Community-focused Greater Manchester funeral business Elizabeth Way & Company Funeral Directors has become part of a leading UK network of funeral directors.
Funeral Partners has a strong presence in the North West of England and will invest in the Mossley and Bardsley-based business to secure its long-term future and growth.
Elizabeth Way was established in 2007 by Gail Willington, who had a long career as a nurse and fulfilled a childhood ambition by extending her caring role into the funeral profession.
Born and brought up in Stalybridge, Gail gained qualifications in funeral directing and arranging and built up the business, opening the Bardsley funeral home in 2015.
Gail will remain associated with the business as a consultant and Funeral Directors Anthony Barton and Tami Peel will continue to serve the Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge and surrounding communities.
Gail said: “The business will continue to serve local families in the way that it has for the last 12 years. Funeral Partners has that family feel and will support and develop the business to go from strength to strength.”
With Gail’s lifelong commitment to caring roles, Elizabeth Way has supported child bereavement counselling, provided training for local hospices and Macmillan nurses and hosted a Death Café, which encourages people to talk about dying.
Although Gail and husband Piers are hoping for more time to work on their newly-acquired smallholding, Gail will continue to work as a Funeral Celebrant. She has attended St George’s Stalybridge since childhood and is also a Buddhist practitioner.
Funeral Partners Regional Development Director Julian Hodgkinson said: “Elizabeth Way & Company has built an enviable reputation locally for its community support, care, and professionalism and we are delighted to welcome them to our Funeral Partners family.”
Any Funeral Directors considering selling their businesses should contact Chief Executive Officer Sam Kershaw on 07834 531822 or email: sam.kershaw@funeralpartners.co.uk
