The local paper has published eight death notices for St Helens residents in the past seven days, recording the passing of people known to families, neighbours and community groups across the borough. The notices give funeral dates, requests about flowers or donations, and contact details for funeral directors.
What the notices tell the community
These announcements serve as a civic record and a practical way for relatives, friends and acquaintances to pay respects or find logistical details. Among the notices published this week are entries for:
- Francis 'Frank' Witter, died 11 July 2026, aged 91 — funeral on Wednesday 29 July at English Martyrs Church, Haydock, with burial at St James Churchyard. Family flowers only; donations suggested to The Heart Failure Services at Fingerpost Park Health Centre.
- Elsie Challenor (née Otley), died 6 July 2026 at the Eccleston Suite, aged 90 — funeral on Tuesday 4 August at St Helens Crematorium at 2pm. The family have asked for family flowers only, with an option to donate to the British Heart Foundation.
- Dorothy Davies, recorded as having died on 15 January, aged 99 — noted for her determination and described as much loved by family.
Where families have provided them, the notices include the names and phone numbers of funeral directors handling the arrangements. For example, enquiries about Frank Witter were directed to FW Marsh Funeral Services on 01744 27928, while Elsie Challenor’s arrangements listed Frank Dooley & Son on 01744 23339.
How to respond and where to find further details
Each death notice remains accessible online via the St Helens Star pages, allowing people to leave messages of condolence or to find up-to-date information about services. Families sometimes specify whether they prefer charitable donations in lieu of flowers and name the recipient charity; this week's notices mention the British Heart Foundation and a local Heart Failure Services clinic.
| Name | Age | Funeral details |
|---|---|---|
| Francis 'Frank' Witter | 91 | 29 July, English Martyrs Church, Haydock; burial at St James Churchyard |
| Elsie Challenor (née Otley) | 90 | 4 August, St Helens Crematorium, 2pm |
| Dorothy Davies | 99 | Funeral details not listed in full in the notice |
Notices such as these are placed by families and funeral directors and are retained online as a public record. If you wish to leave a message of sympathy or learn more about an individual notice, visit the relevant death notice page on the St Helens Star website. For specific enquiries about arrangements, contact the named funeral directors using the numbers provided in the notices.
Local readers should note that some families request “family flowers only” and instead ask for donations to particular causes; if you plan to give in memory, check the notice for the named charity and the preferred route for donations — either via the family or through the funeral director handling the service.
