Family Tree Funeral Company

16/07/2025

"Life's impermanence... is what makes every single day so precious."
— Steve Jobs

In a world that often feels rushed and overwhelming, Steve Jobs reminds us of a profound truth: it's precisely because our time is limited that each moment becomes invaluable.

When we truly understand that nothing lasts forever, we stop taking ordinary days for granted. We cherish conversations with loved ones, notice the changing seasons, and make time for what genuinely matters.

At Family Tree Funerals, we believe that acknowledging life's impermanence doesn't diminish its beauty—it enhances it. Planning for the end of life and sharing our wishes with those we love is one of the most precious gifts we can offer. It transforms uncertainty into clarity, and fear into peace.

Let today be a reminder to live fully, love deeply, and leave nothing unsaid.

Contact us today to talk to Jane about your end-of-life planning.
http://www.familytreefunerals.co.uk

Photo: Matt Yohe (creative commons)

14/07/2025

📞 Good News: Our Landline Is Back!

💃 We’re delighted to announce that our Family Tree Funerals landline has now been restored. You can once again reach us on 01453-767769 for all enquiries and support.

Our mobile number remains available, but we appreciate your patience and understanding while we worked through this unexpected challenge—especially during such a busy time.

Thank you for bearing with us. We look forward to speaking with you, and as always, we’re here when you need us.
☎️ 01453-767769 ☎️

09/07/2025

"Death shows up to remind us to live more fully."
— Oprah Winfrey

Sometimes it takes a reminder of our mortality to truly wake us up to the richness of life. Death isn't just an ending—it's a gentle but powerful teacher, urging us to stop postponing joy, stop delaying difficult conversations, and stop waiting for the "perfect moment" to tell people we love them.

When we acknowledge that our time is finite, we begin to live with greater intention. We prioritise what matters, we forgive more easily, and we embrace each day as the gift it truly is.

At Family Tree Funerals, we understand that facing the reality of death can actually liberate us to live more authentically. By planning ahead and sharing our end-of-life wishes, we bring ourselves peace of mind, while bringing focus to what's most important—connection, love, and making every moment count.

Let death be your reminder to live boldly, love deeply, and leave a legacy of thoughtfulness.

Take a look at our webpage to learn more: https://www.familytreefunerals.co.uk/end-of-life-planning/

Photo: Alan Lite (creative commons).

03/07/2025

📣 We're delighted to share that Family Tree Funeral Company has recently passed our SAIF (The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors) assessment and remain proudly accredited.

👉🏼 Choosing a SAIF member means your family can expect the highest standards of care, professionalism, and transparency. SAIF members are committed to a strict code of practice and are regularly assessed to ensure quality and integrity in everything we do.

👍🏼 We continue to be recommended by the Good Funeral Guide in 2025, recognising our dedication to personal, compassionate, and truly individual support.

Together, these accreditations mean families can trust that we provide:

✅ Professional excellence backed by inspections and industry-leading standards

✅ Genuine care and empathy verified by independent consumer advocates

✅ Transparent pricing and full choice with no hidden surprises

✅ Ongoing support through bereavement services

✅ Community connection as a local, family-focused business that truly understands your needs

🙏🏼 Thank you for your trust in us—it really is a great privilege to serve our community.

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01/07/2025

📞 Phone Update from Family Tree Funerals

We’re sorry — our office landline experienced a fault yesterday and is currently out of action. The issue has been reported and is being resolved.

In the meantime, thank you for your patience. You can reach us via:
📱 07989 931913
📧 contact@familytreefunerals.co.uk
💬 Or message us here on our social media channels.

We’re here for you — always.

01/07/2025

📍 We're so delighted to call Number 1 Middle Street—an original Stroud town house—our home. Our beautiful bay window is a favourite spot for creating themed, often death-positive displays that spark conversation and bring a little cheer to the heart of Stroud's community.

Nestled near the Golden Fleece Pub, beside Richard Mellish Jeweller, and right opposite the historic Blackboy flats and Stroud Valley Primary School, we love the daily bustle and the bright voices of families and children passing by—sometimes even sheltering under our eaves when it rains.

🏠 Our hope is that each window display offers a gentle, death-positive talking point and reflects the warmth and care we bring to our work. We're always touched by your comments and how many of you look forward to each new season's window.

🌿 This month, our window celebrates the humble blackberry. This image features 'The Blackberry Fairy' by Cicely Mary Barker. The display includes the evocative words of Seamus Heaney's poem 'Blackberry Picking'. As you pass by, take a moment to read the poem—it's a beautiful reflection on the sweetness and impermanence of life's moments.

📣 If you'd like to hear Seamus Heaney himself reading the poem, you'll find the link in our 'About us' Linktree, or for Facebook users, head to: https://tinyurl.com/SHeaneyBlackberry.

"Heaney's poem reminds us to savour the joys of the present, even as we accept that all things must change."

We hope our window brings a smile to your day—do let us know what you think!

28/06/2025

☕️ We would like to remind you about Death Café. The event detailed here runs regularly in Nailsworth. Do come along to our July meet! ☕️

☕️ A death café is a scheduled non-profit get-together or "social franchise" for the purpose of talking about death in a relaxed, safe and supported way.

☕ The idea originates with the Swiss sociologist and anthropologist Bernard Crettaz, who organized the first Café Mortel in 2004. Jon Underwood, a UK web developer, inspired by Crettaz's work, introduced the death cafe to London in 2011, and launched the Death Café website. Following Jon's untimely death in 2017 at the age of 44, his family continue to oversee the growth of the movement.

☕ Death cafes have spread quickly across Europe, North America and Australasia. As of today, there have been over 18,000 death cafes in 89 countries since September 2011.

☕️ At a death café there is never a theme, commercial agenda or invited speaker. It is not a bereavement or counselling group but you are obviously welcome if you are bereaved.

☕ Jane Diamond and Tracey Clements founded and now co-run the death café in Nailsworth as volunteers for a regular, informal bi-monthly meet:

☕ It is free to attend
☕ It is held from 7.30-9.15pm (Come a bit earlier for a drink)
☕ At the Canteen, Nailsworth, GL6 0DU
☕ The next meet is on WEDNESDAY 30th July 2025
☕️ To join in, head to our LINKTREE BIO above, or copy and paste the following link: https://deathcafe.com/deathcafe/20158/

☕ Find out more head to or contact Jane via the details on the post.

26/06/2025

*Assisted Dying Bill: Latest Parliamentary Update*

We want to keep our community informed about recent developments in end-of-life care legislation. This past week, the Assisted Dying Bill passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons, with 314 MPs voting in favour and 291 against. The Bill will now move to the House of Lords for further consideration.

This marks a significant moment in the ongoing national conversation about choice, compassion, and dignity at the end of life. Many people and organisations have contributed to the debate, sharing personal stories and perspectives.

As always, Family Tree Funerals is committed to supporting families with care, respect, and understanding—whatever your views or choices may be. We will continue to follow developments and keep you updated as the Bill progresses.

If you have questions about end-of-life planning or need support, please do feel free to get in touch.



Photo: Parliament

24/06/2025

Proudly reposting•
“We only recommend the best!

If you see our logo on a website or in a window, it means the company has been accredited by us.

Unlike other listing sites, which offer names of companies that have paid a fee for promotion, all of the companies shown on our website have been through the rigorous Good Funeral Guide accreditation process, and all of them comply with our accreditation Terms and Conditions.

We are proud to recommend a list of brilliant funeral directors across the UK, along with some beautiful natural burial grounds.

Every company that we recommend has undergone an in-depth assessment by the directors of the Good Funeral Guide, and we would be happy to choose any of them for the funeral of someone we love.

We have scrutinised applications, taken up references and visited all the companies that we recommend. We have met the owners and senior staff, and been shown around, with access to all areas.

We have asked many questions and been satisfied with the answers.

We believe that if you choose one of our recommended companies to help you with a funeral, then you will receive the best level of service and care.

⭐️ If you are looking for a funeral director, check our list first. It’s under the ‘Directory’ tab on the Good Funeral Guide website, link in bio.

⭐️ If you have had amazing service from a funeral director not listed, ask them why they aren’t recommended by the Good Funeral Guide.

⭐️ And if you are a funeral director who is interested in becoming recommended by us, get in touch.”
✅

24/06/2025

👉 End-of-life planning is one of the greatest kindnesses you can offer your loved ones. It brings great peace of mind, clarity, and ensures that your wishes are honoured—making things easier for those you leave behind.

📣 We wanted to share the moving words from Raynor Winn's The Salt Path, where she and her husband Moth talk about their wish to have their ashes joined and scattered together:

"Because I want you to keep me in a box somewhere, then when you die the kids can put you in, give us a shake and send us on our way. Together... They can let us go on the coast, in the wind, and we'll find the horizon together."

This simple wish speaks to the heart of what planning ahead can mean: comfort, connection, and the chance to shape your own funeral wishes.

📌 Jane offers gentle, practical end-of-life planning sessions at Family Tree Funerals. Whether you're thinking about your own wishes or supporting someone you love, we're here to help you start the conversation and put plans in place.

📕 Family Tree have also created a free 'My Funeral Plan' document to help
to help you document your own wishes. Please visit our website to view document as an online booklet, or contact us for a pdf copy for printing. To book a planning session or simply to find out more:

01453 767 769 | familytreefunerals.co.uk
Image: The Salt Path - Penguin Books. Design: Angela Harding

20/06/2025

Just a reminder - if you have any experience of Direct Cremation - the Good Funeral Guide need your help! Thank you so much.

🤔 Thinking about Direct Cremation? Please read this first.

At Family Tree Funerals, we believe in informed choices — especially when it comes to something as significant as saying goodbye.

The Good Funeral Guide, who accredit our work, have published an important new resource that helps clarify what Direct Cremation really is — and what it is not.

They've also created a thoughtful questionnaire to help individuals, families and professionals reflect on the emotional and practical implications of this choice.
We encourage you to take a moment to explore this page and consider completing the questionnaire: 👉

Direct cremation is growing in popularity in the UK, and the Good Funeral Guide CIC is keen to learn more as the funeral and bereavement landscape changes. There is very little research in this area, and we really want to understand more about any impact, positive or negative, that direct cremation....

11/06/2025

We strongly resonate with this excellent advice from • - please don’t let your important end-of-life arrangements be a ‘distress purchase’ :-

“It is a constant source of surprise to us how little research people do into choosing a funeral director.

There is SO much difference between a creative, thoughtful, intelligent undertaker with an independently owned business and a corporate chain operating an industrial model with procedures that work for them, not you.

It can sometimes be difficult to tell at first glance, so we’ve put together a load of questions that can help you find out who you’re choosing and how they work.”

Link in bio - go to the Downloads tab on the website.