Ernest Larner & Son Funeral Directors

This isn’t something I would normally do, but then I’ve never had to do this before. How do you rate a funeral director? I can only rate by the quality of service received and the manner and attitude of the staff.
I did use Ernest Larner when my father died several years ago, but to be honest, my brother took care of most of the things then. It was different when my mother died and I wanted to do everything, whether my brother wanted me to or not.
I went back to Ernest Larner as they did a good job with my dad. From the outset, I had a new member of staff and he was brilliant. It was his first day and he didn’t know prices or procedures that well, but he was brilliant — he was sensitive, kind and explained everything. He called Yianni from the office if he couldn’t do anything and she didn’t want to come into the room as she was dressed casually because she was on holiday!
I have to say that everything went fantastically well. Requiring a requiem mass for a catholic funeral isn’t easy, but they accommodated our priest’s requirements and did it in style. My funeral director on the day (Neil) was brilliant. He led me every step of the way and told me where I needed to be, what I needed to do and at what time.
They only get 4 stars from me because although I provided the music, they forgot to give it over in time for arriving at the crematorium so I had an organ playing, then the CD and then the priest cutting it short not what I had planned. Everything else went like clockwork.
Thanks to everyone in the team at the Putney office. It was a very difficult time for me and I wasn’t handling it too well — they made sure I did what I needed to.