O’Dwyer Funeral Directors (Ealing)

O’Dwyer Funeral Directors is a first generation business and proud of it. It belongs to Don O’Dwyer, and it is Don and his small team of colleagues, Anthea, Alan, Stuart and Claudette who will look after you and your family and who will care for the person who has died.

We visited the premises in Little Ealing Lane for the first time just two weeks after the doors opened, and a few days before the official opening. Despite Don obviously having a list of things to do as long as his arm, including three funerals to carry out before his Open Day, there was no sense of us being in the way or inconveniencing him at all. He has a relaxed and easy manner and more than a touch of Irish charm, which has led to him being well known and well liked in the area during the years he worked for a large funeral company locally.

The decision to branch out on his own came suddenly, having spent ten years working day in and day out for a funeral director business, Don was on holiday with his family when an epiphany moment arrived and he decided it was time to set up his own. There had been a number of things that he hadn’t felt happy with working for a large company, and he decided to throw everything he had into doing it the way that he felt was right.

From that moment, things fell into place in an almost miraculous fashion – he found the premises completely by chance, in an area he knows well. It had recently been converted to be suitable for a funeral director business so the infrastructure was all in place, including the essential rear access and the space at the back for vehicles to be garaged and coffins to be stored. The interior had been set up with a small arranging room, an office and two chapels of rest, behind the scenes there is plenty of space for washing and dressing deceased, room for a large fridge and even a small workshop area. It was ideal, and it was available at just the right time.

Soon after acquiring the keys in July 2016, Don equipped the premises with an Eco-friendly mortuary and also acquired a classical 1983 Daimler DS hearse. He bought a Mercedes Vito to use as a collection vehicle, with a purpose built deck to ensure the safe transportation of people back to his premises. He added  pictures and furnishings, and dressed the window in a traditional yet classy style.

The clientele in the area is a very mixed demographic, and Don is keen to ensure that everybody feels comfortable walking in through his front door – there are no blinds or curtains concealing the inside from passers by, the premises are light and airy and recently decorated. “Let some light in,” says Don, “It doesn’t have to be dark and dreary. I hate all of that. My premises are a reflection of me, bright colours with a warm and welcoming relaxing environment. I’ve had many years experience of dealing with people from all backgrounds, and everyone is welcome in my home; I want this funeral home to be exactly the same.”

Don is definitely a people person, and is committed to providing everyone with a truly personal service. Clients all have his mobile number and can call him directly whenever they need to. No matter where he is or what he is doing, he knows what is going on with each funeral and will deal with any queries himself if need be.

As the business has grown and become established, Anthea Barrett has taken on responsibility for the funerals at Little Ealing Lane and her role has become more that of office manager. Anthea is happy to conduct funerals as well as arrange them, and Claudette Fowley, the most recent addition to the team will probably have a similar role.

Don is a proud signatory to the Quaker Social Action Extended Fair Funeral Pledge, and has always had his prices clearly displayed online. He believes it’s essential for clients to be able to see his costs freely and transparently, and is very conscious of the influence that the internet is having on customer behavior. His website is reflective of this, clean and undaunting, with information easy to find.

In days gone by, Don trained as a professional racing driver, and he had experience of life outside the world of funerals running various other businesses, but when he started working for a funeral director he found his true calling. His dedication to his work was apparent when he was an employee, but now he is running his own business this dedication has become an utter determination to do the job to the highest possible standard. “This is my life, I’m putting everything into it,” he said. “The whole reason behind me starting this business was to deal with each family myself. Every family will only deal with me or Anthea at all times, there will be none of the getting a different person each time you call who knows nothing about you. I offer the same – if not better – service than any of your high street big names offer. And remember people, advice is free”

It is Don who will go and collect the person who has died himself, usually with Stuart Meskill, who works closely with Don as part of the small team. Don is well known to the staff of nursing homes in the area, and friendly with many of the clergy and celebrants, so although the business itself is still a young one, its connections and Don’s knowledge and experience are anything but. Anthea also assists with collections, while Don’s brother Alan has joined him in the business and is in charge of the rear of house operations.