Gentle guidance for planning a personal farewell

At George Ball & Son, we’re here to help you arrange a meaningful funeral with care, clarity and compassion. Whether you know exactly what you want, or you’re not sure where to begin, we’ll guide you every step of the way — at your pace, and with complete respect for your wishes.

Speak to a Funeral Director

How It Works: Step by Step

You don’t need to have all the answers right away. Here’s how we’ll support you through each stage:

Step 1

Contacting Us

We’re here to help as soon as you’re ready.
When you first get in touch, we’ll take the time to talk with you about your loved one, answer your immediate questions, and start making arrangements to bring them into our care — with dignity and compassion.

We’ll talk you through the next steps and begin any paperwork needed. You can call us at any time — day or night.

Not necessarily. We can arrange everything by phone, or you’re welcome to meet us in person at our Stockport premises.

That’s absolutely fine. We’ll gently explore the options together and guide you at every stage.

Step 2

Talking Through Your Wishes

We’ll spend time understanding the person who has died, your family’s wishes, and the kind of funeral you’d like. This might include:

  • Religious or non-religious preferences
  • Traditional or alternative service styles
  • Budget and practical considerations
  • Location, date and timing preferences

Our role is to help you create a funeral that feels right — whether simple, traditional, unique or quietly personal.

Step 3

Choosing the Funeral Type

There’s no one right way to say goodbye. We offer a full range of options, including:

  • Religious and Non-Religious Services
  • Traditional Funerals
  • Alternative or Personalised Funerals
  • Direct Cremation
  • Green Burials
View Types of Funerals

Step 4

Adding Personal Touches

We’ll help you personalise the day with thoughtful details that reflect your loved one. This could include:

  • Music or readings
  • Floral tributes
  • Orders of service
  • Dress code or themes
  • Special vehicles or routes
  • Personal mementos or photos
  • Personalised Memorial Jewellery
    Honour your loved one with handcrafted memorial jewellery featuring their fingerprint, handprint or handwriting.
  • Personalised Memorial Items
    Honour your loved one with handcrafted memorial items such as jewellery featuring their ashes, fingerprint or handwriting or hand blown glass ornaments incorporating a small portion of ashes.

These touches can make a big difference — and we’re always here to offer gentle ideas if you’re unsure.

Please ask us for details and we will be pleased to arrange this for you.

Most local crematoria have downloadable music systems, and we can advise on the options available for your chosen venue.

Step 5

The Day of the Funeral

We’ll look after everything on the day so that you can focus on being present with family and friends. Our team will be there throughout — to guide, support, and ensure everything runs smoothly and with care.

Planning a Funeral
We're Here to Guide You

We understand that planning a funeral can feel overwhelming. Our simple, step-by-step guides help you navigate every part of the process with confidence and care.

What to Do When Someone Dies

Practical guidance for what to do in the first hours and days, whether at home, in hospital, or elsewhere.

Types of Funerals

Explore the different kinds of funerals we offer — traditional, alternative, green, religious and more.

Help with Costs & Pre-Paid Plans

Understand funeral costs, available financial support, and how pre-paid plans can ease the burden later.

Plan a Funeral with Us

Clear Guidance and Peace of Mind,
Today and for the Future

We understand that cost can be a concern when arranging a funeral. At George Ball & Son, we’re here to support you with honest guidance, transparent pricing, and the option to plan ahead in a way that’s right for you and your family.

Speak to a Funeral Director

Help with Funeral Costs

Every funeral is unique, and so are the associated costs. We’ll always give you clear, itemised pricing so you can make informed choices that are in line with your preferences and budget.

We’ll help you understand:

  • What’s included in our standard funeral fees
  • Optional extras and personal touches
  • Costs for cremation or burial
  • Third-party fees (such as crematorium or cemetery charges)

If you're concerned about costs, please talk to us—we're here to help you find an option that’s respectful, dignified and manageable.

In some cases, financial help may be available through:

  • The government’s Funeral Expenses Payment (if you're on certain benefits)
  • A loved one’s estate or life insurance policy
  • Charitable or community funds
  • Spread funeral costs with simple monthly payments provided by Funeral Safe

We can point you in the right direction if you're not sure what support you may be entitled to.

  • I cannot express enough gratitude for the exceptional service we received from George Ball & Son during one of the most challenging times in our lives. When my father passed away, I felt overwhelmed and uncertain about how to proceed. However, the team at George Ball & Son was nothing short of excellent.
    Kathy Q
    Google Review
  • We had really good support from George Ball and Son from the minute my dad died; their care and compassion was excellent.
    All the funeral arrangements were made with minimal fuss, our wishes were easily accommodated and on the day of the funeral everything went smoothly.
    Thank you !
    Anne Brice
    Google Review
  • Margaret, Daniel & Rachel, Are so caring. They go that extra mile to help their customer. From our first meeting, to making my beloved husband look so lovely and peaceful, to the photograph, flowers and order of service and their attention to detail. Nothing was too much trouble. Everything they did was to perfection! I can't thank them enough.
    Carole
    Google Review