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Grief Does Not End
With the Funeral.
Neither Does Our Care.

There is no schedule for grief. Please know we are here for you in the quiet days, weeks, and months that follow.

We know that the journey through loss doesn’t end once the funeral service is over; in many ways, the real process of healing begins in the quiet moments that follow.

Grief is deeply personal and doesn’t follow a set schedule —it often resurfaces in the days, weeks, and months after the final farewell. This is why our family business is committed and passionate about our post-funeral support. Whether you are looking for trusted bereavement care, help with meaningful keepsakes, or practical assistance on estate resources, we are here to offer genuine compassion, guidance and a listening ear.

We remain alongside the families we serve for as long as they need us.

We can help you find the right professional support, whether that is a bereavement counsellor,
a local support group, or simply provide the time and the space to talk to someone.

Local Bereavement Support

If you are navigating life after a loss, you don’t have to carry the weight alone.  We work closely with local organisations and can help connect you with the right support. Please come in and speak with any of our team at our our Burwash or Heathfield offices.

Our Local Bereavement Cafes. A Welcoming Space for All

We  host informal, monthly Bereavement Cafes across both our Burwash and Heathfield communities. These free drop-in sessions are entirely open to the public, even if your loved one’s service was taken care of by another funeral director. There are no agendas, expectations, or structured steps. Instead, we offer a peaceful room, fresh tea and cake, and a comforting environment filled with neighbours who understand the realities of grief. For many, simply sitting in a warm, shared community space brings peace, long before they feel ready to share their story out loud.

Please reach out to our dedicated team to confirm the dates for our upcoming gatherings. Everyone is welcome.

Contact us

A Helping Hand: Complimentary Bereavement Guide

When you are moving through a bereavement, having gentle, professional advice on hand can make a meaningful difference. We are proud to offer a free Grief booklet created in collaboration with Dr Bill Webster, a leading global authority on bereavement care. Designed to offer a source of quiet comfort, this booklet provides thoughtful insights to help you navigate your unique grief journey at your own pace. Available to everyone: Simply ask our team for a printed edition, or request one using the link below.

Request a Grief booklet

Grief Booklet

We have collaborated with Dr. Bill Webster, a leading expert in bereavement care, to offer his insightful Grief booklet as a free resource. This booklet provides practical help and guidance for understanding grief and offers a sense of comfort and assistance in the days ahead. A member of out team would be happy to provide you with a copy.

Download Booklet

SAIF Care

Grief is a personal journey, and it often helps to open up to someone outside your immediate circle of family and friends. As a SAIF Independent Funeral Director, we provide our families with access to SAIF Care, a dedicated bereavement support network. Designed for adults aged 18 and over, this service connects you with professional grief support, including local face-to-face sessions, webcam appointments, or telephone counselling (please note that fees may apply for counselling sessions).

Call Free: 0800 917 7224 (Lines open Monday–Friday, 9am–9pm, excluding Bank Holidays)
Email Support: help@saifcare.org.uk
Live Chat: Access the SAIF Care Chat online

Our team is always here if you would like to discuss how to access these services.

Speak to our team

National Support Groups

Please find a list of national support groups below.

Bereavement Support

Bereavement support ensures that individuals don’t have to go through the difficult journey of grief alone – whilst promoting emotional well-being, helping to navigate the challenges of loss, and assisting in finding a path toward emotional recovery.

Adult

Cruse Bereavement Care:

0808 808 1677

helpline@cruse.org.uk

www.cruse.org.uk

Dying Matters:

020 7520 8200

info@dyingmatters.org

www.hospiceuk.org

The Compassionate Friends:

0345 123 2304

helpline@tcf.org.uk

www.tcf.org.uk

Marie Curie:

0800 090 2309

support@mariecurie.org.uk

www.mariecurie.org.uk

Child and Baby

Child Bereavement UK

0800 028 8840

helpline@childbereavementuk.org

www.childbereavementuk.org

Child Death Helpline

0800 282 986

contact@childdeathhelpline.org

www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk

Baby Loss

Sands

0808 164 3332

helpline@sands.org.uk

www.sands.org.uk

The Lullaby Trust

0808 802 6868

support@lullabytrust.org.uk

www.lullabytrust.org.uk

Help in one place

The Good Grief Trust

0808 802 0111

hello@thegoodgrieftrust.org

www.thegoodgrieftrust.org

Bereavement Advice Centre

0800 634 9494

www.bereavementadvice.org

At A Loss

0800 448 0800

Text Number: 07860 022814

office@ataloss.org

www.ataloss.org

National Bereavement Service

0800 0246 121

info@thenbs.org

www.thenbs.org

National & Local Support

Finding community and professional support can make all the difference as you navigate life after loss.

Grief Booklet

We have collaborated with Dr. Bill Webster, a leading expert in bereavement care, to offer his insightful Grief booklet as a free resource. This booklet provides practical help and guidance for understanding grief and offers a sense of comfort and assistance in the days ahead. A member of out team would be happy to provide you with a copy.

Local Support Groups

We work closely with several local bereavement groups in our community. If you feel like joining a group or talking to others who understand, please just ask a member of our team—we would be happy to provide more details and help connect you with the right people.

National Support Groups

St. Clare Hospice 
(West Essex) 

Grief support and aftercare

Find out more >

Cruse Bereavement 
Support

National helpline and local branches

Find out more >

The Good Grief Trust 

Searchable UK grief services directory

Find out more >

Mind

Mental health support nationwide

Find out more >

Samaritans

24/7 emotional support

Find out more >

Continuing Your Journey of Remembrance

Finding a way to honour those we've lost is a deeply personal step in the healing process. We offer continued guidance.

Urns

Choose from a beautiful variety of styles and finishes, with bespoke engraving available on selected pieces.

Learn More >

Keepsakes

We have carefully chosen partners who provide thoughtful, elegant jewellery and unique keepsakes. Each piece is crafted with care to help preserve your most cherished memories and beautifully honour those you love .

View keepsakes >

Memorials

From traditional headstones to plaques, benches, or garden memorials, we can assist with a range of options crafted with care and guided by your wishes.

View options >

Probate Support

Our Probate support partners provide expert legal and administrative guidance , to take weight off your shoulders when managing a loved one’s affairs.

Learn More >

We Are Here Whenever You Need Us

Our dedicated team is always close by, whether you prefer to reach out online, speak over the phone, or sit down with us in person. We are committed to supporting you for as long as your family needs.

Request a Grief booklet
Visit your Local Office
Speak to our team

Tell Us Once Service

When someone passes away, there are many official organisations that need to be notified. The Tell Us Once service, provided by the UK Government, helps you do this in one go.

With your permission, they can notify:

  • HMRC (Tax Office)
  • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
  • Passport Office
  • DVLA
  • Local council services

Learn How Tell Us Once Works  → 

Tell Us Once Service

To save you from contacting multiple government departments individually, the Registrar will offer you the Tell Us Once service.

They will either:

  • Complete the Tell Us Once service with you or give you a unique reference number so you can use the service yourself, online or by phone.
  • This will notify multiple departments (such as the DWP or DVLA) simultaneously.
  • You must use the service within 28 days of getting your unique reference number.

Learn How Tell Us Once Works  → 

Words from
Families We’ve Helped

Heathfield funerals were excellent from the moment I rang up at 2am
after my father had just passed away they couldn't do enough for us as a family. comfort preparation and booklet they post out to you giving step by step guidance was invaluable. On the meeting to arrange the funeral they were professional but they had a lovely caring attitude which was a great comfort. On the day of the funeral after pre phone call to check everything was alright and no further needs, the professionalism was brilliant with such a loving and caring attitude put everyone at ease and I would certainly recommend them 100% when a funeral for a loved one arises. Thank you team .
Absolutely superb service from start to finish
Every staff member was kind and compassionate as well as highly efficient and knowledgeable. I’m really glad I chose this company as they really held my hand throughout a difficult time and produced a lovely funeral that ran seamlessly.
From the initial telephone call made to HFS we received first class efficient service.
We were guided through a sad and difficult time with compassion and understanding. As a family we felt that we had an additional friend walking by our side - Clare and her team are outstanding.
We received a truly compassionate and professional service from HFS for my mother’s funeral.
On the day, the mourners were looked after with great care by HFS staff David and (driver of the following car) Philip. Reflecting back, it’s the small details that reveal their exceptional training and natural sensitivity to the role. It’s an emotional experience to follow a hearse carrying your next-of-kin and Philip somehow intuitively understood the mood, engaging in conversation when we needed it, and respectfully falling silent when we did. All the while, he remained the consummate professional chauffeur.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Heathfield Funeral Services (HFS)
We cannot express enough gratitude for the exceptional care and compassion shown by Heathfield Funeral Services during one of the most difficult times in our lives. From the moment we reached out to them, we were met with kindness and understanding that eased our burden and allowed us to focus on honouring our loved one. The team at HFS went above and beyond to ensure that every detail was handled with the utmost care and consideration. Their attention to detail was remarkable, and it brought us great comfort to know that our loved one was in such capable hands. They took the time to listen to our wishes and offered thoughtful suggestions that truly reflected the personality and spirit of the individual we were celebrating. Their professionalism was matched only by their warmth. Each member of the team treated us like family, providing support and guidance every step of the way. They created a serene environment that made the planning process a little less daunting and allowed us to focus on what truly mattered cherishing the memories of our dear one. Moreover, the facilities provided a peaceful space for family to pay their respects. The service they provided was not just about logistics; it was about honouring a life and offering solace to those left behind. We wholeheartedly recommend Heathfield Funeral Services to anyone in need of compassionate, attentive care during such a sensitive time. Their kindness, professionalism, and meticulous attention to detail made all the difference for our family. Thank you, HFS, for your unwavering support and for helping us navigate through our grief with grace and dignity. You have our deepest appreciation.
We have been fortunate enough to have been supported by Waterhouses for both my grandparents funerals as well as my father's so we wouldn't have dreamed of going anywhere else for our dear mother
George supported us with such care and sensitivity throughout our journey in saying goodbye to our mother Robina. He organised the most beautiful funeral with us and Clare and the team supported us on the day. We had complete trust in the whole team and as painful as it was we couldn't have had a more perfect funeral for my mother last week. Thank you so much for being alongside us in our most difficult days and giving our mother the funeral that was as dignified and beautiful as she was. Special thanks to George, we can't recommend him highly enough, all his interactions with us were from the heart and with such care and integrity.
I have know the team at CWH many years being involved in the trade but only had to call on their services for the first time recently. We wanted and expected the best for my late father and were not disappointed.
David and his team are extremely thorough, no unforeseen seem to phase them or vary their approach or the cost. David helped us no end with getting my father released form hospital, advising, in conjunction with the vicar, what the funeral might look like, briefed us, the pull bearers, comprehensively on the day and ensured everything ran smoothly which it did. The service is very slick in a deeply personal way with nothing left to chance and both my late father and the family treated with the utmost of dignity. I am very pleased we instructed CHW and would do so again.
I cannot fault the professional service offered to us as a family
by C Waterhouse & Sons both in preparation for the funeral and on the day itself. It helped us through a difficult time. We were shown such care and kindness - by everyone and especially by Teresa - a really personal service. Heartfelt thanks.
Sadly, 7 months after my sister passed away, my mother died, aged 92
Once again, I asked C Waterhouse and Sons to Look after Mum and make all arrangements. George was fantastic - sympathetic, organised and led me through the process. Having previously met my Mum, I felt that he had a personal connection. David was a huge support at the funeral service. I know one is not meant to be pleased to see Funeral Directors again, but I was. Thank you to the team at C Waterhouse for their care, sensitivity and "human-ness". My sister died suddenly and I had no idea what to do or how to do it. George at C Waterhouse took charge and led me along the planning and funeral arrangements expertly - he showed sympathy and, most importantly for me, with the humour I needed. He was sensitive with my mother who has Alzheimer’s and didn’t understand. At the cremation itself, David took charge, again leading me along every step. The kindness and humanity I was shown was boundless and very gratefully received. I could not recommend C Waterhouse & Sons more highly.
I had not had to arrange a funeral before. Zara at C Waterhouse was absolutely brilliant, offering care, kindness and understanding at a time when I was not really at my best.
She listened to me, answered all my questions and provided thoughtful advice (and tissues). She was like the best friend I never knew I needed. The whole process was made as smooth as it could be, with Zara there to offer guidance and compassion throughout. I felt that both I and my late father were treated with care and respect. Shout out too to the lady who dressed my Dad and made him look respectable for his funeral. I know these people arrange funerals every day but they made me feel as though I was their only customer. This was also the case for Mike and the team of bearers at the funeral who were extremely professional, thoughtful and kind. I like the way that they leave a flower on the coffin before it goes for cremation. If you are looking for a funeral director, I highly recommend them. You will be in good, caring hands.
We have felt very well looked after as a family
Zara explained everything in detail and put us at ease when making difficult decisions. Also making suggestions when appropriate. On the day, Clare was very kind caring and supportive of our requests. I would not hesitate to recommend CWH to anyone needing the services of a funeral director. They listened to us and guided us and nothing was ever too much trouble.
We would like to sincerely thank Waterhouse and Sons,
especially Jane, for the care, compassion, and professionalism shown while arranging my mum’s funeral. From our very first meeting, they guided us through every step with kindness and patience during such a difficult time. The attention to detail was exceptional, and they ensured the day itself ran smoothly and with dignity. Waterhouse and Sons went above and beyond to make sure everything was exactly as we wanted, and nothing ever felt like too much trouble. The respect shown towards my mum and our family meant a great deal to us, and we are truly grateful for the support we received throughout. We couldn’t have asked for a more caring and professional service. Thank you again for helping us give my mum the beautiful send-off she deserved.
My family cannot thank Waterhouse enough for the comfort, care and compassion they showed us in our time of bereavement.
From start to finish, their support was exceptional. George was very personable, reliable, and struck just the right tone. He respectfully accommodated the family’s complex wishes, guiding us through our emotional journey with warmth, kindness and professionalism. He explained the process clearly, gave advice where it was needed, and the whole team ensured that everything flowed smoothly on the big day. It was reassuring to know that our father was in safe hands.
Our experience using Heathfield Funeral Services met all our needs
They were very patient and understanding as we tried to make arrangements with which all parties were happy. Additionally, their help and advice meant we could have the funeral and internment within a very tight time frame to accommodate family from overseas. Wendy was a lovely celebrant and included everything we wanted in the service. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend their services.
Absolutely superb service from start to finish
Every staff member was kind and compassionate as well as highly efficient and knowledgeable. I’m really glad I chose this company as they really held my hand throughout a difficult time and produced a lovely funeral that ran seamlessly.
Having used HFS both for family and witnessed their service at Funerals of friends we did not hesitate to seek their services
when our Aunt the last of her generation passed away in November. Their service is professional & personal to cover the needs of those involved in making the necessary arrangements. We sincerely thank Wendy Mitchell who manages the office and David Rhys-Jones who directed the funeral on the day for ensuring everything went smoothly, respecting all of our wishes. Highly Recommended.
From the initial telephone call made to HFS we received first class efficient service
We were guided through a sad and difficult time with compassion and understanding. As a family we felt that we had an additional friend walking by our side - Clare and her team are outstanding.
We received a truly compassionate and professional service from HFS
for my mother’s funeral. On the day, the mourners were looked after with great care by HFS staff David and (driver of the following car) Philip. Reflecting back, it’s the small details that reveal their exceptional training and natural sensitivity to the role.
I had not had to arrange a funeral before
Zara at Waterhouse was absolutely brilliant, offering care, kindness and understanding at a time when I was not really at my best. She listened to me, answered all my questions and provided thoughtful advice (and tissues). She was like the best friend I never knew I needed. The whole process was made as smooth as it could be, with Zara there to offer guidance and compassion throughout. I felt that both I and my late father were treated with care and respect. I know these people arrange funerals every day but they made me feel as though I was their only customer. This was also the case for Mike and the team of bearers at the funeral who were extremely professional, thoughtful and kind. I like the way that they leave a flower on the coffin before it goes for cremation. If you are looking for a funeral director, I highly recommend them. You will be in good, caring hands.
The entire staff of Waterhouse put so much care and attention into helping us organise my husband's funeral
They provide a superb service and were so compassionate, thoughtful and professional. Zara was absolutely wonderful and guided us through all the necessary steps. I cannot thank you all enough
Waterhouse were outstanding with their professional and compassionate care towards our family
George was so kind and supportive in helping us to make our decisions for my Mum, Sheila’s service. He matched us to a wonderful celebrant, Nicola Elliott, who was amazing and helped make such a painful process more bearable. We cannot thank you all enough.
I/my florist have worked with Waterhouse and many other local funeral directors for many years, for me, Waterhouse have always been just that little bit more special
they aren't a big chain, they are a family run business, they are kind, caring and you feel a sense of peace when you visit them. When We lost our Mum, I knew strait away that it was going to be Waterhouses to take care of our precious Mum. I am a local florist and although I help families choose their final floral tribute for their loved ones, I have never had to arrange a funeral, It initially felt very overwhelming with what had to be arranged until we met with George. George made the whole funeral side of things so easy, relaxed and stress free, he helped guide us throughout with such a soft and caring approach. Personally for me, they are simply the best and would highly recommend them to any family
Waterhouse Funeral Directors provided a superb, sympathetic, thoughtful and professional service
whilst dealing with my wife’s funeral. Right from the very start of the process they offered support & unbiased advice, helping me to make the best decisions during what is an emotional journey. Thank you.
A truly professional funeral director
We were hand held with both empathy and understanding from start to finish, by both the celebrant (Mick Gosden) and all of the Waterhouse staff. All of our requests were efficiently met, which made the day truly wonderful for all of our family and numerous friends. Resulting in a true celebration and a memorable day of our dads life!!
Waterhouse Funeral DIrectors arranged both my parents' funerals
(my father died in 2023 and my mother in early 2026). They could not have been more helpful, more compassionate or easier to deal with. From the first phone call to the final email, they were professional, kind and clear. Both our funeral organiser and the funeral director made us feel supported and extremely well looked after - in such a stressful and sad time, it was a huge relief to think that there was a competent team making sure that everything went smoothly. I recommend them highly - both for their competence and knowledge, and also for their kindness and compassion. It was clear in every interaction that they remembered that, for us, arranging the funeral was a hugely emotional and sad process - and this meant a lot to me.

Community Voice

Supporting Families Beyond the Funeral
At West & Coe, care doesn’t stop at the service. Learn about our continued support for grieving families — from local groups to helpful resources you can access anytime.
Read more >
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In this episode, we speak with our funeral planning team about the benefits of preparing your wishes in advance — and how it can ease the burden on loved ones.
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Local Matters: Backing Dagenham FC
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