Freedom Funerals

153 reviews

A family-run funeral service tailored to how families want to remember their loved one, across Essex and Suffolk.

Latest Verified Reviews

John . 6th Aug 2019

Very helpful Lèè took the time to explained  everything to me. I cannot thank him and his team enough  for the  way he helped me.

Joanne Parker 16th Jul 2019

I was very happy the way you could just go in and dress the Coffin as you pleased there was no rules on what you can do. Would recommend highly. Thank you

Sky Roskell-Cheale 3rd Jul 2019

Overall a good service but I was rather annoyed when the Hearse came to collect the family for the funeral, a MG Hearse arrived instead of the Chevrolet Hearse as previously confirmed. This was one of the deal-makers as my father was an avid American car enthusiast. On arriving at the Hall for the service, I was informed that the Chevrolet Hearse was too small to fit my father in, which I dont believe as it's huge... I think what they meant to say was that my father was too heavy to lift and as such required additional people to help. Instead of collecting my father in the agreed Hearse and driving an additional car of staff to help, he was put into an MG for his final journey, one I was not happy about, but by that time it was too late to change. It would've been nice to have been told prior to the day of the funeral as they would've known this.

Reviews

Funeral arrangements

  • Home visit
  • 24 hour telephone support
  • On-site parking
  • Chapel of rest
  • Hearse
  • Limousine
  • Horse-drawn hearse
  • Bespoke vehicle
  • Coffin
  • Personalised coffin
  • Casket
  • Headstone / Plaque
  • Urn
  • Memorial jewellery
  • Floral tributes
  • Charitable donations
  • Newspaper announcement
  • Online obituary
  • Memorial book
  • Order of service sheets
  • Music
  • Video tribute
  • Funeral webcasting
  • Catering
  • Dove release
  • Balloon release
  • Fireworks

Types of funeral

  • Traditional burial
  • Simple funeral
  • Traditional cremation
  • Green funeral
  • Direct cremation
  • Burial at sea
  • Non-religious funeral
  • Anglican funeral
  • Roman Catholic funeral
  • Muslim funeral
  • Jewish funeral
  • Sikh funeral
  • Hindu funeral
  • Buddhist funeral
  • Children’s funeral

Financial arrangements

  • Financial advice
  • Wills & probate
  • Pre-paid funeral plan

Additional services

  • Repatriation
  • Bereavement counselling
  • List of mourners

Location

Freedom House, Hawkins Rd
Colchester
Essex
CO2 8JY

Open map

Opening Hours

Day Hours
Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours
Call: 01206 879962

About Us

Funeral director Lee Jaschok and his friendly team are on call day and night, to support people in Colchester community and wider area, when somebody dies.

They believe that families should be able to arrange the funeral they really want, from a simple traditional service to a bespoke ceremony that reflects how someone lived their life.

A member of the Association of Green Funeral Directors, this considerate Colchester funeral home can tailor a woodland burial for your loved one, or a full traditional funeral, listening to families from the moment they first call and providing sympathetic support and advice.

It’s important to Lee and his team that families have the freedom to choose options that also suit their budget. This Essex funeral home believes in clear pricing with no hidden costs and respectful consideration of every family they serve. Payment plans are also available.

Freedom Funerals provides a wealth of funeral choices to help families personalise their loved one’s funeral, from Cadillac and campervan hearses, to coffins with meaningful motifs.

For people planning ahead, the Colchester funeral home provides a free Funeral Wishes service, while bereaved families can take their time to decide upon memorial masonry, remembrance jewellery and plaques available. For families who live further away, this funeral home can also provide a headstone cleaning and maintenance service.

Call Freedom Funerals for sympathetic care and practical support in arranging a meaningful funeral for your loved one.

Latest Obituaries

Derek   Roy Barton

Derek Roy Barton

Oct 1936 - Jun 2023

Catherine   Patricia Cooper

Catherine Patricia Cooper

Oct 1956 - Jun 2023

View more

Verified Reviews

Verified Reviews

  • 5 John . 6th Aug 2019

    Very helpful Lèè took the time to explained  everything to me. I cannot thank him and his team enough  for the  way he helped me.

  • 5 Joanne Parker 16th Jul 2019

    I was very happy the way you could just go in and dress the Coffin as you pleased there was no rules on what you can do. Would recommend highly.
    Thank you

  • 4 Sky Roskell-Cheale 3rd Jul 2019

    Overall a good service but I was rather annoyed when the Hearse came to collect the family for the funeral, a MG Hearse arrived instead of the Chevrolet Hearse as previously confirmed. This was one of the deal-makers as my father was an avid American car enthusiast. On arriving at the Hall for the service, I was informed that the Chevrolet Hearse was too small to fit my father in, which I dont believe as it's huge... I think what they meant to say was that my father was too heavy to lift and as such required additional people to help. Instead of collecting my father in the agreed Hearse and driving an additional car of staff to help, he was put into an MG for his final journey, one I was not happy about, but by that time it was too late to change. It would've been nice to have been told prior to the day of the funeral as they would've known this.

  • 5 Sally Norfolk 21st Jun 2019

    As a family we can’t thank Lee and his team at Freedom Funerals enough for his suppport and guidance through what is for anyone a difficult time. He is a breath of fresh air with his approach and thoughtfulness, particularly the time taken to get to know us and through us our mum to make sure we had exactly what we needed. We have been singing his praises to everyone we talk to and the friends and family attending on the day thought it was a lovely service, so much was due to his care and attention and recommendation of the celebrant who he matched to us as a family which could not have gone any better. He made the whole process so much easier for us, again we cannot thank him enough.

  • 5 Simone Bickmore 11th Jun 2019

    Lee is a wonderful man and provided the best service for our Dad. His understanding and sympathetic approach throughout the process was more than we hoped for. Couldn't ask for a better funeral director.

  • 5 George Odukoya 29th May 2019

    Wonderful people Lèè and Will helped us through a torrid time we will be forever thankful. 

  • 5 Anne-Marie Hayward 26th May 2019

    I would urge anybody finding themselves in the difficult position of having to arrange a funeral, to chat with Lee at Freedom Funerals. His approach is refreshing and progressive and he will listen to your needs, before putting together a genuinely personalised plan to accommodate your wishes. Lee was pivotal in transforming what I feared would be a heart-wrenching occasion that I just 'had to get through', into a calming, dignified and rather beautiful Farewell Service for my Dad.

  • 5 Diane Keith Green 24th May 2019

    I cannot speak highly enough for Freedom. would totally recommend them. They helped us so much to have the funeral that WE wanted. No selling you stuff you really dont need, they were just perfect. And Lee is an absolute star!

  • 5 Philip Tayler 21st May 2019

    I had already used Freedom Funerals earlier this year for my mother's funeral. So when my wife sadly passed, I had not the slightest hesitation in asking Lee to work with me once again in giving Julie a wonderful send off.
    The great thing about Freedom Funerals is that there are no standard packages - Lee listened to how I wanted Julie's funeral to go, and he delivered every detail to provide a memorable occasion.
    He provided the Orders of Service leaflets, and he delivered the Eulogy as if he really knew Julie.
    I do hope I don't need to use Lee's services again too soon, but if i had to, I would feel reassured to use Freedom Funerals again.
    Thank you, Lee and your team.

  • 5 Ian Cocks 19th May 2019

    Excellent service, every detail covered with compassion and care. Highly recommend.

  • 5 Steve Huggins 13th May 2019

    Freedom funerals are by far the best in the business. Lee and his son couldn’t have done anymore for me, they provided the best service for my dad and took great care in doing so. Such a caring family run business. Highly recommended.

    From Steven 

  • 5 Lee Hearn 13th Apr 2019

    A very professional family run funeral directors. From the time they are asked to look after a loved one then you become part of there family. If there is anything they can do in anyway to make it as easy and respectful as possible they will. From the time when they looked after my bro last year and then to look after my mum from when she past to they day we layed her to rest. Just outstanding professional wonderful people. God bless and thank you to you all. Lee Hearn.

  • 5 John Coates 31st Mar 2019

    From the first meeting to the final day, compassionate, understanding, proactive to our needs and caring. Thank you so much on behalf of all the family.

  • 5 Nicky Cole 16th Mar 2019

    Lee and his staff were extremely supportive from start to finish. very professional and understanding. They took their time in explaining things and listening to what you want and did not try to sell anything that was not needed. They were the only funeral place that did not try to get any money from you before even meeting them . Well done Lee and staff and thankyou .

  • 5 Martha . 22nd Feb 2019

    The reason for giving freedom funerals a five star is the personal touch that Lee gave to us as a family, it was exceptional.Lee explained everything from start to finish what stood out was his honesty and nothing we asked for was ever to much for him to help us with. So from myself and the family we would like to thank Lee and his team very much for their help and support through the duration of planning my sister Catrionas funeral. Regards Martha Liam & Roger

  • 5 Mel Spear 5th Feb 2019

    Lee and his son provide such a wonderful and personal service, I would recommend them in a heart beat. They are so personal from start to finish 

  • 5 Philip Tayler 3rd Feb 2019

    From the moment I first met Lee at freedom Funerals, to discuss my mother's funeral, I felt reassured that he understood what I was imagining for her funeral. He didn't impose his ideas, he didn't try to sell me a package. Instead he listened to what I wanted, and planned a service which truly delivered my vision. Sure he made suggestions, but the decisions were totally mine.

    Indeed, after the funeral, just about every guest took time to tell me how uplifting they had found the occasion. It's difficult to say that a funeral was a "pleasant occasion" but my mother's send off was exactly that. There were more smiles than tears as we celebrated her life.

    I totally recommend Freedom Funerals to anyone who wants an individually planned funeral, rather than an "off the peg" package which most other funeral directors force on you. Thank you Lee for your personal approach and support.

  • 5 Yvonne Cooney 30th Dec 2018

    Lee was compassionate and caring.

  • 5 Andrew Kindrat 22nd Dec 2018

    Lee provided exactly the service I wanted for my wife. Most funeral directors would have given me a supermarket pick last. I was so pleased he listened and delivered perfectly, the service we requested.
    A big thank you from my family!!

  • 5 Denise Collins 16th Nov 2018

    Lee of Freedom funerals provided us with a professional and compassionate service which helped massively in a difficult time.My husband of 32 years died very suddenly and totally unexpectedly at the age of 60. Lee helped us to have the funeral service that was absolutely perfect for my husband. I do not think we could have found anyone better to help us give John the exact send off we his family wanted.

  • 5 John Hands 6th Nov 2018

    Thank you so much for your compassion and support in arranging my Dad’s funeral. We live 140 miles away from where the funeral was taking place and we were so lucky to come across the services of Freedom Funerals. Lee was professional, understanding, friendly and gave me all the information I needed that put my mind at rest at this very difficult time.

    We met Lee again a few days later to make the arrangements. Once again, he put us at ease and emphasised there was no rush. We ordered the coffin, discussed the service and chose the music.

    Lee conducted the service, it was a wonderful celebration and a send-off beautifully organised and carried out. Just how we wanted it.

    Lee has been fantastic and we can’t recommend Freedom Funerals highly enough. Thank you for making everything feel so right on the day.
     
    Click here to start Chat
     

  • 5 Gary Pickman 6th Nov 2018

    Perfect in every way

  • 5 Angela . 29th Oct 2018

    Lee led us sensitively through the options for our mother’s funeral and cremation, encouraging the whole family to be involved. Although it was a small and simple affair it meant so much for us to be able to say goodbye to our loved one in this way. Thank you so much.

  • 5 Tony Allum 19th Sep 2018

    From our first meeting with Lee to our last, we found Lee to be very likeable, helpful in everyway, excellent communication and can't thank him enough. He made an extremely hard time a little easier to manage. We will highly recommend Freedom Funerals to family and friends in the future, cannot fault his service and his commitment.

    Thank you Lee, from Tony, Mandy & Tim

  • 5 Daniel Watson 4th Sep 2018

    Couldn’t be happier with the service provided. 
    Thank you 

Address
Freedom House, Hawkins Rd
Colchester
Essex
CO2 8JY

Open map

Opening Hours

Day Hours
Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Latest Verified Reviews

John . 6th Aug 2019

Very helpful Lèè took the time to explained  everything to me. I cannot thank him and his team enough  for the  way he helped me.

Joanne Parker 16th Jul 2019

I was very happy the way you could just go in and dress the Coffin as you pleased there was no rules on what you can do. Would recommend highly. Thank you

Sky Roskell-Cheale 3rd Jul 2019

Overall a good service but I was rather annoyed when the Hearse came to collect the family for the funeral, a MG Hearse arrived instead of the Chevrolet Hearse as previously confirmed. This was one of the deal-makers as my father was an avid American car enthusiast. On arriving at the Hall for the service, I was informed that the Chevrolet Hearse was too small to fit my father in, which I dont believe as it's huge... I think what they meant to say was that my father was too heavy to lift and as such required additional people to help. Instead of collecting my father in the agreed Hearse and driving an additional car of staff to help, he was put into an MG for his final journey, one I was not happy about, but by that time it was too late to change. It would've been nice to have been told prior to the day of the funeral as they would've known this.

Reviews
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  • Colchester Cemetery

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  • St Osyth Cemetery

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  • Clacton-on-Sea Cemetery

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  • Hadleigh Cemetery

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  • Kirby Cross Cemetery

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  • Halstead Cemetery

    Halstead, CO9 2EN

  • Witham Cemetery

    Witham, CM8 2NH

  • Sudbury Cemetery

    Sudbury, CO10 2QE

  • Heybridge Cemetery

    Heybridge, CM9 4QR

  • Maldon Cemetery

    Maldon, CM9 6LJ

  • Bocking Cemetery

    Braintree, CM7 5SH

  • Ipswich Old Cemetery

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  • Braintree Cemetery

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  • Burnham-on-Crouch Cemetery

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  • Millenium Cemetery

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