When you place someone you love in the care of a funeral director, you are placing an enormous amount of trust in them.
You are trusting them to look after your loved one with dignity and respect, to explain what will happen, answer your questions honestly and carry out your wishes with care.
At a time of grief, when you may be in shock or simply unsure of what to do next, it is vital that your funeral director honours that trust and acts with openness, honesty and integrity.
For the team at Andrew Smith Funeral Services, transparency is not just a matter of displaying our prices clearly, we have also made a firm commitment to being completely open about how we work, where your loved one will be cared for, what our services involve and who will be looking after you.
Trust begins with openness
If you have never needed a funeral director before, it can be difficult to know exactly what you are choosing, you may not know what questions to ask, what happens after someone dies or what the different funeral service options actually include.
That is why we believe you should be given the opportunity to see for yourself. You are always welcome to visit Park Green House, we would be happy to show you around our facilities and explain how we care for families and their loved ones. You can arrange a visit at any time by contacting our team.
We also hold regular Open Days, giving members of the local community an opportunity to tour our building, meet our team and see the areas and facilities that families may not normally have the opportunity to see.
Our next Open Day takes place on Saturday 3rd October 2026, from 10am to 4pm, and everyone is welcome.
You do not have to be arranging a funeral to attend, and there is no obligation to book or purchase anything. It is simply an opportunity to come in, look around and ask us anything you would like to know.
What does transparency mean in funeral care?
For us, transparency means taking pride in our service and facilities, thorough communication and genuine, personal support.
That includes:
- Where your loved one will be cared for
- Who will be looking after them
- What facilities are available
- What our different funeral services include
- What choices are available to you
- What each part of the funeral will cost
- What additional or third-party costs may apply
- What will happen at each stage of the arrangements
Planning a farewell involves making some important decisions. Our aim is to give you all the information you need to make informed choices, rather than asking you to place your trust in us without knowing how we work.
Care that you can see
At Park Green House, we have all our facilities under one roof which, in contrast to many national providers, means that we can care for your loved one without them ever leaving Macclesfield.
Our beautifully-designed meeting rooms provide a calm and welcoming space for you to sit down with one of our team and discuss your arrangements in comfort and privacy.
If you wish to visit your loved one, our Chapels of Rest provide a calm and private setting where you can spend time together. They can also be adapted to meet different religious or cultural needs.
Our pristine mortuary facilities, garages and workshop allow our team to carry out their work with professionalism, dignity and attention to detail.
There is even the option to hold the funeral here at Park Green House. Our on-site service room is available to seat up to 20 guests, for a personal and intimate ceremony. After the service, our reception rooms are available for family and friends to gather and share memories.
We believe that being open about our facilities helps families understand the level of care their loved one will receive.
Transparency about cost matters, too
Funeral costs can be a significant concern, particularly when you are trying to make decisions during a difficult time.
Families should never have to guess what a funeral will cost, or discover unexpected charges later.
At Andrew Smith Funeral Services, we provide a clear, written and itemised estimate before you appoint us. This sets out the costs involved, including third-party costs or disbursements. We also make all our prices available on our website for anyone who would like to see them.
We believe in complete cost transparency, because helping you make the right choices starts with giving you clear information.
Integrity matters most when nobody is watching
We feel our commitment to transparency is particularly important because so many aspects of funeral care take place away from the family’s view.
Families will see the funeral director on the day of the funeral, they see the hearse arrive, the coffin being carried and the arrangements taking place.
But much of the care leading up to this happens in restricted, staff-only spaces. That places a tremendous responsibility on a funeral director to conduct that care with integrity and to the highest possible standard.
Recent events have demonstrated just how devastating it can be when that responsibility is abused. In the case of former Hull funeral director Robert Bush, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in July 2026, the court heard that dozens of people had not been properly buried or cremated, and that bereaved families had been defrauded. The case affected hundreds of families and involved deeply distressing failures in the care and identification of the deceased.
This is an extreme and harrowing example that is in no way representative of the funeral care profession as a whole – but it does underline an important principle: integrity matters most when nobody is watching.
Families need to be confident that their loved one is being treated with the same dignity, care and respect behind closed doors as they would expect if they were in a public space. Funeral directors can only build that trust by being transparent in their work, and in their words.
Come and see for yourself
We understand that visiting a funeral home for the first time can feel daunting. That is why we want Park Green House to feel open, welcoming and approachable.
You are always welcome to visit us, whether you are currently arranging a funeral or simply want to understand more about what we do. Either come along to our next Open Day on Saturday 3rd October, or get in touch to arrange a time for your own visit.
Our commitment to you
Choosing a funeral director is about much more than comparing prices or services, it is about finding people you can trust with someone who means the world to you.
For us, that trust has to be earned through openness, honesty, professionalism and genuine care. We will always give you personal support, clear pricing and a straightforward explanation of your options.
Most importantly, when your loved one is placed in our care, you can be assured that they will be treated with dignity, compassion and respect; something every family has the right to expect from their funeral director.
