CREWE Nub News is delighted to announce the launch of our new obituaries section as part of our continued commitment to building strong ties with the local community.

As an online local newspaper sitting right at the heart of the town, we have partnered with Crewe's independent family-owned and run Crewe Funeral Services to offer this new service to their clients.

Obituaries have always been a fundamental part of local newspapers so we are excited to be "bringing obituaries back to life" for Crewe Nub News.

Obituaries can be any length, include up to 10 images and will be published completely free of charge on the Crewe Nub News website.

Family and friends can view and share the entries, which will remain on the obituaries section. There is also the option to include a link to a charity or crowdfunding page if the family is requesting donations in memory of their loved one.

Crewe Funeral Services offers a real personal touch as it supports families who have lost a loved one – their staff truly guide you through the whole funeral process.

As a small independent business they do not have large overheads so they are able to provide funerals at competitive prices and they have shown that commitment by signing the pledge of the National Fair Price Funerals' campaign.

In fact, transparency on price is something owner Steven Linde feels passionately about and all costs are clearly detailed on his website.

Crewe Funeral Services has been providing caring and high-quality funeral arrangements since Steven set up the business in 2006 after he took early retirement from his job as a high profile manager serving the community in the public sector.

It's a real family business too with Steven's wife running the administrative side for the last 10 years and his two sons and a daughter helping out on a part-time basis.

When you visit Steven's offices in Crewe Road in Shavington you sense the caring nature of his funeral business. There is a real passion to provide the best funeral arrangements and a service which truly reflects the individual.

Steven, who is an experienced Funeral Celebrant, takes time to research the background of the individuals and their stories really shine through at the service, capturing the essence of their lives.

"We specialise in personalised Celebration of Life Funeral Services to reflect the interests and personality of a loved one in a fitting tribute to their life and achievements," says Steven.

"Often personal tributes, poems or music take the place of hymns and prayers, although these can still be included."

Crewe Funeral Services cares about the environment too and where possible uses eco-friendly products, while encouraging families to use floral tributes from their own gardens or wild flowers so at to reduce the volume of imported flowers.

It specialises in woodland burials and has access to conduct services in beautiful woodland sites, including Swanlow Park Cemetery near Winsford.

For environmental funerals coffins are biodegradable and are made from wood from sustainable woodlands or even recycled cardboard, while natural willow, seagrass and bamboo coffins can be provided decorated with wild flowers.

Crewe Funeral Services genuinely cares about its clients, so it is no surprise it has won a Cheshire Business Awards community prize.

It's a calling for Steven, who says: "You need to have an awful lot of empathy, but it is also very rewarding and people are extremely grateful to be guided through the process of arranging a funeral."

The business also provides bereavement support for care professionals and the staff are passionate fundraisers themselves.

Steven sits on St. Luke's Hospice's Shavington fundraising committee and is a familiar quiz master and fashion model at events he helps organise.

For those who find difficulties meeting the full costs of a funeral, Crewe Funeral Services offers a direct cremation for the fixed price of £1,360.

A simple cremation funeral in Crewe and Nantwich and surrounding areas has a fixed cost of £2,495, which includes third party costs, such as cremation fees, and there are no hidden extras.

"A direct cremation is a low-cost option which is growing in popularity," explains Steven. "The ashes are returned to the family and they can celebrate the life of their loved one. Sometimes it's down to choice and there are people who don't want a fuss and just want to be simply cremated."

Steven also runs a separate branch of the business called 'Cycle of Life', based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, which arranges environmental funerals and is close to a woodland burial area in Keele.

Covid has brought its challenges, but Crewe Funeral Services strictly adheres to all the government protocols.

"We blitz the place every day and we have taken all precautions to make our premises Covid-secure," says Steven. "But we will still allow visitors into our Chapel of Rest if we can."

Crewe Funeral Services offers a funeral pre-payment plan administered by Golden Charter which offers a number of different payment options.

For more details about what Crewe Funeral Services can offer you can go to their website here.