A Life That Matters by Ben Brophy | W. Uden & Sons Funeral Directors

A Life That Matters

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.

So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won’t matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant — even your gender & skin colour will be irrelevant.

So what will matter?
How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built;
not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

OverView

“A Life That Matters” is a profound and philosophical prose poem that serves as a powerful meditation on legacy. Rather than offering gentle, direct comfort, it provides a stoic and inspiring framework for celebrating a life of substance and character.

If someone has died, Our Family is here to help you.

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Do Not Weep For Me by Unknown

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Do Not Weep For Me by Unknown

Do not weep for me when I no longer dwell
among the wonders of the world; for my larger self
is free, and my soul rejoices on the other side.
Do not weep for me, for I am cradled
in the arms of God. I walk with the angels,
and hear the music beyond the stars.

Do not weep for me, for I am known.
I am loved, and I am safe from all harm.
Do not weep for me, for I shall return,
again and again, to whisper clues to you
of eternal life and growth without end.
Do not weep for me, for I am home.

A Silent Tear by Gaynor Llewellyn

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A Silent Tear by Gaynor Llewellyn

Just close your eyes and you will see all the memories that you have of me

Just sit and relax and you will find, I’m really still there inside your mind.

Don’t cry for me now I’m gone, for I am in the land of song.

There is no pain, there is no fear, so dry away that silent tear

Don’t think of me in the dark and cold. for here I am, no longer old.

I’m in that place that’s filled with love, known to you all, as “up above”.

I Am Standing Upon The Seashore by Bishop Charles Henry Brent

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I Am Standing Upon The Seashore by Bishop Charles Henry Brent

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come
to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, ‘There, she is gone’

Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me — not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, ‘There, she is gone,’
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, ‘Here she comes!’

And that is dying…

The Dash by Linda Ellis

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The Dash by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning…to the end

He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

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The Life That I have by Leo Marks

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The Life That I have by Leo Marks

The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours

The love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.

A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause
For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.

"We Decided to Use Udens and It was the best decision we ever made"

Watch a video testimonial from Juliet, for whom we had the honour of conducting her mother’s funeral service.

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If someone has died, Our Family is here to help you.

Find your nearest office below or request a call back.

orpington

bromley

beckenham

west-wickham

dulwich

biggin-hill

petts-wood

camberwell

sidcup

bexleyheath

eltham

Rosa C.

From our first contact with Uden's to our last, I can honestly say we were dealt with a great deal of professionalism and empathy.We were given relevant information and never pressurised to purchase anything more than we required.Throughout we received relevant emails to keep us updated. Letting us know our mother was with them and also enabling us to visit.The day before the funeral we received a call from them. This introduced us to the person looking after us on the day of the service. Which helped put us at ease.The funeral possession was done with great respect, from walking in front of the hearse, to moving her to the burial ground. You couldn't fault the way the team worked together.This is not my first experience with Uden's and although many year's apart. I can truly say there standards have remained very high.

Katie S.

Respectful, kind, caring, trustworthy and organised. Could not have asked for anything more from Jack, Bina and the entire team.

Louise J.

I completely trust Udens- they are organised, courteous, sensitive and extremely thorough. The communication was super throughout and my late sister had the best send off.

Carl W.

Terrific support with both knowledge of the funeral process and Honor Oak Crematorium. Made a difficult and emotional process extremely easy with maximum flexibility and advice.

Tim W.

Dear Team, I would like to give my heartfelt thanks for the funeral arrangements you helped us make for my dad. I am so glad we chose you because the kindness and respect you afforded us was second to none. Our special thanks to Andrea who was so kind and consoling during such a sad time for us all. Also many thanks to Lee and his team on the day of the funeral. I cannot praise Udens in Petts Wood highly enough.

C R.

Dear Andrea and team. Thank you so much for an excellent service from start to finish. You were compassionate, empathetic and very helpful during our recent bereavement of our Dad. Everything ran smoothly making a difficult day an easier one with everyone executing their part with respect, friendliness, punctuality and immaculate uniforms despite the hot day. Thank you everyone

Iain G.

My family could not have been happier with the care the whole team provided. It was a difficult time made easier because of you. Many thanks to Jack.

Doreen R.

Dear MikeI just felt I had to thank you for arranging an excellent service yesterday. It was exactly what Trevor would have approved of and everything went according to plan, with the right amount of emotion and remembrance. We could not have chosen a better Celebrant.My thanks once again.Doreen Regan

marty T.

During an immensely difficult time following the passing of my brother, the team here provided exceptional support and care. From the very beginning, their communication was flawless—they responded to every email promptly and handled every detail of the arrangements with complete professionalism.What stood out most was the utmost respect they showed to my brother and the gracious, classy treatment extended to our entire family. They made an incredibly hard process feel seamless and dignified. I would not hesitate to recommend their services to anyone in need of compassionate, top-tier care for their loved one.

andrew W.

W Uden & Sons were utterly outstanding in their managing the funeral of my brother, John West. They were exceptionally professional, compassionate and understanding. I cannot recommend them highly enough. BrilliantDr Andrew West

george D.

I am grateful for the professionalism, warmth and friendliness of the team at Udens in the planning and running of my dear aunt’s funeral. All my questions were answered and sound recommendations were made on flowers and printing. They made it all so straightforward and they acted with care and compassion throughout. Thanks and respect to Andrea, Alan, Stanley, Bailey and the other members of the team.

EDWARD T.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the exceptional care and professionalism provided by W. UDEN & SONS Family Funeral Directors, particularly Danny & Jack, during such a difficult time for our family.From our very first meeting, Danny & Jack demonstrated genuine compassion, patience, and respect. They guided us through every step of the funeral arrangements with clarity and understanding, ensuring that every detail was handled with dignity and care. Their calm and reassuring manner made an incredibly challenging experience much easier to navigate.The service itself was beautifully organized and conducted to the highest standard. Every aspect reflected professionalism, attention to detail, and a heartfelt commitment to honoring our loved one. Danny & Jack’s entire team went above and beyond to accommodate our family's wishes, making us feel supported throughout the entire process.I highly recommend W. UDEN & SONS Family Funeral Directors to anyone seeking a compassionate, reliable, and professional funeral service. Danny & Jack’s kindness, dedication, and exceptional level of care made a lasting impression, and we are truly grateful for everything W. UDEN & SONS Family Funeral Directors did for our family.

Eila F

Planning our brother’s funeral from the United States felt like an overwhelming task, but W. Uden & Sons in Camberwell made what could have been a stressful, complex process completely seamless.Despite the distance and time difference, their remote communication was prompt, clear, compassionate, and thorough. Every detail was finalized and completely settled before we even boarded our flight to the UK.When we arrived, everything was organized to perfection. The funeral service itself was nothing short of spectacular—handled with immense dignity, class, and respect. The team brought us so much peace during a difficult time. I cannot thank the Camberwell team enough for their professionalism and warmth. I highly recommend them to any family, near or far.

Debbie W.

At a very sad time .Udens was the kindest and most caring supportive people . Nothing was a problem. They looked after mum as they promised they would do. Mum had a beautiful send off . Adam and Lee were so kind and professional. I can not thank them enough making a very hard time a bit easier.

Matt B.

As always excellent care and attention to detail from Udens. Lee and the team did a wonderful job as we said goodbye to a Charlton stalwart. Much appreciated.