After 110 years serving Merseyside, Frank Dooley & Son Funeral Directors has become the latest business to join the Funeral Partners family of funeral homes, which now has over 100 local businesses in its network across the UK.
Established in 1910 and run by four generations of the Dooley family, Frank Dooley & Son now operates four funeral homes: two in St Helens and branches in Haydock and Widnes.
Kieron Dooley, who remains working in the business as a Funeral Director, describes his great grandfather and founder as the adventurous Peter Dooley: “Peter was originally a carpenter who left Ireland to help rebuild San Francisco after the earthquake in 1906. He returned to Britain a few years later and found many carpenters used their skills to become undertakers and funeral directors.”
This led Peter to found the funeral business which now bears his son’s name. Frank had two sons, Peter and Kevin, with Kevin joining his father in the family business – just as his son Kieron would.
Kieron admitted that choosing to become part of Funeral Partners wasn’t an easy decision: “We all find change a challenge at times. However, our first impressions were based on meeting the people of Funeral Partners and this has been a pleasure.
“It’s a collaboration of successfully run companies with high ideals, a moral compass and the emotional intelligence to serve the families that call on us in dark times. We are immensely proud to be guaranteed seeing our family name within the funeral service live on and continue to be held in high esteem in the community and beyond.”
The business has continued to support the Merseyside community by holding a number of Macmillan Cancer Support coffee and cake events and hosting services for local churches.
Kieron and all the team are now eager to expand the business’ outreach programme supporting local people and local good causes, while continuing to uphold the family name, reputation and exemplary care with the backing of Funeral Partners.
Funeral Partners Chief Executive Officer Sam Kershaw said, “I am proud that this long-established family business, with such an excellent reputation for high standards, caring for the bereaved and supporting the local community has chosen to join us. Local families can be assured that they will continue to deliver the same high standards of care and professionalism.”
For more information, see www.frankdooley.co.uk/
