J Gedge & Sons

09/09/2025

What to consider with a direct cremation? …..

At GreenAcres, we believe it’s important to balance simplicity with sensitivity. A memorial, a gathering, or even just a moment of reflection can make all the difference in the grieving process. 🍃

Direct cremation, sometimes called a “no-fuss” or “unattended cremation”, has grown in popularity. But with no funeral, no family presence, and no formal goodbye, it can sometimes leave loved ones without closure.

Read our blog to understand what direct cremation really means, and ways to honour a life beautifully - https://www.greenacresgroup.co.uk/blog/what-is-direct-cremation-understanding-the-choice-of-an-unattended-funeral/

03/09/2025

Losing someone important to us can be emotionally devastating. Grief can bring up lots of different, complicated emotions, and can sometimes affect our physical health.

Bereavement affects everyone differently, and it's possible to experience any range of emotions. There's no right or wrong way to grieve.

We can also grieve things like the end of a relationship, someone’s declining health, the loss of a job, moving away to a new location, and distressing world events.

There’s no time limit on grief, and it can touch every part of our lives.

That’s why it’s important to try and look after our wellbeing when we’re grieving.

That might mean...

➡️ Being gentle with yourself and taking things slowly
➡️ Remembering there’s no right or wrong way to feel
➡️ Doing things to cherish your memories
➡️ Finding people who’ve been through similar experiences
➡️ Making food choices that work for you
➡️ Connecting with people who can support you

If you’re struggling with grief right now and need a bit of support, head to our website. We’ve got information, advice, and signposting: www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/bereavement/

30/08/2025

🌷 Thank You 🌷

We would like to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you to a family we recently worked with, for their kind words in their review.

It truly means so much to us to know that the care and support we provide brings comfort during such a difficult time. Every family we serve is at the heart of what we do, and feedback like this reminds us why our work matters.

From all of us at Gedge & Sons Funeral Directors, thank you for entrusting us. 💙

26/08/2025

✨ Case Study: Supporting a Family Through a Modern Farewell ✨

Recently, we had the privilege of supporting a family whose mother had chosen a direct cremation. While this was her wish, the family were understandably concerned about how they would find closure, especially as their mum held a strong faith.

We kept them closely involved, sharing the date and times of the cremation so they could still feel connected. The family chose to celebrate her life in a very personal way — holding a big lunch gathering with her ashes (alongside those of her late husband) - A truly touching memorial.

Yet, one important piece was missing: their faith….?
To honour this, we invited a local minister to our premises, where a small, intimate service and blessing took place. This simple gesture brought great comfort to the family, blending both modern choices and traditional values.

🌿 Why choose your local funeral director?
It’s moments like these that show the difference. While online companies may provide the basics, it’s the personal touches — the time, compassion, and flexibility — that truly help families through these difficult times.

Established in 1866 and on 5th generation, we know that it’s the personal touches that matter most.

At Gedge & Sons, we are here to ensure every farewell feels meaningful, in whatever form it takes.

01603 712276

25/08/2025

Great news that grief education will now be included in the new statutory guidance on Relationships, Health and S*x Education in schools. This is a positive step which has been championed over several years by many in the sector, including the Childhood Bereavement Network, Child Bereavement UK, Winston’s Wish, and our Funeral Industry Advisor John Adams.

Grief education will help ensure that children will learn about change and loss, including bereavement, and how it can provoke a range of feelings. We hope this will help schools to support children and young people to talk openly about grief and bereavement, helping them to better cope with their own bereavements and support others with compassion.

Visit our website to view our resources and training for education professionals: childbereavementuk.org/education

17/08/2025

Thank you 🙏🏼

We are privileged everyday a family entrusts us.

16/08/2025

13/08/2025

⚖️Legacy Funeral Directors, Hull⚖️

Robert Bush, owner of Hull's Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, appeared in court today but did not enter a plea for any of the 65 charges he faces, which includes 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial.

The defence was not in position to proceed because of the large number of papers related to the case, so an adjourned plea and trial preparation hearing is now scheduled for Wednesday, 15 October at 2pm, and is estimated to last about two hours.

The situation in Hull is truly awful, and this delay will prolong the suffering for the loved ones of the deceased concerned and the local community. Our thoughts are with them.

The NAFD would like to highlight the fact that events like this are extremely rare and serve to underline just how important it is to select a reputable funeral director. We only get one chance to say goodbye, so it is incredibly important to get it right.

Funerals matter, and by choosing an NAFD member, bereaved families can be reassured that they have picked a funeral director who abides by the Funeral Director Code, and who is inspected by one of our expert team of Standards and Quality Managers.

We will report back to members after the adjourned plea and trial preparation hearing in October.

06/08/2025

Did you know ???

The first direct cremation in the UK, was the cremation of Mrs. Jeanette Caroline Pickersgill at Woking Crematorium on March 26, 1885.

This cremation was notable as it occurred without a traditional funeral service or mourners present, marking the beginning of direct / pure cremation as a recognised funeral practice.

If you are thinking about a simple cremation with no fuss? - You don’t have to go with a big, distant company.

At Gedge & Sons, we offer a pure or direct cremation with the same care and dignity we bring to every service — all handled by our trusted local team. And there is still the option to have some one-to-one words said dependent on faith.

✅ Transparent pricing
✅ Local, personal support
✅ Your loved one never leaves our care

Simple doesn’t mean impersonal!
Trust your local funeral director — we’re here when it matters most.

📍 Est. 1866. Based in Blofield, Norwich
📞 Call us on 01603 712276