A CELEBRANT is sharing insights from behind the curtain at a Northwich crematorium to help people understand what happens to their remains when they die.
The ‘Smiley' celebrant' Kate Moran aims to help people understand the funeral process, and the options available them, which includes a full behind-the-scenes tour of Birches Crematorium in Lach Dennis.
And to do this, Kate is offering free workshops which includes information on the history of funerals, the meaning of their various aspects and time spent with a professional funeral director who explains exactly what happens to those in their care.
Kate believes that undertsanding what happens when you or a loved one dies, and being able to make informed decisions, can be very helpful.
She said: “Funerals, death and dying can be very scary, and we tend to not want to speak about it.
“But death is going to happen to us all one day, and having an idea of what you want is really helpful for those you have left behind.
“Opening up that conversation is really important.
“We talk about all the options, from direct cremations to burial at sea.
“Then we take the attendees 'behind the curtains' where John, our cremation technician, shows everyone the cremators and explains the cremation process from start to finish.
“This includes how ashes are processed, and importantly, how we make sure it is definitely your loved one that you get back.
“We also have a converted Land Rover hearse on display, and to help us stage our 'funeral' that day.”
Kate holds similar workshops at both adult and children’s hospices, where she teaches staff how to answer questions families might have about the funeral process.
“I’ve been working with the nurses mostly, but next year we are rolling it out to care assistants, because they probably spend more time with the families than the nurses do.
“It about helping them start conversations with the families they are looking after, and if they have any questions, being able to confidently answer them.
“It better for them to be able to put these questions to someone they have gotten to know over a period of month, than to a stranger.”
If you would like more information about Kate's workshops, she can be contacted through Birches Remembrance Park.
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