When Varty’s first began serving families in Wigan in 1936, funerals looked very different.
The vehicles were different. Services tended to follow more traditional patterns. Families had fewer choices, and much of what happened around a funeral was shaped by local custom.
Ninety years later, a lot has changed.
Families have far more choice
One of the biggest differences is the amount of choice families now have.
Today, funerals can be traditional, highly personal or somewhere in between.
Families may choose burial, cremation or direct cremation. Services can include favourite songs, photographs, personal readings, video tributes, meaningful objects and details that reflect the person who has died.
There is much more freedom to create a funeral that feels personal.
Music and memories have become more personal
Traditional hymns still mean a great deal to many families, but funeral music can now be almost anything.
A favourite song, a piece of classical music, something linked to a memory.
Sometimes one song can say more about somebody than a whole page of words.
Photographs, keepsakes, football shirts, medals and other personal items are also increasingly used to tell part of someone’s story.
Those small details can make a funeral feel much more like the person being remembered.
Technology has changed how people say goodbye
Technology now plays a much bigger role in funeral care.
Funeral notices can be shared online, donations can be made digitally and families who cannot attend in person may be able to watch a service through livestreaming.
Photographs and video tributes are also now a familiar part of many services.
The technology has changed.
The reason for using it has not: helping people feel included and giving families more ways to remember someone.
The way we talk about death is changing
More people are now having conversations about their funeral wishes before they die.
They may talk about burial or cremation, music, clothing or where they would like their ashes to go.
Those conversations are not always easy, but they can make things much simpler for families later.
Knowing what somebody wanted can remove some of the pressure when difficult decisions need to be made.
Even funeral clothing has changed
Black remains traditional, and many families still choose it.
But it is increasingly common for people to be asked to wear a particular colour, football shirt or something connected with the person who has died.
There is no single right way.
For some families, tradition brings comfort.
For others, something more personal feels more appropriate.
Some things have not changed
For all the changes in funeral care, some things remain exactly the same.
Somebody has died, a family is grieving, and they need guidance.
They need questions answered.
And they need to know that the person they love is being treated with care and dignity.
That responsibility has not changed in 90 years.
90 years of serving Wigan families
Varty’s has served families across Wigan since 1936.
Three generations of the Varty family have seen funeral traditions change enormously during that time, and there will undoubtedly be more changes ahead.
Technology will continue to develop, and new funeral choices may become available.
Families will continue to shape funerals in ways that feel personal to them.
But some things are worth carrying forward unchanged.
Dignity, trust, attention to detail.
And looking after families properly.
Those values mattered in 1936.
They still matter today.
If you are arranging a funeral and are unsure what is possible, speak to the Varty’s team. Whether you want something traditional, personal or a mixture of both, we can talk you through the choices available.
