Lilleywhite Funeral Service

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Lilleywhite Funeral Service

Independent Family Run Funeral Service proud to serve our local community since 1897.
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A space where we share thoughts and advice following the loss of a loved one. Since 1897, Lilleywhite Funeral Service has been a name synonymous with dignity and pride in the profession of funeral directing. Lilleywhite Funeral Service has a wealth of experience within the industry and are totally committed to offering a first rate, highly professional and caring service. We are able to arrange bo

th traditional and bespoke funerals with either a religious or non-religious content. We are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors and therefore you have complete peace of mind in knowing that the service you will receive will be delivered with the utmost professionalism and integrity

We can be contacted 24 hours a day and our caring team are able to offer both guidance and advice to help you create the best possible funeral for your loved one. Funeral arrangements are generally made at our premises in Prestwich - normal office hours 09.00 – 18.00, however, many families find it comforting to be in their own surroundings at this time and we are happy to come to your home for this purpose.

25/05/2026

Losing someone you love makes you appreciate the small things and see the world in a new way. It can be easy to feel pain and fall into the depths of despair, I know, because I have been there. Or you can try to turn your face to the sun and see the beauty in the small things. The way the light shimmers through the leaves in the trees. The sound of waves crashing on the sand. Waking up to face licks from my puppy everyday. The small things always mattered, grief just makes you appreciate them more. Picture of my emotional support bundle of floof, Clio. With love, Amy Lilleywhite.

17/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness Week 7/7

After losing my dad myself and my mum started collecting special 50 pence coins. Particularly the ones from the Beatrice Potter collection. My mum and dad used to read me the stories before bed, and they were always full of joy and beautiful characters.

Through talking to people about loss, I started looking for signs. Like this little feather I woke up to this morning, or when a robin appears in a hedgerow.

Every time I see something special, that just feels right, I always say “hi daddy” and then I talk to him about what I’ve been up to recently. It’s a lovely way of making him feel close to me, and I know, that wherever he is now he is listening too.

All my love, Amy Lilleywhite

16/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness Week 6/7

Working as a funeral director has taught me so many things, one being that time that is not something that is promised to us.

Life is short, try to do the things that fill your heart with joy. Following my dad's passing I don't save my favourite shoes or clothes for best, I wear them. I don't wait to tell someone how much they mean to me, or be there for someone who needs me to be.

This life is so precious, and it is so important to make the choices that make you happy.

With love, Amy Lilleywhite

Illustration by lucyclaireillustration

15/05/2026

Mental health awareness week 5/7

Since losing my dad, there have been days when I dread getting out of bed. When I’m so down and depressed that the outside world is terrifying. It doesn’t help that our Mancunian weather is rather damp, it’s not much of an encouragement.

As the years have passed by, I have taught myself coping mechanisms to deal with my grief. My morning ritual is taking my dog for a walk, every morning rain or shine we get out of bed, put a waterproof on and walk around the roads where I live. It is now part of my routine, and it really helps to get me going in the morning.

Grief can feel very isolating, and one way to help that is to immerse yourself in nature. As the nights become lighter and the sun warmer, it can be a great time to take a stroll outside and enjoy our local green spaces. Walking in nature exposes us to light and fresh air which lowers cortisol, increases endorphins and helps regulate sleep patterns.

Taking that first step can help immensely, even 15 minutes in a green space can provide huge benefits. So, if after losing a loved one you feel overwhelmed, taking a walk outside provides a measurable improvement in wellbeing.

I hope you manage to step outside this weekend, purely for the pleasure of it.

All my love, Amy Lilleywhite

Image taken by me, in Heaton Park.

14/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness Week 4/7

6 months after my dad passed away the depth of my grief really set in. It suddenly hit me, and my mental health plummeted into darkness. Reading has always been a joy of mine, and I turned to the comfort of words on a page to help me explore the emotions I felt at the time.

There is a wealth of information and insight contained in so many books. Through reading, it helped me validate my own feelings whilst also learning to reframe my thoughts and emotions. It also gave me perspective on loss, as it can feel all-consuming and it is easy to lose yourself in the waves of grief. C.S. Lewis wrote "We read to know we are not alone."

Below is a list of books, and audio books that helped me enormously:

"Grief Works" by Julia Samuel.
This was the first book I read on my grief journey, it is written by a psychiatrist and recounts various different stories and perspectives of former clients. Each chapter focuses on a different kind of loss, and it really helped me to frame my emotions into a different way and feel less alone.

"The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig.
I listened to the audiobook version, and it is beautifully narrated too. Listening to audiobooks helps calm my busy mind, it is about about a woman named Nora Seed, who after reaching a breaking point in her life, finds herself in a mystical library that allows her to explore the infinite versions of her life and discover what truly makes it worth living.

"The Humans" by Matt Haig.
A funny and profound science fiction novel about an unnamed alien who takes over the body of a Cambridge mathematician, Andrew Martin, to destroy evidence of a mathematical discovery. Initially disgusted by humanity, the alien slowly falls in love with human life, its imperfections, and its capacity for emotion. Towards the end of the book there is a list of sorts of all the wonderful things that we can enjoy in this world, which was the starting point for my love of classical music. Through the introduction to "Clare de Lune".

"Windswept and Interesting" by Billy Connolly.
Now, I know his humour is not for everyone, but I love him. I listened to the audiobook version of this, and it really opened my mind and heart, as I did not realise how colourful, and heartbreaking, his life had been. This book brought so much joy into my heart, and despite his exceptionally hard start in life, it reminded me that we can still have a wonderful life, regardless of what has happened to you.

Do you have any recommendations of books? If so I would love for you to share them , please let me know in the comments.

All my love, Amy Lilleywhite

Doodle of some cherry blossom by me.

13/05/2026

Mental health awareness week 3/7

Pre-emptive grief is when we feel sad for a future loss. The poet Jack Gilbert said "We must risk delight. We must have the stubbornness to accept gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world." This feeling for me, is mourning the life I grew up dreaming about. Mourning the fact that my dad will never walk me down the aisle. Or meet any future grandchildren, and this particularly cuts deeply, because I know he would have been the most incredible granddad.

In the early days after losing my dad I felt really bitter, my dad was a good man, why did he have to leave? He did so much good in this world, he did not deserve what happened to him. So instead now, I have learnt to live with these feelings and instead I try to reframe them in a different way. I try to remember how lucky I am to have had my dad for as long as I did. To let him live on in the amazing world we do at our funeral service. And treasure all the amazing memories and the impression he left on my heart.

You do not need to deny yourself from grieving major life events without someone you thought would always be there for you. Yet at the same time, we need to remember that they would want us to live our life as best we can, experience love and joy and most importantly be as happy as we possibly can be. Grief is just love that has nowhere to go.

All my love, Amy Lilleywhite

Photo is from Christmas Eve 2017, enjoying the sunshine in my dad's favourite place, Mallorca.

12/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness Week 2/7

Grief and loss can change you and your perspective on the world. The safety you once felt is no longer promised, life can feel so uncertain. So, we have to try and find new ways and systems to choose to save ourselves.

Taking the first step can be so hard, something I find useful is "remembering I have free will" these small moments help me find glimmers of joy in the everyday. It might be as small as wearing my best sunglasses even when it is grey outside, putting lipgloss on even though I have nowhere to go, or my current favourite, listening to Disney songs because I can.

The smallest moments built up together can bring so much joy and I hope you try using your free will too.

With love, Amy Lilleywhite

Illustration by lucyclaireillustration

11/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness Week 1/7

Today marks the start of mental health awareness week, and as losing a loved one is a journey that we all experience at some point, I thought I would dedicate this week's posts to grief and loss. I lost my dad nearly 8 years ago now, and I still struggle with my own mental health which manifests as anxiety and depression. Everyone experiences grief differently, but as someone who has lived with it every day for some time now, I thought it might be helpful to share some of my insight. For those of you who are starting your own grief journey, please know that you are not alone, and I hope that the words I share with you this week offer a point of reflection and hope.

Sending all my love with anyone who needs it today, Amy Lilleywhite xx

Poem by the wonderful Donna Ashworth

08/05/2026

The spectacular flowers you see here have been arranged by family members, inspired by the flowers grown in their mum’s own garden 🌺 so much care, and love has been poured into such a special tribute. And it truly shows 🤍

04/05/2026

One of the saddest things I see as a funeral director is when families fall apart following the loss of a loved one. And I see it so very often. When this happens you can feel so alone and isolated. Things are said that cut so deep, and on top of the grief you are already feeling, it can often feel like it is all too much. If something like this has happened to you, I would like you to know that no matter how alone you feel, you are not. Cherish the love you have from friends and the precious moments of human connection. Grief is a universal experience, it connects us all.

With love, Amy Lilleywhite

Illustration by lucyclaireillustration

Address

301 Bury Old Road
Manchester
M251JA

Telephone

+441617732749

Website

http://www.lilleywhite-funerals.co.uk/

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