Co-op Funeralcare, Pitsea

Absolutely amazing. We received such great support when organising my husbands funeral from the very first appointment to the actual funeral they could not have done more with such compassionate care for my husband and for the whole family.

If I could give zero stars, I would.

I cannot fault the collection of my dad after he passed. The staff involved at that stage were caring, respectful, and personable, and I felt reassured during an incredibly difficult moment.

However, when I attended the funeral home to make the arrangements, the experience changed completely. What should have been a poignant and compassionate meeting felt more like a sales pitch. Despite being made very clear on numerous occasions that I only wanted a direct cremation, I was taken into a room covered in brochures full of “options,” with a calculator placed on the table. The approach felt inhumane and transactional at a time when empathy should have been paramount.

We were met by Lyndsay, who repeatedly pushed additional services despite my continued and explicit requests for a direct cremation in line with my dad’s wishes. It was only after payment had been made that she asked what type of person my dad was. By this point, I was so stricken with grief and taken aback by the whole experience that I just wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

I later called and was fortunate to speak to Linda, who I genuinely cannot fault. I dealt with Linda several times, and she was approachable, empathetic, and personable. She restored some of my faith in Co-op Funeralcare.

Unfortunately, that was short-lived. I then received a call from Emily, who, quite frankly, seemed better suited to a call centre than a funeral director. She phoned to inform me of when my dad would be cremated, delivering the information in a completely matter-of-fact way, with no empathy or sensitivity whatsoever. I understand this may be routine for her, but for me, this was one of the most difficult times of my life.

The following day, she called again to tell me my dad was “now with them,” proceeded to reel off opening times, and patronised me by stating that I MUST bring ID so they knew who I was. I had already been to the branch several times and am the sole person dealing with the estate. They should know who I am by now. Why Emily needed to make these calls at all is beyond me.

I never intended to leave a review, but after being emailed by Co-op asking me to do so, I felt compelled to respond. What makes this even more inappropriate is that I was asked to review their services before I have even collected my dad’s ashes, meaning the process is not yet complete.

I feel it is important to warn others going through this agonising experience: do not use Co-op Funeralcare. I have learned the hard way that they are a money-making business with little concern for your experience at a time of profound grief. You truly get what you pay for.

I highly recommend the Co-op Funeral care, Pitsea. They were amazing, kind, caring and supportive right from the beginning. They really listened to our thoughts and what we wanted and really gave us the time we needed to make our decisions. They kept us updated with everything, and were there with any thing we needed support with. We are very grateful to them.