Sanctum by Beulah B. Malkin | W. Uden & Sons Funeral Directors

Sanctum

I built a tiny garden
In a corner of my heart
I kept it just for lovely things
And bade all else depart
And ever was there music
And flowers blossomed fair;
And never was it perfect
Until you entered there

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“Sanctum” is a short, poignant, and deeply heartfelt poem that is often chosen for funeral and memorial services. Its power lies in its simple yet profound central metaphor: a special, protected place within the heart, made perfect by the presence of a loved one.

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

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Warm Summer Sun by Mark Twain

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Warm Summer Sun by Mark Twain

Warm summer sun,
Shine kindly here,
Warm southern wind,
Blow softly here.
Green sod above,
Lie light, lie light.
Good night, dear heart,
Good night, good night.

She/He Is Gone by David Harkins

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She/He Is Gone by David Harkins

You can shed tears that she is gone,
Or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,
Or you can be full of the love that you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she is gone,
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

A Life That Matters by Ben Brophy

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A Life That Matters by Ben Brophy

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.

Farewell My Friends by Rabindranath Tagore

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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.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?

"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

Alexandra C.

From the moment my dad Derek was placed in the care of W. Uden & Sons in Sidcup, we were treated with nothing but kindness, compassion and exceptional professionalism.Saying goodbye to my dad was one of the hardest experiences of our lives, but knowing he was being looked after with such dignity and care brought enormous comfort to both me and my mum.A very special mention has to go to Spencer, who was simply incredible throughout. His kindness, patience, compassion and support meant more to us than I could ever put into words. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and he guided us through every step with such genuine warmth and understanding. We always felt that Dad was in the safest of hands.Dad’s funeral was the perfect celebration of his life, and we will forever be grateful to Spencer and everyone at W. Uden & Sons Sidcup for the part they played in making such a difficult time that little bit easier.I cannot recommend them highly enough. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for taking such wonderful care of our dad and of our family.The Chart Family

Antoinette T.

I am writing to express our deepest gratitude for the exceptional care and professionalism your team provided, from the paperwork and all during the services for my husband Franco Trombetti.Every detail was handled seamlessly which brought our family great comfort during a very difficult time.We were particularly touched by the beautiful floral arrangements and how smooth and dignified the transport was.Please share our sincere thanks with everyone involved. You made a painful process much easier to bear.

Cheryl D.

Professional service through and through

Kate P.

Udens were exceptional. The care showed to us and our wishes for Mum was so excellent. The service they offered was perfect. Adam was so obliging and available. The actual funeral staff led by Lee were impeccable. Nothing was too much trouble and everything was done with such respect for our Mum. Thank you

Gina T.

This is the second time we have used Udens in the last 18 months.Both times their service and staff have been exemplary.The team that collected my Mum from the care home were so professional and caring, Andrea in the Petts Wood office couldn’t do enough to help us and helped me every step of the way. Kate the celebrant who took our service was beyond amazing!The team we had for the funeral were immaculate as were the cars, everyone was so professional. Udens are 5 * across the board.I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them and would never use anyone else myself!

Brian T.

Couldn't fault Uden's for the care, attention to detail and dignity they provided at my late father's funeral.Stanley and his colleagues made the event as special as it possibly could be.

Hayley D.

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to Udens bexleyheath.The care, support and kindness from start to finish was amazing. Thankyou for taking really good care of dad, you guys are 1 in a million. Big shoutout to Adam also. Your care and compassion has been phenomenal. Thank you guys.From the Underhills x

Tencia G.

I would like to thank Spencer and his team for helping our family plan our Dads funeral. They made the planning as easy for us as possible and were by our side every step of the way. Amazing team, thank you so much for your support.

Nicola F.

You simply cannot ask for a better service than when you first contact W. Uden & Sons. From the initial phone call, to the meeting, to the correspondence, to the help and advice, to the whole process, they were kind, respectful and so professional. They managed to blend the old traditions with some modern requests and the service was beautiful. Thank you from the bottom of mine and my sister’s heart.

Nichloas C.

I’ll like to thank udens & son for doing my dads funeral they went above and beyond want I expectedEven though the day was raining the guys at udens was really professional and helped every way they could to make the day less stressfulThey all was respectful and polite the whole timeI would recommend to anyone they was there to answer all my questions that i hadThanks again for everything

Wendy F.

Udens Petts Wood were first class from start to finish. The dignified way they collected dad from home and then a few weeks later mum from the nursing home showed great compassion and they made sure they were kept together. They quickly rearranged a single funeral to a joint funeral and explained the different options available and we were able to see them both together in the chapel of rest at very short notice. On the day Andrew turned a heartbreaking day to one of celebration and couldn't do enough for us. As a family we would like to thank Andrew and his team for their kindness, compassion and professionalism.

Denise S.

At a very difficult time, Adam and the staff of W. Uden showed us support and kindness. My father's funeral from start to finish was managed with dignity and understanding. I had not had to arrange a service before, so had to completely trust Adam. His focus was about our family, and giving us the day my father would have wanted. With beautiful small gestures, of a choice of colour of the ties that the staff wore, to the car and advice relating to the side of funerals I was not aware of. Sharing the procedure with thoughtfulness.Jay, who supported us during the service was respectful and understanding. At the meeting to arrange the service, we discussed things, which on the day changed. Jay was incredible in performing, not only his own duties, but to guide me. With just a look, he was at my side, checking that the ceremony was as the family wanted. To be able to rely on someone took away so much pressure. Even his call on the morning of the funeral, checking on me gave me the courage to feel I could handle the day. I am forever grateful.Thank you for your support and kindness.

Mike F.

Huge thanks to Adam and the team for the care and professionalism leading up to the funeral of Alfred Chambers and making the day of the funeral perfect. A truly outstanding service provided by Uden’s Bexleyheath. My family and I cannot thank all of you enough.

Sara S.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone at Udens Bexleyheath for the exceptional care and support they provided during the arrangements for my dad’s funeral.From the very beginning, Adam in the office was incredibly helpful, compassionate and professional. They guided us through the planning process with patience and understanding, making what could have been an overwhelming experience feel much more manageable. Nothing was too much trouble, and their support was greatly appreciated by our family.On the day of the funeral, Callum conducted everything with dignity, kindness and professionalism. His calm and reassuring presence helped us through a very emotional day, and it was clear that he genuinely cared about ensuring Dad received the respectful and meaningful farewell he deserved.The entire team helped create a beautiful service that honoured Dad’s life perfectly. At a time when emotions were running high, it was a great comfort to know that every detail was being handled with such care and attention.Thank you all for your compassion, support and professionalism. We are truly grateful and would not hesitate to recommend your services to others.Dad’s funeral was exactly what he would have wanted, and for that we will always be thankful.

Des S.

Uden and Sons did a fantastic day for my mothers funeral . Their professionalism shone through and we could not have asked for any more. I'd like to thank all the team for all their support for the day and would not hesitate to recommend them . Thanks from all the family.Many ThanksDes Shannon