An established County Durham family funeral business is celebrating a century of serving its local community.
Alderson’s Family Funerals had its roots established in 1921 in Ushaw Moor when Robert William Alderson founded a joinery and funeral directing business. Now four generations later, they have invested in a fleet of cars, taken on new staff and firmly established themselves as an integral and traditional part of the community. As well as their head office in Ushaw Moor, the business has an office in Langley Moor and has just opened a new branch in Coxhoe. One hundred years on, the business is now run by father and daughter team, Norman and Kathryn Alderson who were both introduced into the family business at an early age. Norman directed his first funeral aged just 15 before engaging in a career in teaching. He returned to the family business in 1980 when his father took ill. As a teenager, daughter Kathryn helped her father by caring for the deceased. She learnt how to dress them in their own clothes and helped with hairdressing and the application of cosmetics. She is now currently studying for a Diploma in Funeral Directing. To celebrate their first 100 years in business, the firm have just invested in a brand-new fleet of Mercedes vehicles – a limousine and a hearse. Despite a growing trend in the industry to be taken over by large funeral corporates, Kathryn and Norman are steadfast in their desire to stay independent. “We’re very aware of the fact that many small, local funeral businesses have been bought out by bigger companies, but the way our family firm is growing and the way that our community has supported us as we continue to support them, tells us that we are doing the right thing by keeping it local, compassionate and caring. We’re looking forward to serving County Durham families for the next 100 years too.” said Kathryn.
