
🌐 https://www.thomasfurber.co.uk/arranging-a-funeral/personalising-the-funeral/

26/09/2025

Ever wondered why Churches have Lychgates.

A LYCHGATE: During the Middle Ages, before the existence of mortuaries and when the majority of people passed away at home.

When someone died, their body was placed on a bier and transported to the lychgate, a significant structure at the entrance of the churchyard or cemetery.

There, the departed would rest, safeguarded from potential bodysnatchers, until the funeral service, which might take place a day or two later.

A Lych gate, also spelled "lodge gate" or "lich gate," is a traditional architectural structure often found at the entrance of churchyards or cemeteries in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries.

The name "Lych" is believed to have originated from the Old English word "lic," meaning co**se or body, as the gate was historically associated with funeral processions and the dead.

Lych gates typically consist of a roofed structure with two side walls or wooden posts on either side, forming a narrow passageway or gateway.

The gate usually serves as the main entrance into the churchyard or cemetery, and its design can vary in architectural style, reflecting the local traditions and historical periods.

The primary purpose of a Lych gate is to provide shelter for mourners and the coffin while the funeral party waits for the clergy to arrive or conducts the initial part of the funeral service.

It also symbolizes the transition between the outside world and the sacred grounds of the churchyard, often marked with a symbolic religious significance.

Many Lych gates are beautifully adorned with intricate carvings, engravings, or decorative elements, adding to their aesthetic appeal and cultural significance.

Over the centuries, Lych gates have become symbols of the close connection between the church and the local community, as well as a reminder of the passage of time and the continuity of traditions in rural areas.

25/09/2025

If your body is accepted for donation, many families still choose to hold a meaningful ceremony without the body present, to celebrate their loved one’s life and honour their decision to donate.

It’s essential to know that not all bodies are accepted for donation, so it’s crucial to have plans in place for what type of funeral you wish to have, should this happen.

If you’re considering this option or want to learn more, we’re here to guide you.

📞 0121 427 2233
🌐 www.thomasfurber.co.uk

22/09/2025

Having a conversation about your wishes now can help clarify things for loved ones later.

A single donor can help save or improve the lives of up to nine people, it’s a powerful legacy of hope.

If you're thinking about future planning, we're here to support you.

📞 0121 427 2233
🌐 www.thomasfurber.co.uk