Joseph O'Connell's Funeral Services

24/07/2025

A lovely review was recently left for Kevan and the entire team at Gibson’s Funeral Services, Bishop Auckland.

A heartfelt thank you to the team for showing such respect and compassion, helping to make a difficult time a little gentler for the family involved. 💜

24/07/2025

Every year on the 24th of July, or 24/7, Samaritans remind us that help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — whenever life feels overwhelming.

Across the UK and Ireland, local Samaritans branches will be hosting events to raise awareness and remind everyone that they’re here to listen, day or night, no matter what you’re going through.

If you or someone you know needs support, you can call Samaritans any time on 116 123 — free and confidential. 💚

Other ways to get in touch are also available. Find out more: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

23/07/2025

🌟 Community Support from Miles & Daughters 🌟

Miles & Daughters Funeral Directors have awarded over £5,000 to four local organisations in the final round of their Community Fund.

The fund supports community projects in areas surrounding their funeral homes in Winnersh, Reading, Whitley, Twyford, Binfield, Crowthorne, Maidenhead, and Tadley.

The final recipients are:
💜 Tadley & District Community Association – supporting the Tadley Community Food Pantry, where locals can access groceries for a small fee.
🏀 Reading Rockets Wheelchair Basketball Club – funding their Ball 4 All initiative, encouraging both disabled and able-bodied people to enjoy the sport together.
👁️ Berkshire Vision – enabling social trips and meetings for members living with sight loss.
🎉 Aspire 2 – helping to bring the colourful Whitley Carnival street party to life.

Since launching in 2023, the Miles & Daughters Community Fund has donated nearly £20,000 to 15 local organisations, making a real difference to people across Berkshire and beyond.

22/07/2025

Flowers often speak when words fall short. They help us honour the lives of those we’ve lost, offering comfort and expressing emotions we may struggle to put into words.

Through floriography — the language of flowers — many choose meaningful floral tributes that reflect love, remembrance, and respect.

Here are just a few popular choices and what they represent:
🌸 Lilies – A traditional symbol of peace and purity, often used to represent the soul of the departed.
🌸 Orchids – Represent love and beauty, but their meaning can change depending on the colour, for example:
- Purple orchids show admiration and dignity
- Yellow orchids express joy and friendship
🌸 Hydrangeas – Signify understanding, devotion, and true friendship.
🌸 Carnations – A popular choice that represents love and affection for those we’ve lost.

Choosing the right flowers is a thoughtful part of the grieving process — a way to honour someone's life while offering comfort and connection.

21/07/2025

From Hearses to Hiking Boots! 🏔️

The team at Ian Brown Funeral Director are taking on a heartfelt and one-of-a-kind challenge in support of lung cancer awareness.

They’ll be climbing the highest peaks on the five Scottish islands their coffins are named after — Arran, Mull, Jura, Harris, and Tiree.

Running from June to mid-October, the challenge will see them scale over 3,500 metres in total — more than two-and-a-half times the height of Ben Nevis!

The idea came from Funeral Service Operative Arry Renton, who is no stranger to a physical test, having spent 38 years in the Army and will be scouting each climb ahead of the team.
All funds raised will go to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, supporting research and raising awareness of the disease.

To donate and follow their journey, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/coffin-up-for-a-cause

18/07/2025

Congratulations to Area Development Manager Emma Moore, who has officially taken on the role of President of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) in Northern Ireland.

Emma joined the Executive three years ago as Vice Chairperson and has since played an active role along with the other members in shaping the association’s direction and strategy.

She now steps into the position previously held by Stephen Larkin, whose contributions helped guide the NAFD through key developments.

Emma’s appointment signals a continued focus on industry standards, community leadership, and professional growth.

We are delighted to celebrate Emma’s latest achievement and recognise the exceptional contributions she continues to make within Funeral Partners and beyond. Her dedication, professionalism, and passion truly embody the values we stand for. Congratulations, Emma — we are proud to have you as part of our team!

18/07/2025

We’re proud to share that a potentially life-saving bleed control kit has been installed at William H Painter Funeral Directors main hub in Yardley, thanks to a request from our Funeral Service Operative, Darren Barton.

Provided by Birmingham Says No, which is a community interest company, the kit can help treat victims of serious injuries quickly and effectively. Darren shared:

“I hope we never have to use the kit, but if it helps just one person, then it’s completely worth it.

“Having it in our funeral home also means there are more spread around the area in case something terrible happens.”

The team will also receive training from Birmingham Says No to ensure they’re ready to assist in an emergency.

Thank you to Darren and Birmingham Says No for helping keep our community safer. 💜

17/07/2025

🌟 Thursday Thank You 🌟

This week’s thank you goes to Tony Kellar and the team at Burgess & Harper Funeral Directors.

A heartfelt thank you to the entire team for showing such compassion, care, and sensitivity while supporting a family through an incredibly difficult time. Your dedication truly makes a difference. 💜

16/07/2025

🌟 Today is Thank You Day 🌟

We want to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you to our incredible funeral directors, arrangers, and operatives.

Your compassion, dedication, and support mean the world to the families you care for — especially during their most difficult times. 💜

We’re proud of the work you do, every day, around the clock. Today, we celebrate you. 👏

15/07/2025

Did you know some of our Funeral Directors have been serving their communities for over 200 years?

We’re proud to be part of a long-standing tradition of care, compassion, and high-quality service. While we operate nationwide, our roots remain firmly planted in local communities — where generations have trusted us during life’s most difficult moments. 💜

14/07/2025

Celebrating Success at Patrick Ryan!

We’re so proud of two amazing team members who were recently recognised at an award ceremony following the completion of their exams.

🌟 Georgiana Flaherty (Mobile Funeral Arranger) received a Certificate in Funeral Arranging and Administration with Credit.

🌟 Rachael Kin (Senior Funeral Arranger) achieved an Advanced Certificate in Funeral Arranging and Administration with Distinction — the first advanced qualification offered by the LAFD, and Rachael is the first person from Funeral Partners to sit the exam!

Huge congratulations to both Georgiana and Rachael on this fantastic achievement! 💐💜

12/07/2025

Today is a reminder that sometimes, less truly is more.

On National Simplicity Day, we reflect on the value of a simpler approach to life — and, for some families, that includes how they say goodbye to a loved one.

A direct cremation offers a respectful and dignified option without the formality of a traditional service, allowing families to say goodbye in a way that feels right for them.

If you're considering a simpler farewell or just want to understand the options available, our team is here and happy to help.

30/01/2025

Just recently, we have received over 100 *****star reviews

From everyone at O’Connell‘s Funeralservice, thank you for acknowledging the service we provide,
We are here 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Thank you for choosing us. 

24/12/2024

29/11/2024

It was lovely to see Angela Speedy and her husband who is the former Rector of St Bertolines Church, Barthomley
having a quiet coffee till I came.
The church is recorded in the National Heritage list for England as a designated grade one listed building.

24/11/2024

In November we remember aspecially all those that we have loved and lost.
Not that we need a special month, but this candle is for everyone we have loved 

19/11/2024

On Friday, the 15th of November I had the opportunity and the pleasure to listen to one of our great footballers Kevin Keegan at the Crewe Alexandra it was a great night and I was with some nice friends on a table headed by Mark Bevan
Kevin Keegan had an incredible career, the place was packed.
He was very friendly and I’ve just provided some of the facts about this Great player.
Kevin Keegan former English footballer and manager, widely recognized for his dynamic playing career and charismatic leadership as a manager. He was born on February 14, 1951, in Armthorpe, England.

As a player, Keegan was known for his skill, work rate, and passion on the field. He played as a forward, notably for clubs like Liverpool (1971–1977), where he won multiple league titles and European Cups, and Hamburger SV in Germany (1977–1980), where he enjoyed success, including winning the Bundesliga title. Keegan was also a regular in the England national team, earning 63 caps and scoring 21 goals. His playing style was characterized by technical ability, vision, and a knack for scoring important goals.

As a manager, Keegan achieved significant success with clubs like Newcastle United and Manchester City. He gained widespread attention for his role in transforming Newcastle United in the 1990s, leading them to the brink of winning the Premier League in the 1995–96 season, where they finished second. Keegan’s attacking, free-flowing football and high-energy approach earned him great affection from the fans. However, his time at Newcastle was also marked by dramatic moments, like the famous “I would love it” rant directed at Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson.

Keegan’s other managerial stints included time at Manchester City, where he helped rebuild the team, and a return to Newcastle in the late 2000s. Despite ups and downs, Keegan remains a beloved figure in English football.

Keegan’s legacy in the game is defined by his infectious enthusiasm, his commitment to attacking football, and his undeniable impact on the clubs he managed and played for. We could have listen to him all night.
We often support the Alex player of the match and this season has started fantastic for us.
These are just a couple of the pictures of the night (left myself and Kevin Keegan) which one is Kevin and also a nice picture of me and John Rodgers one of the best,
a great servant of asset to the club and a thoroughly nice man.

18/11/2024

At the ceremony in Sandbach, I met up with a dear friend ( June Ollier) who I first met as a Funeral assistant when I worked in Sandbach, for a small family Funeralservice.
June was the organist that everyone used in the churches and at the Crematorium. It was lovely to meet her after such a long time, I was with Paige Connell our new funeral director on this very special occasion.here are the pictures

18/11/2024

The Walsingham Shrine in Norfolk, England, is one of the most revered Christian pilgrimage sites in the UK, tracing its origins back to 1061. It was founded after a noblewoman, Richeldis de Faverches, reportedly had a vision of the Virgin Mary, who instructed her to build a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth. Known as “England’s Nazareth,” Walsingham became a focal point for devotion to Mary and a destination for pilgrims, including royalty, five kings and two Queens Catholics, Anglicans and
Orthodox churches use this program site. From the 28th of October to the 1st of November I (joe O’Connell ) Funeral partners had the privilege of going with a group of pilgrims to this site. It’s a place of rest. A wonderful place to recharge the batteries. We also had the chance to go to the two Cathedrals in Norwich the Catholic Cathedral named after John the Baptist is at the highest part of the city. The Anglican Cathedral, The Holy and Undivided Trinity, has the highest spire. Both cathedrals are a monument to Christian heritage. Needless to say we all had a wonderful time You might enjoy some of these pictures.

18/11/2024

Myself and Les went like hundreds of others to the town centre hundreds of others to lay our poppy wreath on behalf of O’Connell’s Funeral Partners The tradition of memorial services in Crewe began after World War I, a time when the town experienced great loss, as many residents worked for the railways and served in the armed forces. Crewe played a significant role in the war effort, with its railway workers supporting military logistics and manufacturing munitions. As the community was deeply impacted by wartime tragedies, memorial services became an essential part of local heritage, honoring those who gave their lives.

The focal point of Crewe’s memorial services is the Crewe War Memorial, located in the town’s Municipal Square. This cenotaph, unveiled in 1924, bears the names of local men who died in the Great War. In later years, additional plaques were added to commemorate those lost in World War II and other conflicts. The memorial, an enduring symbol of respect and remembrance, serves as the gathering place for annual ceremonies held on Remembrance Sunday, the closest Sunday to Armistice Day on November 11. It was a very moving service with many of the local clergy and schools in the area in attendance with our friends from The British Legion and many others paying their respects here’s just a few pictures from the event

16/06/2024

06/06/2024

So we can be free……. Thank you