Hidden Heroes of Funeralcare
This article will take approximately 5 minutes to read
Published 28 Jul 2021 in Colleagues
Today we're celebrating our amazing Funeralcare colleagues and the great work they've done in supporting our communities throughout the pandemic!
Due to the sensitive nature of the sector, our Funeralcare colleagues often feel as though they can’t show how proud they are of the outstanding work they do. Over the past 16 months, the Group has been under significant pressure and, despite this and the restrictions placed on Funerals by COVID-19, they all have continued to show focus and immense customer care. Here's a few examples….
Jason Timms, Mark Brumfitt & Mark Adams
Our funeral management team worked tirelessly throughout the coronavirus pandemic to support our teams.
Ashley Davies (top left), Tina Saunders (top middle), Andrew Williams (top right), Zoe Ketch (bottom left) & Gavin Bruce (bottom right)
Our Area Managers worked hard to support our teams and ensure we had all the correct PPE equipment, they also made sure we were all safe within branches.
Maxine Forrester, Rushall Funeralcare
Maxine worked non-stop throughout the Coronavirus Pandemic, taking on the commitment of 5 branches as they were closed due to the restrictions and furlough of colleagues.
During the first lockdown, Maxine very sadly lost her father due to Covid-19, but she continued to work without taking time off to help her colleagues and the families that we serve, whilst dealing with her own loss and grief.
Emma Smith, Wednesdbury Funeralcare
Emma was initially on furlough during the first lockdown. Since returning to work she has been extremely busy with the excessive funerals due to Covid-19, Emma works alone and has managed extremely well during these unprecedented times, maintaining a positive and can-do attitude even though she herself is in the vulnerable category.
Helen James, Bridgnorth Funeralcare
Helen was based at Willenhall Branch working alone part-time when Covid-19 struck, initially, she was furloughed for the minimum number of weeks. From the start Helen really conveyed to her area manager Chris that she wanted to work during the pandemic, later she was then given the opportunity.
Helen returned to work towards the end of June 2020 and the hours offered for her branch were 5 per day instead of 8 … in Helen’s own words ‘I hit the road running’
Between then and August she arranged 25 funerals, Helen has said that “I know I will not be the only colleague to have worked really hard and at times finding it quite stressful … we all did!”
“I wouldn’t change it for the world though, it gave me more confidence at the end of the day and the time flew!”
Gemma Brown, Aldridge Funeralcare
Since returning to branch from furlough in June 2020, Gemma has worked alone as hours were reduced in her branch following a business review.
The branch itself is in a local health centre, so Gemma was acutely aware of the challenges facing the health sector during the pandemic. Before March 2020 Gemma organised a book table initiative in the surgery, sales from which benefitted local charities.
Sarah Wassell (far left), Joanne Hill (back left), Tina Saunders (back middle), Gail Quilt (back right), Joy-May Auburn (far right), Becky Woods (bottom left) & Wendy Willis (bottom right)
The tremendous teamwork at our flagship Walsall branch has been amazing to see, with the team facing all the challenges and being extremely busy, they still managed to do wonderful displays for our remembrance services.
Kara Babb, Rushall Funeralcare
Kara chose to continue to work throughout the pandemic, serving our families whilst dealing with her own concerns and worries.
Kara’s husband was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and was on the extremely vulnerable list. Every time Kara had to leave her home, she took the risk of contracting covid-19 and passing this risk to Shaun and her family.
Kara found this extremely difficult but managed to avoid contracting Covid-19 until both her and Shaun had their first injection.
Unfortunately, Kara and her whole team contracted Covid-19 in January 2021 and they were all very unwell.
Luckily, Kara still managed to isolate to keep her family safe.
On Mothering Sunday this year Instead of donating daffodils to local churches. our Banbury team have donated them to local Nursing Homes for the residents to make little posies. Community Funeral Directors Dawn and Stephen had been out and about making deliveries to Foxhall Court, The Ridings in Banbury, and the new Brackley Care Home.
Laura Griffiths (left) & Amanda Westley (right), Bloxwich Funeralcare
Amanda & Laura worked throughout the pandemic, Laura being a new colleague to Funeralcare was thrown in at the deep end and having to learn fast whilst adapting to Covid-19 Regulations, Amanda had to manage an extremely busy branch whilst giving Laura support and still supporting their families. They arranged silk floral tributes for families because may florists were closed.
They maintained their positivity and community spirit, dressing the windows even through this difficult time.
Christmas 2020, our Banbury team delivered gifts to their local care homes, despite being so busy they still did not forget their community...
Helen Dukes (left), Andrew Williams (middle) & Andrea Harvey-Hall (right), Memorials Team
Our memorials team are working extremely hard to fulfil all our existing client’s orders since restrictions have been eased. Many of these memorials are for funerals that were carried during the pandemic.
Our teams behind the scenes...
Our coordinating team at Aldridge Logistics Centre worked extremely hard and for exceptionally long hours during the peak of the pandemic.
Aman Sangha and Claire Watson did an amazing job of helping our teams. They are a credit to our Funeral Division, when Sue came back from maternity leave, she has also worked extremely hard.
Our preparation team have been outstanding. Catherine Hewitt coped fantastically well dealing with such a busy, busy, period. Megan worked alongside Cath,choosing to keep serving our families despite their own potential health vulnerabilities. Taking care of the deceased and attending family homes, along with all the members of their team and the Vehicle Logistics Team. This was a true show of dedication and teamwork.
These really are the Hidden Heroes of Funeralcare.