Oundle celebrant helps family plan mother's funeral despite being 100 miles away
and live on Freeview channel 276
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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSome 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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIoCF celebrants are also conducting ceremonies online from their own homes so that more friends and family can say goodbye together.
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWith the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.
Thank you