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Our Story
From a lifelong passion to caring for our local communities
Roseberry Funeral Service was founded in Redcar in December 2014 with a simple belief that still guides us today: every farewell matters.
What began as one independent funeral home has grown into a trusted service supporting families across Redcar, Marske and Guisborough. While we have expanded over the years, our values have never changed. We remain proudly independent, locally owned and committed to providing personal, compassionate care to every family we support
A lifelong vocation
Roseberry Funeral Service wasn't created as a business opportunity. It was created from a lifelong passion for caring for people at some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Our Managing Director, Michelle Thurston-Balam, began her journey in funeral service at just 21 years old, working as a Mortuary Technician after gaining experience and qualifications through the National Association of Funeral Directors.
After qualifying and spending five years working in Somerset, Michelle progressed into funeral directing, first with an independent funeral director before moving to London, where she arranged and conducted hundreds of funerals.
Eventually, a desire to return home to the North East led Michelle to work as an assessor within the funeral profession, while also completing her Diploma in Funeral Directing.
But watching others carry out the work she loved only reinforced a long-held ambition: to create an independent funeral service built around personal care, transparency and genuine local support.
That ambition became Roseberry Funeral Service.
Growing alongside our communities
We opened our first office in Redcar in December 2014.
As local families placed their trust in us, we expanded into Marske in 2015 and opened our third location in Guisborough in 2022.
Over the years, we've continued to invest in our services, developing a fleet of hearses and limousines, alongside dedicated private ambulances, to ensure every aspect of a funeral can be carried out with dignity, professionalism and care.
However, growth has never been about becoming bigger for the sake of it.
It has always been about making sure more families have access to a truly independent funeral director that puts people before processes.
Staying independent matters
The funeral profession has changed considerably over recent years.
Many families are now offered services from large national providers and direct cremation companies, often with arrangements made remotely and loved ones cared for many miles away.
At Roseberry Funeral Service, we believe families should have a choice.
We believe in local care, familiar faces and personal guidance from the first phone call through to the funeral itself.
When you choose Roseberry, you're choosing a team that lives and works in the communities we serve.
Built on expertise, delivered with compassion
Today, Roseberry Funeral Service is supported by a dedicated team of funeral professionals, all personally trained and mentored to deliver the same high standards of care that Michelle has championed since day one.
Our offices have been designed to feel light, welcoming and homely, creating calm spaces where families can make arrangements without feeling overwhelmed. Our facilities have also been inspected and highly praised by Redcar and Cleveland Council.
Every decision we make is guided by one question:
"Is this the very best we can do for the family?"
Looking ahead
Although much has changed since opening our doors in 2014, our purpose remains exactly the same.
To provide personal funerals, fair pricing and compassionate support, while remaining an independent funeral director that local families can trust for generations to come.
As the funeral profession continues to evolve, we also welcome the introduction of greater regulation across the sector. We believe clear standards, transparency and accountability will give families even greater confidence when choosing a funeral director.
At Roseberry Funeral Service, many of these principles have always been part of how we work. From investing in our facilities and staff training to maintaining the highest standards of care for every person entrusted to us, we have always believed that families deserve openness, professionalism and reassurance at every stage of the funeral journey.
We see future regulation not as a challenge, but as an opportunity to strengthen public trust in the profession and further demonstrate the standards that independent funeral directors can achieve.
While the profession may continue to change, one thing never will: our commitment to providing compassionate, personal care to every family we support.
Because, now as always,
Every farewell matters.
