Deborah Ingham Inc Huddersfield Funeral Services

The one star on this review is only given so I can post this review, really there should be a no star review. I'm writing this review not to damage a company or black mark anyone's name or be spiteful. I'm writing this review so that no other family has to go through what we had to go through while our brother was in a Deborah Ingham funeral home. On arrival to the funeral home, the first thing that greeted me was the pungent odour of cats. I have no issue with cats, or people having cats, but I don't think its suitable for cats to be kept and have free run in an area used to host funeral services. Obviously seeing the horror on my face and me explaining my sister is severely allergic to cat hair, I was told that all the blankets would be cleaned up and no cats would be in the room on the day. Anyone with allergies would know a quick run over with a hoover would not solve this issue. As a funeral service room itself, it was bleak, cold, uninviting, more like a hostel common area then a place for a family to say their final goodbye to a cherished family member. Trying to see if there was any way to fix the dire sights in front of me we asked was there any other room. We were shown a "ballroom" upstairs, basically a disco bar. DJ Booth, disco lights, bar, booth seating. As Deborah showed us this room she got upset over the state of the floor, just to remind you, I've just lost my brother, who was laid out in the most impersonal way, nothing soft or serene, just cold and harsh. We asked could we use the chairs from upstairs instead of the ones that were downstairs, reluctantly Deborah agreed so myself and my niece who was also very upset, not because of Deborahs ruined floor, but over the state of the room her dad was in, carried 30 or so chairs down 2 flights of stairs and brought the other chairs up the 2 flights of stairs. Deborah was rushing out that evening to a party but unfortunately there was still a lot of work to be done to the room so she agreed we could stay but not before saying how she now regrets trying to help families by using her home, her home that is actually advertised as a funeral home, but couldn't possibly be regretting it as much as me and my family. We tried our best to make the room look somewhat decent, it was an impossible task, just to picture this, there were stains on the floor from cat droppings, there was a crate on a table with cups and saucers stacked in which I'm guessing would have beem just laid out on the table for guests, after cats crawling over them and on the table as they climbed in the window. One window had a curtain the other one bare, the plinth for saying some words at the service was just unfinished MDF with marks and stains. The room were my brother was laid out was just so bare and hostile, his coffin was just on a trolley, the metal legs on view, I felt there was no care given in any way. Even his name on the coffin lid was crooked. In the end we went home but our hearts which we thought couldn't be shattered anymore felt like they were stamped on by Deborah Ingham funeral services. We couldn't allow this to be our final memories with our beloved Brother, Son, Father. After making many, many calls finally at 7pm that evening, with the funeral planned for the next day we found a true Gentleman who took our brother from Deborah Ingham funeral service that night and gave him the care and attention he deserved and his family the peace of mind that he would be looked after and the service will be what he would've wanted and in the setting of a comforting, peaceful place of rest. Deborah Ingham funeral service made the most heart wrenching difficult time of our lives even more unbearable. We felt we had let our brother down leaving him there, we couldn't allow that. Thankfully we didn't and a professional funeral service whom we will be eternally grateful to gave our family peace and comfort.

Debbie and her team were highly recommended to me and I have to agree on the excellent level of service that we were given. Debbie was very professional, approachable, friendly and down to earth. She made us feel at ease and guided us through the funeral process. I would also like to commend the team members who looked after us on the day and Kayleigh who works in the office. To sum up, an excellent, professional service, where the whole family were treated with dignity and respect.

I can not praise Deborah and her team highly enough, their compassion, empathy, and attention to detail was exemplary.A truly professional service right here in Huddersfield. Thankyou to Debs, Graham, and Alan for going above and beyond, 5 stars is not enough.

Can I say you were amazing and the people you were with made the day emotional and sentimental ... you gave compassion and dignity to a hard day would recommend thankyou so much ..