Suzanne Bairstow Independent Funeral Director

10/09/2025

Yesterday, we had our first service at Skipton Crematorium since it opened it's original Chapel again this week, following the completion of their new extension. It has given the chapel a fresher feel and obviously more space for larger attended funerals.
The service we were there for was for a young gentleman. Kevin the celebrant did an amazing job at delivering such a personalised service in his memory, which hopefully his young family will have taken comfort from.

03/09/2025

30/08/2025

Today marks National Grief Awareness Day 🤍

The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.
💔

20/08/2025

02/08/2025

Well that was an intense yet productive few weeks...

Today, I've been to finish off the last bits of painting down at The Sidings.

Every wall, door and skirting board has been painted both inside and out, a new floor has been laid in reception, and more bedding plants have been planted. The old container next to our premises has been removed in readiness for an office for me, and a old bank safe has been upcycled by sanding, painting and polishing it which will be used to safely store clients loved ones cremated remains until they feel ready for them returning to them.

Thank you so much to Neil, Glenn and Martin that helped me achieve all of this within three weeks, it really is appreciated.

I better not forget to say thanks too, to my boys Zak and Max for getting out of bed at 4.00 am on a Sunday morning, so that we could remove the container as a family. Zak filmed it and I'll add the video in the comments.

Have a nice weekend x

24/07/2025

Every day is a school day...

I'm currently caring for a lady that had a pacemaker fitted. Her wishes for when she passed away was to donate her pacemaker to a needy dog.

After several phone calls, I have found a animal teaching hospital which will accept her single chamber pacemaker.

I'm so pleased that her final wishes could be fulfilled, giving her family great comfort.

23/07/2025

This is a great quote. RIP Ozzy x

20/07/2025

What a great day we have had, despite the rain!

Today, myself and my mum went on a day out to the RHS at Wentworth House. It's chucked it down most of the day, but certainly didn't spoil our day.

There were some amazing displays of plants and flowers and we've made a few purchases. 🙂

We came across this amazing stand of farewell flowers, which I loved. (Pictures attached). I hope you've all had a lovely weekend x

15/06/2025

Today we think about our clients and friends whose Dad's we have cared for over the past four years xx 💙❤️

14/06/2025

I've managed to get the hanging baskets finished at the sidings before the rain started again 😊

12/06/2025

I was lucky enough to have been able to call Andrew a friend, and be able to sit down with him to discuss his funeral requirements before he sadly passed away.

Andrew had a love of trees, and he requested before he passed that he didn't want a floral tribute on his coffin, he wanted a tribute made from foliage from the trees. We both joked earlier in the year that he couldn't pass away just yet as there were no leaves on the trees.

Yesterday, was the day of his funeral at St. Thomas' Church in Sutton in Craven and I felt extremely proud that I was able to put all of his funeral requests into place.

To personalise his funeral a little more, and as people left church, they were each given a hessian bag containing bee bombs which are all flowers that will grow and the bees love.

The church was well attended and his committal was at Skipton Crematorium. The piece of music he'd chosen to end the service was 'Great Balls of Fire' by Jerry Lee Lewis which certainly caused a few giggles, smiles and toe tapping in the chapel.

Family and friends then made their way to Steeton Hall to continue to celebrate Andrew's life, where I'd continued the tree theme on, and made each table a tree and hedgerow arrangement, and added conkers, acorns and pine cones on the tables.
RIP Andrew it was a pleasure knowing you xx

09/06/2025

Today we were honoured to care for a much loved lady on her final journey to Skipton Crematorium.

The family chose a Willow Cromer coffin, and wrote personal messages on the wooden hearts which were fastened around her coffin. They each had a small posy of flowers which were also fastened alongside their written message.

The beautiful floral arrangements were made by Woodbank Nurseries - Harden, Bingley which friends and family will continue to enjoy in their own homes as they each took a few flowers and foliage home to remember this special lady.