Grave Expectations

03/05/2026

Oof … how beautiful are these? 💜🪦🌸

Just a few more examples of Mindful Memorials amazing work.

Very proud to be partnered with them and to offer their unique & bespoke memorials.

If you’d like to explore something similar, please contact us for a chat 😊

Tel: 01629 363720
WhatsApp: 07894 283798
Email: enquiries@graveexpectations.co.uk

Or, just pop in to The Old Printing Works, Holt Lane, Matlock, DE4 3LY

30/04/2026

Today, Claire and I completed the *Last Days Matter* facilitator training with Blythe House Hospice.

It’s a gentle, thoughtful introduction to what to expect towards the end of life and beyond. It helps to ease some of the unknowns and gives people the confidence to support someone they love, both practically and emotionally.

We’re not quite ready to start delivering just yet. There are a few bits we want to put in place first, but we’re hoping to begin offering it by the summer.

The sessions are completely free and open to anyone, and run over a relaxed morning. You don’t need to be in a particular situation to come along. It’s just about feeling a bit more prepared, informed, and less in the dark about something we all face at some point.

A big thank you to Blythe House Hospice for the training, to Ashgate Hospice where we were first introduced to the course, and to the North Lancashire Compassionate Communities Group, including St John’s Hospice, who originally developed it.

If it sounds like something you’d be interested in, you’re very welcome to get in touch and we can let you know when dates are released.

29/04/2026

When blogs like this are written about you, you know you’re doing something right 🧡🤩

Grave Expectations was founded by lifelong friends, Katy and Beccy, who grew up together in Chesterfield. By the age of 16, they had already formed a vision of creating a funeral service that dealt with death differently...

28/04/2026

We all know we’re going to die someday.

But most of us don’t really talk about it. Not properly. Not until we have to.

Next week is Dying Matters Week and the theme is “Let’s Talk About Death and Dying”. So we’ve put a few things together to open up those conversations in a way that feels a bit more human.

You’re very welcome at any of them:

🌿 Wed 6th (6–8pm)
Let’s Talk About Death workshop
A warm, guided session to think about your wishes and discuss your options
💷 £20
🎟️ https://www.tickettailor.com/events/graveexpectations/2188823

🎨 Fri 8th (1pm - 4pm)
Creative Collage with Kate Parkin
A relaxed, creative space to make something meaningful
💷 £25

🌼 Sat 9th (10am - 2pm)
Open Day
Pop in, have a look around, ask anything

🌙 Sun 10th - all day
Liminal Time with Isabel Russo
A workshop about the time after someone dies and what to expect
https://liminal-time.com/

Come on your own or bring someone with you.

If you’ve been meaning to start these conversations for a while, this might be a good place to begin.

More details to follow or WhatsApp: 07894 283798 🧡

26/04/2026

We had a lovely time with the fabulous yesterday.

It was an afternoon full of creativity, stories, laughter and a reminder of the places and memories that make up a life.

I’d never made a Zine before (or even heard of one when it was first suggested) but what a great little tool to use to make something tangible to pass down to family and friends …. and so easy to make.

It’s definitely something I’ll be doing again and one to sit down and do with my mum and dad. Telling and hearing these stories whilst alive is great fun and having the tools to pass these stories down is so important to ensure they’re not lost.

Massive thanks to Katy and Lindsey for making the trip over to us and, looking forward to doing it again in the future 😊

24/04/2026

Big news from Grave Expectations today 😀

We are more than delighted to announce our new partnership with the fabulous Mindful Memorials. After first meeting last year we quickly realised we had shared values and similar ways of working, putting families and individuality at the heart of everything we both do.

Working with Mindful Memorials enables us to expand our offering to stonemasonry, whilst providing families with completely bespoke and unique headstones, all designed in house by us and their brilliant design team.

This is something we are genuinely so excited about and we’re really looking forward to seeing what we’ll create together🍃

Watch this space for more exciting developments coming soon and for more details on Mindful Memorials, follow the link below:

https://mindfulmemorials.co.uk/

And …. check out their beautiful work in these pictures!! 🧡🪦

21/04/2026

A lovely review we’ve recently received 😊

Words like these mean so much, and it is always an honour to support and guide families through their hardest times 🧡

20/04/2026

9 years ago today my best friend Andi died 💔 9 years and it feels like an eternity and 5 minutes ago in equal measure!

I miss him all the time but Andi’s death was the catalyst for me going into Funeralcare and doing this work the way we do …. making sure everyone knows what options are available for them and having goodbyes that feel right for them, however that may be!

Today I opened my curtains and there was a beautiful Robin sat on my windowsill and my playlist has obviously been randomly choosing all my favourite Andi songs - music was one of our ‘things’ - so I’ve had a little cry and am enjoying all the signs that are being sent my way! 🧡

Andi Rob … I love you loads and miss you more 🎶🎨🖌️

19/04/2026

Been out for a great walk in the forest today on beautiful Farley Moor and managed to find the Bronze Age standing stone 🌿

There’s something about being out amongst the trees that just makes everything feel a bit lighter.

Feeling very lucky to live and work in a place like this 💚

If you’d like to find out more about it, have a watch here :

https://youtu.be/RtCM4b3k4ak?si=4MTYhEgWh2YuwatG

Time Team

17/04/2026

So looking forward to welcoming these guys to Grave Expectations for their workshop next week 🧡

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/graveexpectations/2135345

16/04/2026

Exciting news from Grave Expectations today 🧡

We’ve been nominated for **Most Promising Newcomer to the Trade** at the 2026 Good Funeral Awards.

We’re so, so proud of this.

Starting Grave Expectations and growing it into what it is now hasn’t happened overnight and there are so many brilliant people who’ve supported us along the way, so thank you all.

And to the families who’ve trusted us with someone they love, it’s a real honour every single time.

Now to see if we can make it through to the finals 🤞

If you did want to nominate us, that would mean a lot. It’s just a simple form to fill in. Follow the link below or message us and we’ll send it over 😊

https://www.agfdgoodfuneralawards.co.uk/2026-nomination-forms