Troy Upfield and Liddy Upfield considered career changes that would make a difference to the community for a long time before Troy embarked on a new career in funeral service. After 23 years in investment banking, he gained experience as a funeral director’s assistant and hearse driver and fell in love with the industry. He realized he, along with his family, could make a huge difference to the funeral industry.
Chapter House (Melbourne, Australia) was created to offer bespoke funeral services, direct cremations and memorial services alongside traditional funerals. It has a modern look and feel and creates a boutique atmosphere at its head office in Kew, Melbourne, Australia, and the space is warm, inviting and a place that is safe and unhurried.
Liddy’s background was in small-business management and human resources. Liddy’s sister, Elyse Knight, has also joined Chapter House, bringing with her a wealth of experience in customer service and people care. William Upfield, Troy’s father, brings years of experience in the funeral industry, and his sister, Tara Upfield, is currently completing her Certificate IV in celebrancy.
Chapter House is involved with many community organizations, including Kew Neighbourhood Learning Centre, SANDS Australia, SOLVE Disability Solutions and The Compassionate Friends; it is also a major sponsor of the Power House Amateur Football Club.
With 11 children between them Liddy, Elyse and Tara are passionate about children and understand family values and the importance of community, which is pivotal to Chapter House’s vision and goals to engage and be active in its local and broader communities. Chapter House has the first infant hearse in Australia and specializes in caring for parents and families after an infant or young person has died. The firm’s Novella service provides supportive guidance every step of the way to families in need of funeral arrangements. And while most funeral directors look after the funeral service and leave families to talk to the cemetery about a final resting place, Chapter House offers parents a full concierge service, whether it be driving with a family to a cemetery to make arrangements before the funeral or specialized bereavement counseling.
Chapter House’s message to families is “slow down. If you need time, you should be provided with options that allow this. Allow your funeral director to lead you, not control you through a difficult time.”
The privately owned Chapter House currently has arranging offices in Kew and Melbourne, and future offices are planned across Melbourne. All Chapter House offices are and will be operated by partners of Chapter House Funerals Pty Ltd. For more information, visit chapterhouse.com/au or contact Troy Upfield at troyupfield@chapterhouse.com.au or Liddy Upfield at liddyupfield@chapterhouse.com.au.
In other news, Chapter House recently interviewed Jack Bell about his first 100 years – from his first kiss to being shot down over Libya to discussing his life in today’s world – as part of its “Every Life Has a Story to Tell” series. Now Chapter House is proud to release the Jack Bell documentary of this remarkable man, a great Australian.
Bell, an Australian airman and World War II POW, will be 101 this year. He was born December 20, 1917, the same day the second referendum for conscription was defeated for World War I. Twenty-three years later, in 1939, Bell enlisted to serve in World War II with the Australian Air Force. After his plane was shot down over Libya, he was held as a prisoner of war in Germany for three years.
See the full documentary at https://vimeo.com/264579766.