George Ball & Son may well be one of the oldest businesses in Stockport.

For more than 150 years, across six generations, they've been helping local residents commemorate their lost loved ones. 

And it's for good reason that they've been around so long; since 1870, they've adapted to alternative types of funerals without losing sight of their most important aim; to be "compassionate and understanding". 

Having been established by George Ball senior in the zenith of the Victorian era, the independent business is now run by his great-granddaughter Margaret Arnison (nee Ball), her son Daniel and his wife Rachel and assisted by their sons, Noah and Jacob.

We visited the business - based at 39 Derby Range in Heaton Moor - to find out more.

"It's an honour and a privilege to be part of such a long-established tradition", Rachel said. 

"What's most important is that we stay compassionate and understanding at what is always a difficult time."

Find out more about George Ball & Son here.

The business has been run by five generations of the same family since 1870 - two important members are Rex ('Barketing Co-coordinator') and Pluto ('Pawsitive Reinforcement Specialist') (Image supplied)

It's certainly no surprise that planning a funeral is hard and daunting for the bereaved family. 

But as Rachel explains, the job for her and the team is "to honour the trust that people put in us". 

"That's what we're here for", she explains.

"We understand what you're going through, and we're here to help with guidance, experience and expertise."

Indeed, it's precisely this acumen - decades of it - which has cemented George Ball's reputation in Heaton Moor and beyond since the 19th century. 

Find out more about the team at George Ball & Son here.

George Ball has close contact with local clergy and churches for those wanting a religious funeral (Image - Nub News)

As Rachel adds, the team's experience makes navigating the tricky process of organising a funeral more comfortable for the grieving family, especially for those who haven't planned one before.

And this is true irrespective of the nature of the funeral which is being planned. 

"Everybody deals with grief differently, and everybody grieves in a different way", she explains. 

"What's right for one family might not be the case for another. We're here to accommodate whatever feels right."

Everybody experiences grief differently, and similarly, no two funerals are the same - George Ball has been able to accomodate all kinds of different memorials in its long history (Image supplied)

For instance, George Ball has a long-established relationship with local churches and clergy for those who would like a religious funeral - but non-religious services are also available.

Likewise, there are options for both traditional and alternative funerals, as well as services such as burials with nature. 

It's a careful balance of compassion and understanding, coupled with professionalism and expedience - an incredibly delicate balance to strike for a funeral director, but it's clear that George Ball embodies it. 

In doing so, they help families address their grief and live with it, living by the aphorism of Chinese philosopher Confucius:

"We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression." 

Once again, you can find more information about George Ball & Son on their website here.

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George Ball & Son is a sponsor of Nub News. Support from local businesses such as them helps us keep our local news free and easy-to-read. If you own a local business and would like to sponsor us, get in touch at [email protected].

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