One of the subjects rarely discussed by people is their own funeral arrangements. Our experience shows that this can place a great burden on the relatives who are left to make the necessary arrangements.

We are able to pre-arrange funerals and take your instructions now and hold them until such a time as they are needed. This saves any difficult discussions within the family and gives you peace of mind knowing everything will take place in accordance with your wishes. It also saves your family a lot of unnecessary worry over any decisions.

If you would like more information on pre-arranged funerals please contact us at Rock Ferry on 0151 645 4396 to make an appointment to discuss your requirements without any obligations.

In addition to pre-arranged funerals we are also able to offer pre-paid funeral plans. This not only removes the aforementioned worries but also ensures that there is no financial worry either. We operate one bespoke pre-payment scheme with a national company. Pre-paid funerals are a guarantee that the cost will be met in accordance with the instructions given, unlike an insurance policy which might not pay out sufficient funds when needed.

If you would like more information on pre-paid plans please contact us at Rock Ferry on 0151 645 4396 to make an appointment to discuss your requirements without any obligations.

At Charles Stephens Funeral Directors we pride ourselves on our immaculate fleet of Daimler funeral vehicles. Our hearse is complemented by matching limousines to ensure that mourners are conveyed to the funeral without the additional stresses involved in driving through the Wirral traffic. Each limousine carries up to six people in comfort.

We can also provide an additional floral hearse to convey a large number of floral tributes if desired.

In conjunction with our regular and excellent carriage master, Charles Stephens Funeral Directors of Wirral can provide a traditional and beautiful horse drawn hearse. We can advise on appropriate distances and timings at an early stage, together with information on the additional costs involved. Mourners may wish to walk behind the horse drawn hearse, or we can of course provide a following carriage or our own limousines.

Hearses are drawn by a team of four, or a pair of Belgian Black horses, immaculately presented, with traditional black leather harness fittings, complete with black plumes. White funeral carriages are also available on request.

The tribute of a lasting memorial to your loved one is very important. A monument to recall fond memories, lay flowers, show to children or grandchildren can be very comforting.

Richard McDowell specialises in Monumental Masonry and will discuss all aspects without obligation. Estimates can be provided, including all costs for the memorial with lettering, ornamentation and finishes, its installation on proper foundations and churchyard fee advice. Richard can also advise on choice of materials, give help with inscription and provide every assistance and guidance throughout.

Prior to an interment, arrangements can be made for the family memorial to be transferred to the mason's premises, pending report and further inscription, cleaning, etc. After which the stone will be returned to the cemetery or churchyard and re-fixed in accordance with all safety regulations.

Nowadays more and more people wish to be cremated. There are various options available for your loved one's remains including scattering on the Garden of Remembrance, interring in a family grave or a special plot or even private disposal at a meaningful place. Once a decision has been made you can choose from a selection of caskets or urns. If you prefer to keep your loved one close to you there are keepsakes, urns or display caskets.

At Charles Stephens we have found that increasingly popular now is the practice of having the final remains interred in an exclusive family plot whereupon a headstone can be erected. If this is of interest to you please ask a Charles Stephens Funeral Director who will fully explain all aspects of this facility.

Embalming, in most modern cultures, is the art and science of temporarily preserving human remains to slow down decomposition and to restore a life like appearance. The three goals of embalming are thus sanitisation, presentation and preservation (or restoration) of a deceased person to achieve this effect. Embalming has a very long and cross-cultural history, with many cultures giving the embalming processes a greater religious meaning.

Modern embalming is most often performed to ensure a better presentation of the deceased for viewing by relatives and friends as, generally speaking an embalmed body will have a better appearance than one that is un embalmed. Viewing of the deceased is considered by many authorities to be helpful in the grieving process. Embalming is also a general legal requirement for international repatriation of human remains.

Embalmers study for three years before taking theoretical and practical exams on human anatomy, mortuary and embalming methods and procedures, qualifying to become accepted as a Member of the British Institute of Embalmers (MBIE). Charles Stephens have five fully qualified members two of whom are dedicated full time embalmers with considerable experience between them.