Arka Original Funerals Reviews 10

I worked with Hannah to arrange the funeral for my life-partner Peter. Incongruous though it may sound, I enjoyed working with Hannah (who was well assisted by her colleague Maureen). The plan evolved simply through a meeting, email correspondence and a site visit. Arka undertook some successful negotiation 'behind the scenes' with a venue at which a funeral had never before been held. Arka dealt with 2 venues, the stationery, the music, the florist and the coffin maker, effectively and without fuss. All went well on the day on which Hannah led the funeral event in a garden. I want simply to thank Arka for a service that felt right from inception to conclusion.

I recently lost my partner and Arka funerals were the only people I would trust with the care of my partners service. I wanted to get involved with reading a poem at the service, I wanted my partners music to play throughout the service and I wanted everyone who attended to be involved by placing wooden ladybirds upon the sussex willow coffin at the service and I wanted my family and friends to carry the coffin and lower my partner into his final resting place. This seemed a lot to ask for but Cara and Hannah at Arka helped me to organise everything and guided us through every step of the funeral. they simply made every wish possible. Thank you so much Cara and Hannah for making this sad day into a beautiful befitting service to my life long and eternal partner.

I thought long and hard about who was going to look after my husband's funeral, especially as it came as a shock and totally unexpected. Having looked at all the websites of the many local funeral directors, the only one that 'felt' right was Arka. I absolutely made the right choice for me and my family. From the moment I walked through the door I knew I was in the right place. It was calm, informal and non-corporate. At the same time the team were incredibly efficient, organised and I felt completely at ease that everything was going according to plan. The people that I met were incredibly empathic and supportive but not 'simpering', they got the balance completely right. We wanted low key and minimal, which was provided with class and style, the day was about my husband, not the trimmings, and Arka understood that from the moment I walked in. 100% recommend them. Thank you Arka x

These lovely, kind people helped us arrange a truly beautiful service for our Mum. We never felt pressured and the celebrant they put us in touch with was wonderful. You feel that they genuinely care and the beautiful Thank You card made from handmade paper was so appreciated. Original funerals and nothing too much. Thank you to all at Arka!

I visited a darling friend today to say my final goodbye.
He looked peaceful and such a daunting experience Arka funeral made so heartwarming with such a warm peaceful calm environment.

Thank you so much would highly recommend.

At the most difficult of times, from the first call to after the funeral we were taken care of perfectly. Arka worked at the speed we wanted to and outlined all the important details annd options for an funeral and also helped make things as easy as possible.

In the maelstrom of death, shock and grief there was a calm, kind, understanding and infinitely patient oasis Arka original funerals. Nothing was too much trouble every request we made was quietly taken care of with no fuss or drama.
We were gently helped, supported and guided to give Mum a personal unique, even uplifting send off.
Thank you again for making such a strange time a more positive experience for all of us one we can look back on as a personal unique celebration of Mums life.

I've unfortunately had to organise several funerals in recent years - if only I had known about the women at ARKA before! They are like nothing else I have ever encountered - their genuine compassion, creativity and knowledge - from my initial call to them, to the funeral and ceremony itself was extraordinary. they want to get it right for you, not for themselves - no suggestion or request was a problem, my continuous asking of questions was completely comfortable for them, as they patiently explained certain regulations (collection of the deceased, paperwork) to creative suggestions and numerous possibilities with regard to me wanting to be a part of the preparation of the body - they truly are amazing... comforting, knowledgeable and just brill - what more can I say? If you're in the Brighton/East Sussex area (not sure if they work elsewhere) they are so worth contacting... it's been a few months since the difficult day, but my memories of this time are not all sad - they empowered me in a way that I didn't think possible, and I'm so very grateful to all of them

I have been to a number of non-religious funerals now but my great uncle's funeral conducted by Arka was by far the worst. Impersonal, 19 minutes long, neglected to ask people to switch their phones off with the consequence that a mobile went off in the middle!. No warm welcome, no shaking anyone's hand after the service, had not rehearsed the family readings or taken much trouble to find out about the deceased whatsoever. After the service my great aunt turned to me and asked 'Do you think that was alright?' I lied and said yes as I didn't dare to upset her any further, but she was clearly aware that it had not been alright.
Would certainly never use Arka myself. Even with a non-religious service, you expect warmth and professionalism and the sense that they have bothered to find out about the person they are commemorating. And my great uncle had been a real character. There was no shortage of material they could have obtained from the family to engage the mourners and make them smile at the memories.

Absolutely incredible and so much more then an undertakers, they really break the traditional idea of a funeral and offer something inspirational and different. One thing I would like them to have done is invite the family behind the scenes, but everything was so human and so natural.
Prices were clear and explained upfront, lots of options were given and no part of the service was dictated to us.