Douch Family Funeral Directors

22/07/2025

What an amazing day we had at the Wareham Carnival this weekend! 🎉

Our team at Albert Marsh were over the moon to be asked to provide the car for the judges. Such a lovely way to be part of the fun.

The whole day was filled with laughter, music, waving hands, and some seriously creative costumes. It’s events like this that remind us how lucky we are to be part of such a vibrant and close-knit community. ❤️

A huge thank you to the incredibly talented Cutler Photography for capturing these moments so beautifully — we’re thrilled to share just a few of them here.

📷 Can you spot any familiar faces from the Albert Marsh team? Let us know below 👇

Big cheers to everyone who helped bring the carnival to life, we’re already looking forward to next year!

18/07/2025

🌺 Blooming Blandford is in full bloom! 🌺

Lesley Shand Funeral Service are delighted to support Blandford Forum Town Council’s stunning floral displays again this year. A big thank you to the hardworking grounds team and fellow local sponsors who help bring colour and cheer to the town throughout the summer!

If your business wants to get involved, there are still a few planters available! Don’t miss this brilliant opportunity to give back and be seen! 🌼🌿

👉 Check out the post below for more details.

14/07/2025

Something a bit different last week.

At the family’s request, we arranged for this white hearse, kindly supplied by Torbay Bikers for Kids . It was a unique and meaningful choice for a very personal farewell.

Because when it comes to saying goodbye, it should feel right.

Your music. Your flowers. Your theme. Your choice.

11/07/2025

📰 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗰𝗵𝗼!

We were proud to share the news of our recent award — and now the story has been featured in the Bournemouth Daily Echo

It’s a lovely recognition of the work our team has done over generations, and we’re grateful to see it celebrated in our local paper. 💛

📖 Read the full article here:

Douch Family Funeral Directors, serving Dorset, wins Best Family Business at the 2025 Family Business United Awards for South, South West &…

01/07/2025

💙Supporting Unpaid Carers Through Bereavement

At Douch Family Funeral Directors, we’re committed to building a better journey for bereaved families in Dorset, not just at the time of need, but before and after too.

Last week, we were proud to welcome the 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 (𝗗𝗖𝗣𝗚) to the Sheila Kendrick Suite at A E Jolliffe & Son, Ferndown.

Over 35 professionals from local health, social care, and voluntary services joined us to discuss a vital and often overlooked subject:

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭?

From the interactive “speed dating” format to the heartfelt conversations that followed, this event was about connection, compassion and listening. Values at the heart of what we do every day.

🙏 A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful guest speakers from:

Colten Care
LB Legacy Estate Services
Lewis-Manning Hospice Care
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
Douch Family
Cindy Weller

And special thanks to Emma Regan and Annabel Brown for organising such a memorable event.

💬 Events like this remind us why community matters so deeply - and why we’re proud to be part of the conversation.

27/06/2025

🌊💙 A Colourful Farewell for Alistair 💙🌊

Our team at James Smith in Swanage came together to honour the life of a wonderful young man, Alistair.

He was taken far too soon, but his memory lives on in the most beautiful way. Alistair spent time working at Swanage beach, so in his honour, our bearers swapped their usual attire for bright beach shirts and sunglasses. It was a small but meaningful tribute that reflected his love for the seaside and his vibrant spirit.

The hearse made a final journey past the Swanage seafront, and his coffin was decorated with the logos of his favourite cars. Every detail of the day was filled with care and thought to celebrate the things he loved most.

The funeral service brought everyone together in colour and in love. The congregation embraced the beach theme with matching outfits, and the room was filled with music, heartfelt singing and touching dance performances. It was a true celebration of Alistair’s passions, personality and the joy he brought to those around him.

A beautiful send off for a beautiful soul. Rest peacefully, Alistair — you will never be forgotten.

24/06/2025

🎉 Celebrating 30 Years of Dedication 🎉

We’re proud to celebrate an extraordinary milestone, Marcella McDonagh’s 30 years of service in the funeral profession, including 20 dedicated years at our Ives & Shand branch in Parkstone.

When Marcella began her career in the early '90s, she was one of only a few women entering a traditionally male-dominated industry. With passion, resilience, and a calling to serve others, Marcella has become a pillar of compassion and professionalism in our community.

Marcella’s story is one of breaking barriers, lifelong learning, and deep empathy for the families she supports. Her unwavering dedication continues to inspire us all. 💐

Please join us in congratulating Marcella on this remarkable achievement! 🙌

👇 Read her inspiring story by clicking below.

From being one of the few women in the profession to supporting thousands of families, Marcella McDonagh marks 30 years in funeral service in Dorset.

21/06/2025

🎉 Celebrating Young Talent at Corfe Mullen Carnival 🎉

We were proud to support this year’s Junior 1-Mile Race and witness some truly inspiring performances from these rising stars 🌟

🏆 Male Winners
🥇 Jack Foottit – 5:26 – Also fastest non-club runner from Corfe Mullen
🥈 Harry Samways – 5:36 – Poole Runners
🥉 Fletcher Sherren – 5:41 – Poole Runners

👟 Female Winners
🥇 Florence Robbins – 6:11 – Poole Runners
🥈 Cara Hobson & Erin Syme (Joint) – 6:24 – Poole Runners
👏 Emilia Belsey – 7:59 – Fastest non-club female runner from Corfe Mullen

It was an honour to be represented by Leanne Adimi from our Lesley Shand branch in Corfe Mullen, in presenting the awards to these incredible young athletes.

💙 Huge congratulations to all the participants!

20/06/2025

We’ve definitely got that Friday feeling... 🏆😁

We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that we’ve been named Family Business of the Year for the South, South West and Wales at the Family Business United Awards 2025!

Representing five generations of service and commitment, our Managing Director Nick Douch and his daughter Lakeisha were honoured to attend the ceremony and collect this incredible award on behalf of the whole team.

This means the world to us - not only as recognition of our team’s hard work, but as a celebration of the strong family values at the heart of everything we do.

A heartfelt thank you to the judges for this honour, and to our wonderful community. Your continued trust and support truly drive us forward 💙

Here’s to every family business making a difference. We’re proud to stand beside you!

19/06/2025

From Work Experience to Diploma – Well Done, Ollie 🎩

We’re delighted to share that Ollie Oddy, who began his journey with Albert Marsh Funeral Directors at just 16, has officially earned his National Association of Funeral Directors diploma in Funeral Directing - with Distinction!

From stepping in as a teenager for work experience - where his father also worked - to becoming a dedicated full-time team member after his A-levels, Ollie has grown into a compassionate and skilled funeral director, respected by colleagues and families alike. This new qualification simply affirms the heartfelt work he’s been doing all along 💙

Help us celebrate Ollie’s incredible milestone by reading his story below ⬇️

Congratulations Ollie, we’re so proud of you! 💙

Ollie Oddy has become a qualified funeral director in Wareham, having started his career at 16 with Albert Marsh Funeral Directors.

17/06/2025

🎽 Community Spirit in Full Stride at Corfe Mullen Carnival Fun Run 🏅

Tonight’s the night! We’re proud to be one of the sponsors of this year’s Corfe Mullen Carnival Fun Run, supporting local spirit, fitness, and fantastic causes right here in our community.

Our very own Leanne, Funeral Director at our Lesley Shand Corfe Mullen branch, will be attending from 7:30pm, cheering on the runners and personally handing out trophies to the incredible winners of both the Junior 1 Mile Run and the Adult 5k 👏

This is more than just a race — it’s a celebration of togetherness, dedication, and giving back 💛 We’re honoured to play a role in making memories and supporting the amazing charities that benefit from tonight’s event.

📍 Whether you’re running, watching, or cheering someone on, we wish all the participants the very best of luck! Don’t forget, you can still enter at the event tonight.

YOU CAN STILL ENTER AT THE EVENT TONIGHT

We hold our annual Race Night for the seniors 5km and juniors 1 mile runs at the recreation ground this evening.

The Junior one mile run is open to entrants aged between 8-13 years and will start at 7:00pm.

The Adult 5K starts at 7:30pm and is open to entrants aged 13 years and over and will see runners complete two laps of the recreation ground course.

Prizes will be awarded for the first, second and third male, female, boy and girl entrants home in each event and a trophy will also be awarded to the first non-club runner resident of Corfe Mullen in each category.

There is ample parking adjacent to the course and all proceeds from this event will be divided amongst the Carnival's chosen good causes for 2025.

13/06/2025

Managing Grief on Father’s Day: A Guide to Healing 🕊️

For those who are grieving, Father’s Day can be a particularly tender time.

Whether you’re remembering your dad, grandad, or a father figure who meant the world to you — or supporting a child through their own grief — this weekend may bring a mix of emotions.

Our blog shares gentle advice on coping with loss around Father’s Day, including thoughtful ways to care for yourself and support bereaved children.

We hope it brings comfort, reassurance, and a sense of peace 💙

Struggling with grief on Father's Day? Our guide offers tips for managing grief, honouring loved ones, and supporting children. Join our free bereavement groups in Dorset.