About Joanne – Funeral Director

Three Shires Independent Funeral Services will provide you with just the service you need for your loved one.

Meet the founder

I’m Jo Nicholls, owner of Three Shires Independent Funeral Services in Congleton.

Having lost both my parents at a young age, I experienced first hand how important a caring, personal funeral service can be. It inspired me to enter the profession in 2004, working with Co-op Funeral Services and Dignity Plc.

In 2018, I founded Three Shires with a simple aim: to give families the time, care and personal service they deserve.

Today, I’m proud to support families across Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire, providing dignified, respectful and value-for-money funeral services.

Through our work with Live Your Legacy Ltd, we also help families understand and record their loved ones’ wishes, making difficult decisions easier when the time comes.

It is always an honour to help families give their loved ones the farewell they deserve.

Learn more

I live in Sandbach with my husband Adrian and two children Freya and Lottie. In my spare time, I love to tend horses and connect with nature.

My father died when I was just 10 years old and my mother followed when I was only 29. Through seeing their funeral services first-hand, I felt there was something missing. It made me think I wanted to do it differently, do it better. That was in 2004 and it made me determined that I could and should look to do this as my career path.

A friend’s father was a funeral director and I asked him for help. He gave me some work experience which I then used to acquire a job with the Co-op Funeral Services and later moved on to Dignity Plc.

I felt that in these roles I was not given the opportunity to spend enough time with the families of the deceased to make a positive difference in an exceedingly difficult situation.

So, in 2018 I set up Three Shires Independent Funeral Services and have taken pride in giving people the send-off they deserve, whilst offering their families the facilities, service, and value they need.

Some of my clients have said

“Nothing is too much trouble for Jo.”

“Very professional and supportive service.”

“We really appreciated your flexibility and help.”

“Compassionate and Caring value from start to finish.”

“Very kind and caring, a great help throughout the whole process.”

“Thank you, Jo, for meeting our every need in such a personal caring manner.”

Since starting my own business, I have served the people of Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire with peace of mind for a dignified, respectful funeral for their loved ones.

The present climate has led me to extend my offerings of a value for money, caring service to also cover family connections through working with Live Your Legacy Ltd. This enables family members a full understanding of their relatives’ wishes and thereby helps reduce the emotional turmoil of decision-making at an extremely sensitive time.

It is always an honour to provide the most attentive and dignified service to families who come to me about their loved ones.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 13 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
    Sean Nolan 
 1. November, 2024.
 
 
  We recently had the funeral of my brother done by three shires. Jo and the team were excellent. From the get go she told us straight regarding the pricing of each package and any extras. Fantastic customer service and the minister Kate was brilliant. She put together a great service which also included a lovely sideshow.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Jody Puffer 
 1. September, 2024.
 
 
  Jo and her team recently helped us to put my mum to rest. They were amazing. Jo helped us every step of the way and was always available to put our minds at rest. Nothing was too much trouble and Jo made the whole process so personal and human. Mum's funeral was a truly unique celebration of life.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Donnna Cunliffe 
 15. August, 2023.
 
 
  Yesterday I gave mum the best send off I could. An just really need to say the biggest thank you again to Jo from The Three shires. I can't recommend you enough. You truly have been that great with me I feel like I've got a freind for life. Also frielys flowers. The flowers were beautiful. And the flower gallery who did my mums posey. I honestly would send everyone to Jo cause she is so compassionate towards the actual family. An then so professional during the service.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Lynsey Chapman 
 6. March, 2023.
 
 
  I cannot put into words how kind and caring Jo was, from the moment I spoke to her on the phone I knew she would take good care of my mum, Hazel which meant everything when you feel such loss.   Jo provided help and support throughout and was always at the end of the phone if I needed her.  She genuinely cares about your loved one's and cannot do enough to make the sad process a little easier.   Jo went above and beyond any expectations I had hoped for and this is something myself and my family will be forever grateful to her for.   I would 100% recommend Jo and want to say again thank you Jo, you truly are a wonderful lady 💗
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    John Hopkins 
 19. October, 2022.
 
 
  Brilliant service, Jo and her team picked up mum with reverence, the preparation and follow up was with great empathy and empathy. So lovely, thank you Jo and Shires team.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Joanne Bradbury 
 5. August, 2022.
 
 
  Excellent service from start to finish and even after that. Jo treats you like family even though she is very professional she made the very sad time a little easier. Thanks Jo
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Miriam Macdonald 
 24. January, 2022.
 
 
  Jo and her team were wonderful, kind and thoughtful. I can’t recommend them more highly. We were listened to and had the perfect celebration of my mums life thanks to Jo’s input.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Dawn Whitehall 
 30. November, 2021.
 
 
  My father sadly passed in September this year after a awful illness I knew my father loved horses and was drawn to the three shires because of the name and the excellent reviews ! I was not disappointed my father had a beautiful funeral nothing was to much much trouble for Jo she went above and beyond to make this happen ! This is a family business no hidden costs or fast sell ! Professional and personal from the moment they took Dad away that September morning ! Thank you Jo and team five stars ⭐️
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Helen Edge 
 3. July, 2021.
 
 
  Jo and Team carried out my husband's funeral earlier this year and their commitment to detail was amazing.  It was during lockdown when we could have only 30 in church and she arranged for the service to be streamed as well as videoed.  I cannot praise them enough for making a very sad time much easier.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
    Donna Farr 
 5. February, 2020.
 
 
  I'd just like to say what an absolutely Amazing lady Jo from  'The Three Shires Independent Funeral' is on Moody Street, Congleton.   I really can't recommend her enough. We lost our mum on New Years day at the young age of only being 64  :(       I walked into Three Shires feeling absolutely heartbroken and confused on what to do....but within minutes i felt like i had a new friend whom actually listened to me fully, hugged me when i cried & let me take as much time as i needed to chat. Jo helped us to arrange an amazing Cremation & Service that my mum deserved and would have been proud of. The music, the Order of service, Cars, Newspaper announcement etc... all amazing, and at a great affordable price ( this was what i'd worried about the most as my mum sadly hadn't arranged any plan previously).  I have even been able to have my mums fingerprint added onto a beautiful necklace ( Jo has examples in the office if anyone would love this idea for their loved one, as i thought it was such a fab idea ) . We are still coming to terms with the loss of our Mum, as are all her family, but i just felt i wanted to add this as Jo has made such a sad event feel very loving & special for my mum and i still drop in for cups of tea  :)     Thank you Jo, and i wish you every success in the future as you really do deserve it xx     R.I.P  Mum. Love & Miss you ( Carole Bland - Nee Goodwin )

About Joanne – Funeral Director

Meet the founder

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