Over 60 branches opened their doors to members of the local community, in support of Dying Matters Awareness Week, which ran from the 18th to 24th May. During this week the public were able to record their personal funeral wishes for free and seek practical advice from staff.
Phillip Greenfield, Chief Executive of Funeral Partners, said: “A lot of people don’t like to talk or think about dying or bereavement, which is completely understandable, but this week gave us an opportunity to talk about these things openly. Also it reminds us that planning one’s own funeral is becoming increasingly common as it can give loved ones peace of mind knowing they are doing what you would have wanted.”
Staff at Huntleys Funeral Service in Redditch had a different approach and took to the streets of the town with a promotional stand, encouraging the public to talk to them. Funeral Director Tracey Flavell said: “It went really well, lots of people stopped to talk to us and we identified a need for local bereavement support.”
“The session was priceless. We shared our experiences of death, lost loved ones and our mechanisms for coping and adjusting to this life-changing experience.”
