For Varty’s Funeral Directors, Wigan, celebrating 90 years in business is a huge milestone.
It is a reflection of generations of service, strong values and a long-standing commitment to the people of Wigan.
Founded in 1936, Varty’s Funeral Directors and Monumental Masons has supported local families through some of the hardest moments of their lives.
Over the decades, the world has changed beyond recognition.
The business has lived through war, recession, social change and huge shifts in the funeral profession itself.
Even so, its purpose has remained the same.
To reach 90 years in business takes resilience, and it takes trust.
Most of all, it takes a clear sense of who you are and why your work matters.
Built on service
Varty’s was never built to chase trends or follow the crowd.
It was built to serve.
That idea still shapes the business today.
It can be seen in the way families are welcomed, the care taken with every detail, and the calm support offered when people need it most.
In a profession where trust matters more than anything, that consistency has made all the difference.
Over the years, families have returned to Varty’s Funeral Directors, generation after generation.
That kind of loyalty cannot be bought.
Instead, it is earned slowly, through honesty, compassion and showing up for people time and again.
A business shaped by generations
What began with William Varty in 1936 is now a proud third-generation family business.
That continuity matters, and knowledge has been passed down.
Values have been protected, and the business has continued to evolve without losing sight of its roots.
Today, that legacy is being carried forward by the next generation, while still being guided by the experience and dedication that shaped it over many decades.
In an industry where many independent firms have disappeared or been absorbed into larger groups, that sense of continuity is increasingly rare.
More than surviving
It would be easy to describe 90 years in business as survival. However, it’s much more than that.
It means Varty’s have remained relevant whilst adapting to the needs of modern families, while holding on to the standards that built the business in the first place.
Varty’s understands that no two funerals are the same, because no two lives are the same.
Over the years, Varty’s has continued to move with the times.
Families now want different things.
Some prefer tradition, while others want something simpler or more personal.
Through all of that, the role of the funeral director has stayed the same: to listen, to guide and to care.
A legacy recognised
In 2024, Bill Varty received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Wigan Business Awards. It was a fitting honour for someone who has dedicated more than 60 years to the business and to the community it serves.
Then, in 2025, Varty’s was named Independent Business of the Year.
Those achievements reflect the reputation the business has built over many years.
However, the real story sits behind the awards, found in the daily commitment, the quiet consistency and the relationships built with families across Wigan.
Still here, still trusted
Ninety years after it began, Varty’s remains what it has always aimed to be: a trusted, family-led business built on care, dignity and service.
That is what 90 years in business demonstrates: being there through every chapter and carrying the weight of history while still looking ahead.
Above all, it means staying true to the people and values that made the business what it is.
For everyone at Varty’s, 90 years is a chance to look back.
It is also a reminder of what comes next: continuing to serve Wigan families with the same pride, compassion and commitment that have shaped the business since 1936.
Here when you need us
If you would like advice or support, the team at Varty’s Funeral Directors is here for you.
You are welcome to visit Darlville Funeral Parlour, Manchester Road, Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan, WN2 2EA during office hours.
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm.
Alternatively, you can call 01942 244712 at any time, email kristen@vartys.co.uk, or complete the contact form on our website by clicking HERE
