Alan Duckworth Funeral Directors
Funeral directors on Chester Road and Newcastle Road, caring for families across Sunderland and the local community.
Proud to be part of the Dignity group
Experts in care
Setting the highest standards for care, service and facilities
Supporting communities
Working with charities and carers to improve support
Local teams
Guiding families with local sensitivity and understanding
Our locations
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Trusted by families across Sunderland
Rated 4.9 / 5 based on 40 reviews.
Rated 5 / 5
I cannot praise Duckworths highly enough.
We entrusted Duckworths with the funeral arrangements for my brilliant dad, and I cannot speak highly enough of the care and compassion we received throughout the entire process.
It's a very emotional and difficult time to be going through. You want to know that everything will be handled with professionalism, dignity and compassion.
Our first point of contact was Margaret, and from our very first conversation, we never felt as though we were dealing with a stranger from a business. Instead, Margaret made us feel as though we were talking to a long-lost friend. The empathy, kindness and understanding she showed us was exceptional. She guided us through every decision, making sure every detail was explained and nothing was overlooked. Without her support and guidance, we would have felt very lost.
Margaret then entrusted us to the very kind hands of Christopher, who immediately made the same impression. He continued that same level of compassion and care, taking the time to talk us through every detail of the service.
On the day of the funeral, it was comforting to see Christopher's kind face leading my dad on his final journey. His dignified and respectful manner brought a real sense of calm to us. Alongside the wonderful celebrant, Jim Cunningham, I genuinely felt that both my dad and us were in the very best hands.
We will always be grateful to Margaret, Christopher, Jim and the whole team for helping us give my dad the farewell he'd have wanted.
Thank you
The Hughes Family
Sharyn Hughes-Ward, 17 October 2026
Rated 5 / 5
We can’t thank yous enough from start to finish with Margaret who sorted our mams funeral to Chris on the day looking after us and all the staff and Graham who spoke about our mams life thank you all so much
Jean Wright, 23 September 2026
Rated 5 / 5
Stress free experience, all staff especially Chris were very supportive and helpful .
Would recommend Alan Duckworth .
Elaine Rowntree, 21 September 2026
Alan Duckworth
Alan Duckworth Funeral Directors has become a trusted part of the Sunderland community, supporting families with care, compassion and expertise. Over the years, we have built a reputation for helping local families create meaningful and personal farewells, providing guidance and reassurance when it is needed most.
You can find us across Sunderland, with two locations on Chester Road and Newcastle Road. Your funeral director knows their community and the people in it, and will arrange a funeral that feels right to you – whether that's traditional, alternative, or something simpler.
We're here when you need us. You can call your local funeral director at any time, 24 hours a day.
Frequently asked questions
Advice and guidance
Practical guides on arranging a funeral and what to expect.
What does a funeral director do
What a funeral director actually does, before the day and on it, how they care for the person who has died, and whether you have to use one at all.
Choosing a funeral director
What to look for when comparing funeral directors – local availability, itemised pricing, the care given to the person who has died, and how well they listen.
What to do when someone dies
The first steps after a death, in order – the medical certificate, registering, calling a funeral director and dealing with the estate, with timings.
Types of funeral
The types of funeral to choose between – burial or cremation, religious or not, ceremony or none – and how each can still be personal.
Questions to ask a funeral director
Fourteen questions worth asking before you appoint a funeral director – on costs, care, personalisation and paperwork – and what the answers tell you.
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Find your local funeral director
Our funeral directors are at the heart of their communities, in over 800 locations across the UK. Wherever you live, you'll have an experienced professional by your side throughout, caring for you and the person who has died.