About R.O Smith & Sons
Compassionate Guidance in Your Time of Need
At R.O Smith & Sons, we understand that saying goodbye to a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience. With this understanding at the core of our approach, we are honoured to stand by your side as compassionate guides during this challenging journey of remembrance and healing.
Our Commitment: With years of dedicated service to our community, we have established ourselves as a pillar of support for families in their times of need. Our commitment is rooted in providing not just professional expertise, but also genuine empathy and understanding to help you navigate the intricate aspects of funeral planning.
Compassionate Approach: Every life is unique, and we believe that the farewell should be a reflexion of that individuality. Our team listens attentively to your stories, preferences, and wishes, ensuring that each service is personalised to celebrate the life and legacy of your loved one in a way that's meaningful to you.
Expertise and Guidance: With extensive experience in the funeral industry, our team offers expertise in all aspects of funeral arrangements. From traditional services that honour age-old customs to modern celebrations that reflect contemporary values, we guide you through the choices, ensuring a service that aligns with your family's needs.
Support Beyond Services: Our commitment doesn't end with the service itself. We provide access to grief support resources, connecting you with networks that understand the intricacies of healing after loss. Our mission is to be a steady source of comfort and guidance as you embark on the path to healing.
At R.O Smith & Sons, we consider it an honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of honouring your loved one's life. With professionalism, compassion, and attention to detail, we stand prepared to support you in creating a memorable tribute that reflects the beauty of the journey they embarked upon.
Our (140 Year) History
1883
The first formal funeral homes start to emerge around the 1870s, offering dedicated spaces for families to gather and mourn. As embalming practices become more standardised, improving the preservation of bodies for longer periods, we started offering our services in East Preston, West Sussex.
1914
As funeral homes become more established and start to offer a wider range of services, as did we, including floral arrangements, printed programs, and transportation. Embalming practices continue to advance with the introduction of more effective chemicals.
1932
The Great Depression challenges the funeral industry, through out the 1930s, as families seek more cost-effective options for burials and funerals. This lead to us offering simpler and more affordable packages.
1951
The funeral industry experiences a resurgence as economic conditions improve. Funeral homes expand their offerings to include embalming, casket sales, cremation services, and grief counselling. For us, our role as a funeral director became more focused on providing emotional support to grieving families, and therefore a more personal experience.
1976
Environmental concerns lead to a greater interest in eco-friendly burial practices, such as natural burials and biodegradable caskets. Since then, we have strived to lessen our impact on the environment through sustainable means.
2008
Personalisation becomes a key aspect of funeral services, thus we started offering our "Bespoke" service, with us working closely with families to create unique and meaningful ceremonies that reflect the individuality of the deceased.
2020
In the wake of the pandemic, we have started embracing new technologies such as online obituaries, virtual memorial services and live-streamed funerals for when family members can't be there for those meaningful moments.