Oundle celebrant helps family plan mother's funeral despite being 100 miles away

Bereaved families in Northamptonshire are turning to funeral celebrants to be ‘proxy mourners’ as they struggle to give their loved ones a meaningful farewell during the coronavirus pandemic.

Thousands of grieving people are being denied the last chance to say goodbye in person because of social isolation and crematoria restrictions.

Some are taking the difficult and emotional decision to let the celebrant be their sole representative while conducting the ceremony.

Sally-Ann Best, a member of the Institute of Civil Funerals (IoCF) from Oundle, helped a family living 100 miles away to plan the funeral for their 90-year-old mother.

Coronavirus restrictions meant none of them could make the journey.

Sally-Ann said: "I felt so protective of the lady who had died.

"The words I was speaking seemed to be even more important; it was a massive mark of respect to go ahead with the ceremony even though I was the only person there.

"The coffin was absolutely beautiful, decorated with spring flowers, so the funeral director even took some photographs to send to the family.

"They’ve said that it brought them comfort to know that their mum was still having a dignified and respectful funeral service."

Restrictions at crematoria include a maximum limit on the number of people allowed to attend, chairs being spaced two metres apart and an end to comforting hugs.

IoCF celebrants are also conducting ceremonies online from their own homes so that more friends and family can say goodbye together.

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