We’d like to take this opportunity to not only send you our warm Christmas wishes during this festive period, but to also pass on our thanks. This has been a difficult year and, as funeral directors, we have been required to implement some challenging new rules which have changed the way we would usually conduct our funerals. This was particularly true at the beginning of the first lockdown when we couldn’t welcome families into our building and strict limits on numbers attending a funeral were introduced.
However, throughout these past nine months, families have been remarkably understanding and accepted so many things, while having to deal with their own grief.
We have been heartened by how resourceful people have been and have, on a number of occasions, driven our hearse through roads in Crowborough which have been lined – social distanced – by friends and family. While singing hasn’t been allowed, we have heard some beautiful pieces of music, some of it specially recorded for the funeral. We have also listened to moving tributes delivered by friends and family from as far away as America and Australia, relayed on screens at the funeral.
Technology has also meant that people have been able to watch services live streamed into their own homes, which we know many people have found comforting.
Interestingly, some of our families have said that they have found the intimate services we have supported them with to be very special, while others have found it easier not to have to think about organising a large reception afterwards, which would involve talking to lots of people.
We recognise though that many people in grief have been missing the support of others around them, neighbours popping in for a cup of tea and meeting friends for lunch. We know that our own Bereavement Group members are missing their meet-ups.
Christmas is a time of the year when the loss of a loved one is felt even more deeply - so we send our thoughts to everyone who is missing somebody at the table this year.
Our offices will be shut for a few days over Christmas - but if you need us at all, somebody is always be available to pick up your call.