Our Story

Our humble beginnings go back to 1980. Before this, our founder Roland Tay used to work as a coffee boy where he would serve beverages to grieving families and guests at the funeral parlour next to the coffeeshop. Roland was disheartened by the huge disparity in the quality of funeral services for the rich and the poor. While the wealthy could have elaborate wakes and funerals, the underprivileged had to make do with the very bare minimum.

That made him set his mind on providing affordable funeral services for all, and with a leap of faith, Direct Funeral Services was born. Business aside, Roland would often go beyond the call of duty to offer pro bono funeral services for the less fortunate. For over 45 years, his tireless dedication and sincerity stems from his belief that, rich or poor, everyone deserves a dignified send-off.

Today, Direct has grown to become a household name in the death care industry, providing thoughtful, professional, and innovative afterlife services for generations after generations. We have also been consistently reaching out to raise awareness about the importance of death planning, while inculcating the value of filial piety among the younger community.

But even as we continue to grow and innovate, our fundamental belief in respect and compassion for all remains at the heart of everything we do.