A comprehensive funeral service for Uttoxeter and the surrounding area in a relaxed setting
Our Co-operative funeral service branch in Uttoxeter High Street was refurbished in 2016 to create a homely interior where people could feel relaxed when discussing sensitive matters.
New furniture, carpets and floral displays were brought in, along with inspirational artwork to give the funeral home a fresh look and uplifting atmosphere.
The result is a place where families can find both comfort and peace. The main reception area has the air of a living room with a cosy settee and an oak sideboard, while the arrangement room has been fitted out with a table and chairs to provide a more formal setting.
The chapel of rest has undergone a makeover too with pictures of butterflies on the walls designed to symbolise resurrection, like the caterpillar that appears dead when it makes a cocoon, but emerges as a butterfly.
This theme is picked up in the cushions scattered on the sofa in the reception area which is also adorned with butterflies, providing a sense of co-ordination.
Funeral director Tina Goodwin said: “We deliberately keep the blinds open as well to make people feel welcome and dispel any idea they may have of a funeral home being a gloomy place. The opposite is true here, especially after the refurbishment. It’s a light and airy place, with an optimistic feel to it which we believe is important to cultivate, even in difficult times, because it gives people a sense of hope.
“The overall aim is to provide a home from home environment where families can talk over their requirements, either from the comfort of a sofa or in the more formal setting of the arrangement room. It’s up to them. We also offer them refreshments when they come in.”
New office equipment completes the modern look given to the funeral home which was once a butcher’s shop. Original tiles upstairs provide a clue to its former use.
The branch can provide information on a wide range of funeral services, including details of local catering establishments offering competitively priced buffet menus for the funeral reception.
Hours of business
Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm
Saturday and Sunday closed
Uttoxeter Funeral Home Staff
Faye Barclay-Scragg is a highly experienced funeral arranger, having held a similar position with a different company before joining Uttoxeter Co-operative Funeral Service. She knows the area well as she has lived in Staffordshire all her life.
After leaving school, Faye briefly worked in the hotel industry and in the accounts department of a legal firm. The mother-of-two has strong Scottish roots, and it was relatives north of the border who first inspired her to enter the funeral industry.
“Two members of my family in Scotland were in the funeral profession and I became very interested in the idea of following in their footsteps,” she said. “It is one the most worthwhile jobs I could ever imagine doing. There is nothing more rewarding than helping families. Also, you are often supporting people at a time when they need it more than ever before. A big part of my job is listening to people.”
Outside work, Faye pursues her love of music with her husband and two grown-up sons. She regularly travels to concerts and has seen many top bands perform live including the Arctic Monkeys and the Stone Roses. Her husband is a keen scooter fan, and they often attend club events together.
“To be honest for me it’s more about the music than the scooters,” she said.
Andrew Cooper worked for 35 years in the railway industry before changing track to become a funeral arranger.
His new role is a far cry from managing a large team of people in the ticket office at Birmingham’s New Street station. He still catches a train to get to work, but it is a much shorter ride from his home in Tutbury.
Andrew became interested in joining a caring profession after his mother died and he experienced the invaluable support that funeral arrangers offer. He also empathises deeply with the bereaved, having lost his mother, mother-in-law and father in close succession.
“I had to go to my mother-in-law’s funeral the day after I started my new job in Uttoxeter and then my father died at the end of the same year,” he said.
“I find it very rewarding to have a job where showing kindness is at the heart of everything you do. Having experienced the loss of loved ones myself, it is very satisfying to be able to help other people in the same situation.”
Outside work, Andrew enjoys regular drives to the Peak District with his wife Joanne. He is also a keen football supporter who became a member of The 92 Club after visiting all the league grounds in the country.
