What a week. The death of reality TV star Jade Goody early on Sunday has dominated the news for days – and with the date now set for her funeral it’s unlikely that interest will subside anytime soon.
I’ve been planning to set up a blog for some time and the events of this week have spurred me into action. I’ll be commenting on topical issues and offering ‘an insider’s’ view into everything funeral related. Rest assured, this won’t be all doom and gloom though! Rather, I hope it will be thought-provoking and inspiring.
Death isn’t something most people want to read about over breakfast, yet Jade’s journey has been followed by millions and the public’s interest in every last detail will inevitably have a whole host of repercussions.
Rates of take up for cervical cancer screening have reportedly risen considerably since Jade’s illness became known and the charities which supported her towards the end should certainly benefit from the coverage.
Earlier this week, when national newspapers reported that Jade was to be laid to rest at Epping Forest Burial Park, our mature woodland cemetery just a few miles from Jade’s home, we suddenly found ourselves thrust into the spotlight. There were photographers lurking in the trees and journalists staked out in the car park, all eager for the next installment.
And although we now understand that Jade won’t be coming to our woodland we certainly welcome the increased profile this has created for natural burials.
Visits to our web site have soared this week and we hope it’s been a bit of an eye opener for people to see what the alternatives to traditional burials are these days. Perhaps people feel it’s tempting fate to talk about the F-word but in my experience families rarely agree about what their dear departed would have wanted – and that’s when the arguments can start.
It would appear that Jade had some thoughts on what she did and didn’t want and it would be fantastic if her choices lead to debate about what makes a good funeral. I’m passionate about improving the quality of the whole bereavement experience and would urge you to give those left behind a helping hand by talking about what you’d like or by writing it down, much in the same way as you’d write your will.
The whole ethos of a natural burial is tied in to the cycle of life and I firmly believe that a funeral should be about a celebration of life. So if you want to make sure you get a good send off I’d strongly suggest doing some forward planning!
Jade clearly wanted to do everything she could to make sure that her children would be provided for and whether or not you agree with what she did you certainly can’t criticise her motives. Losing a parent is dreadful – at any age – and my heart goes out to Jade’s young children. One thing is for sure, they can never be in any doubt that Jade loved them to bits and did her utmost to care for them from beyond the grave.
The decision whether or not to allow children to go to a funeral can be a difficult one but I think it can be a very positive thing to do. I can understand people wanting to shield children from their grief but a funeral is an important part of the bereavement process and there’s a strong argument for not excluding children. Children learn from these experiences and by involving them they have the chance to understand that during times of loss, a close family share their feelings. The alternative is that in years to come when they experience their first personal loss, perhaps the first relationship or failing at exams, then they won’t share those feelings. The consequences can be traumatic. According to newspaper reports Jade’s children will be at the funeral – an event that may well also be witnessed by millions of others across the world.
For more information on eco and green burials visit Woodland Burials.
Written by Nick Taylor
Managing Director
Woodland Burial Parks
