About Us

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The idea for The Funeral Companion began during the COVID-19 pandemic while I was working as a funeral arranger for a new online funeral company.

Alongside supporting families, I was helping to build a comprehensive database covering all the 32 London boroughs. My role was to research and organise practical information on cemeteries, crematoria, hospitals, coroners, mortuaries and other services. 

As the project grew, I jokingly began referring to it as "my funeral companion."
Before the project could be completed though, the company folded and months of research were packed away in a cupboard, where they remained for several years.

Then, in July 2026, while having a clear out, I found the folder again and almost threw it away. But, instead, I stopped and looked through all the work I'd spent so many hours compiling and asked myself one simple question: "Could this still help someone?" That moment changed everything. That was when the idea of The Funeral Companion becoming a website was born.

I realised the research could become much more than an internal database. It could become a free, independent website offering clear, practical guidance to people facing one of the most difficult times in their lives.

Everything on this website is guided by our P.I.S.C.E.S. principles. 

We strive to be: 
Practical, 
Informative, 
Supportive, 
Clear, 
Empathetic and 
Sensitive in every guide, article and resource we create.

But our goal isn't simply to provide information. We want every visitor to leave feeling C.R.I.S.P.:

Confident to take the next step.
Reassured that they're not alone.
Informed with clear, reliable guidance.
Supported throughout their journey.
Prepared for whatever comes next.

If you leave this website feeling CRISP, then The Funeral Companion has achieved exactly what it was created to do.


Thank you for visiting. 


With warm wishes,
Tracey Anne
Founder of The Funeral Companion

Last reviewed July 2026
Hi, I'm Tracey Anne, the Founder of The Funeral Companion.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my website.You already know how the website came about so I just wanted to introduce myself to you.

I am a qualified funeral arranger, with a background in the NHS as an administrator, PA and medical secretary. I have also worked as a keyworker in end-of-life care.

I have been very fortunate to have had the support and collaboration of some amazing former colleagues while bringing this project to life and you can read more about them under the Meet my Team section.

This website is my first project since leaving funeral care in 2022, when I was medically retired, and it allows me to remain connected to the professions I felt privileged to be part of.

I have many more ideas on how to expand this website so please keep checking back to see what's new.

After all, this website is for you.


Thank you for visiting.

With warm wishes,
Tracey Anne

Last reviewed July 2026
“Love never really dies and we will always hold our loved ones in our heart and memories.”

Read the full interview Here
The Funeral Companion may have started with my idea, but it hasn't been built alone. Along the way, a small group of former colleagues and friends have generously shared their time, experience, and honest opinions. They have answered my questions, offered constructive feedback, and helped me think about bereavement and funeral planning from different perspectives.
Each person has their own story, their own experiences, and their own reasons for wanting to support this project. Their insights have helped shape The Funeral Companion into a resource that is practical, compassionate, and centred on the needs of bereaved families.
I am incredibly grateful for their encouragement, their support, their kindness, and their willingness to be part of this journey. 

Meet Some Professionals
Create a Handbook That’s Right for You
Choose the pages you would like included in your own personalised Funeral Companion Handbook.
With up to 77 pages and options to choose from, you can select the information that is most relevant to you — whether you’re planning a funeral, dealing with the practicalities after someone dies, or looking for help and support with grief and bereavement.
Simply tick the pages you would like, and we’ll bring them together to create your own personalised Funeral Companion Handbook.
Your Personalised Handbook
Choose up to 20 pages from the available options to create a handbook that’s right for you.
Your selected pages will be printed double-sided in black and white and brought together into one handy booklet for you to keep and refer to whenever you need it.
The printed handbook is more than just a copy of the website. Not all of our checklists and practical resources are available online, and some printed pages contain additional information and detail to help you when you need it most.
£12 including standard UK postage
Choose only the pages that are relevant to you — whether you’re planning ahead, arranging a funeral, dealing with practical matters after a death, or looking for support with grief and bereavement.
Your handbook. Your choices. Your information, all in one place.
Need more than one?
If you require more than one handbook, or you’re a professional or organisation wishing to provide handbooks to several people, discounts are available for multiple-copy orders.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

We’re growing — and this is only the beginning.
The Funeral Companion has grown considerably since it was first created. What began as a website providing practical funeral and bereavement information is developing into a wider community resource, with new services, resources and ways of accessing information being added over time.

🤝 Meet Our Virtual Receptionist
Need help? Just ask.
Our Virtual Receptionist is designed to make finding information easier. Visitors can ask questions about funeral planning, registering a death, local services, practical guidance and bereavement support, and be directed towards the information they need. And you don't have to live in one of our current directory areas to use it.

Our local information is being developed gradually, starting with London, Essex and Kent. If your area hasn't been added yet, our Virtual Receptionist can still help you find relevant information and point you in the right direction.
We're building locally, while planning for the future.

🌱 Our Plans for the Future
The Funeral Companion is being developed gradually and sustainably, with new ideas and resources introduced as the project grows.

More local information
London has been substantially developed, with Essex and Kent forming part of our initial geographical focus. Further areas of the UK will be added gradually, guided by website popularity and visitor demand.

More practical resources
We plan to continue developing free guides, checklists, planners and other practical resources to help people understand what they need to do following a death.

Funeral Companion Handbooks
Digital and printed handbooks will provide practical information in a format people can keep and refer back to when they need it.

Create Your Own Funeral Companion Handbook
We're developing a personalised handbook service allowing people to select the information most relevant to their circumstances and create their own practical Funeral Companion handbook.

Working with community organisations
We want to build relationships with care homes, hospices, hospitals, bereavement services and other organisations so that families can discover The Funeral Companion when they need it.

💙 Keep Us in Mind
You may not need The Funeral Companion today. But one day, you, a family member, a friend or someone you support may need practical information about what happens after a death.
That's why we'd encourage you to keep our details somewhere safe and accessible.

The website will continue to grow, and we'll keep adding new information and resources.
We're here to help when you need us most.


The Funeral Companion is an evolving community resource. Our aim is to provide practical, independent and accessible information — helping people feel a little less lost at one of life's most difficult times.