A town funeral director has created an innovative new concept to allow people who know their time is limited to share in their ‘living funeral’.
The idea of living funerals has been designed by Aubrey Kirkham Funeral Directors, based in Frankwell, to give people the opportunity to share in a celebration of their life and say goodbye before it is too late.
They aim to allow the terminally ill or elderly the chance to take part in their final celebration.
Mr Kirkham said Living Funerals were a ‘growing trend’ and are seen as more of a goodbye than a religious ceremony.
“Not getting the chance to say goodbye to someone before it’s too late is a devastatingly common situation,” he said.
“We wanted to try to help people avoid this problem by allowing them to say goodbye while the person is still with us. Living funerals are an opportunity for the very elderly or terminally ill to say farewell and witness others celebrating their life before they pass away.
“Each living funeral is fully personalised to meet the wishes of whom it is for, and so could range from a simple gathering of loved ones to a lavish all-out party. They allow the main guest to face the last stage of their journey with lifted spirits, safe in the knowledge that they are loved and cared for,” he added.
Mr Kirkham said he believed living funerals are a good way of ensuring everyone who wished could attend a final ceremony.
“Last wishes can be fulfilled, any bad feeling can be resolved and last goodbyes can be exchanged. With conventional funerals, a loved one is often away and unable to return in time. With a living funeral, the event can be arranged to suit all family members and friends, as well as the person who it has been arranged for.”
Contact Aubrey Kirkham on 01743 368999, or visit www.aubreykirkhamfuneraldirector.co.uk
By Anna Williams