Guyetts Funerals

My grandad’s funeral was here, the funeral itself was great, the staff themselves and the people who helped us organise the funeral were all lovely, for the most part. There was one incident, four of us carrying the coffin to the hearse, three men and one woman (me). I’m pretty strong, I can lift and carry 65 kg or more easily and while planning the funeral I told them this. so I was very annoyed and disappointed when it came time to lift the coffin into the hearse and a man took the coffin off me while the three men also carrying the coffin got to keep carrying it. After I had told them that I was just as physically capable of doing it as the three men. I didn’t say anything at the time because it didn’t feel right to have that conversation in the middle of a funeral. It felt very sexist especially considering who my grandad was, I know he wouldn’t have been happy that this happened, as a result It felt like an insult to his memory and now for the rest of my life, my most vivid memory of my grandad‘s funeral will be having his coffin taken off of me in front of everyone that knew him. And now whenever I think of my grandad, I think of that moment and I wonder how anyone could anyone take a mans coffin away from his only grandchild and not see a problem with it? and would this have happened if I was a man? My memory of that day is forever tainted. Sexism has no place at funerals.

We had a family funeral last week. The service and level of care provided was something special. Their seamless service, made a really difficult time that bit easier. The staff all have a real gift and should be so proud of how well they do their jobs.