Business Details
27 Years
experience
Your Trusted Funeral Directors in Buckfastleigh
Established in 1999, Heart & Soul Funerals is a family-owned and operated funeral director service based in Buckfastleigh, Devon. Our team of qualified professionals, including NAFD-certified funeral directors and trained celebrants, specialises in creating deeply personal and meaningful funeral ceremonies that reflect the unique lives, values, and beliefs of the individuals we serve. We prioritise a gentle, inclusive approach, offering flexible options such as natural burials, home funerals, and bespoke ceremonies in our tranquil Riverstone Hall by the Dart River.With a commitment to transparency, we provide clear pricing without hidden fees, ensuring families maintain control throughout the process. Recognised as Good Funeral Guide Funeral Director of the Year, we combine over two decades of experience with a passion for improving bereavement support through our training programs and published work. Our facilities include modern care suites and ceremony spaces designed to foster intimate, family-led farewells away from traditional crematorium constraints.
Services
Personalised Funeral Planning
Green Funerals
Home Funerals
Ceremony Writing
Bereavement Support
Coffin Selection
Venue Hire
Funeral Training
Memorial Services
Cremation Services
Details
- Year established: 1999
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of experience in personalised funeral planning
- Our team includes NAFD-certified funeral directors and trained celebrants
- We provide transparent pricing with no hidden fees
- We specialise in family-led funerals at our tranquil Riverstone Hall
- We train funeral professionals nationwide through Green Fuse Training
Associations and certifications
- SAIF
What people say
Skilful blending of symbolic elements
Excellent refreshments
Respectful kindness
Steady presence
Coffin was wonderful
Services
Personalised Funeral Services
We create bespoke funeral services that reflect the deceased's life, character, and beliefs. Our team works closely with families to design meaningful ceremonies in locations ranging from our Riverstone Hall to natural burial sites. With over 20 years' experience, we offer expert guidance on all aspects from coffin selection to ceremony writing, ensuring every detail aligns with the family's wishes while maintaining strict cost transparency.
Green Funerals
Specialising in environmentally conscious funerals, we arrange natural burials at Sharpham Meadow and other designated sites. Our services include biodegradable coffin options, carbon-neutral transportation, and ceremony elements that incorporate natural elements. We help families create meaningful farewells that align with ecological values while maintaining traditional ritual aspects, with expertise developed through our training programs and published guidance on sustainable funeral practices.
Bereavement Support
Our accredited bereavement practitioners provide ongoing emotional support before, during, and after funerals. Through Green Fuse Training, we've developed specialist skills in helping families navigate grief, including creating memory books and facilitating family-led rituals. Our approach combines professional qualifications with personal experience of loss, offering both practical guidance and emotional support tailored to individual needs and cultural backgrounds.
Ceremony Writing
Our trained celebrants craft unique funeral ceremonies that capture the deceased's personality and life story. We incorporate music, readings, and symbolic elements to create meaningful tributes, whether traditional religious services or contemporary celebrations of life. With expertise from training over 800 professionals nationwide, we help families develop personal rituals that facilitate healing and connection while respecting diverse beliefs and cultural traditions.
Venue Hire
Our Riverstone Hall offers a peaceful alternative to crematorium settings, with modern facilities for vigils, funerals, and wakes. The stone barn venue by the Dart River accommodates up to 100 guests, with flexible decoration options and audio-visual equipment. We provide exclusive use for each family, allowing unhurried ceremonies followed by unattended cremations the next morning, creating a more relaxed atmosphere while maintaining cost efficiency through our transparent pricing structure.
People
Jane Morrell
Founder & Director
Established Green Fuse in 1999 after personal experiences with inadequate funeral services. Holds NAFD Funeral Directors Diploma and Bath University qualifications. Author of 'We Need To Talk About The Funeral' and founder of Green Fuse Training, which has trained over 800 professionals.
Simon Smith
Director
Co-director since 2005 with Bath University Foundation Degree in Funeral Services. Accredited Bereavement Practitioner and co-author of funeral guidance books. Combines psychotherapy training with funeral directing experience to support families through meaningful ceremonies.
Paul Georghiades
Funeral Director
Former Steiner teacher who joined in 2021. Provides compassionate support through funeral processes, working with families to create personalised ceremonies that reflect individual lives and family traditions.
Birte Stark
Funeral Director
Trained with Cruse and NAFD, bringing 10 years' experience from Co-Op funeral homes. Specialises in supporting diverse families with empathy and professionalism, drawing on personal experiences of family-led care after death.
Questions
What makes Heart & Soul Funerals different from traditional funeral directors?
We offer complete personalisation with no time constraints, family-led ceremonies in our tranquil Riverstone Hall, transparent pricing, and specialist expertise in creating meaningful, bespoke funerals that reflect individual lives.
Can we have a funeral at home?
Yes, we specialise in home funerals and can guide you through legal requirements, practical arrangements, and ceremonial elements to create a meaningful home-based farewell.
Do you handle both cremation and burial services?
We arrange all types of funerals including traditional cremations, woodland burials at Sharpham Meadow, church services, and family-led ceremonies in locations of your choice.
How do you support families planning a funeral?
We provide dedicated time with our qualified team, transparent cost breakdowns, ceremony writing assistance, and ongoing bereavement support tailored to your specific needs and cultural background.
Are your prices really transparent?
Yes, we charge our fees plus direct costs with no mark-ups. We provide clear written estimates and have been recognised by the Fair Funerals initiative for our honest pricing approach.
Can we personalise the funeral service?
Absolutely. We specialise in creating unique ceremonies that reflect the deceased's personality, including custom music, readings, symbolic elements, and venue decoration to create meaningful tributes.
Videos
