S1 Ep4: Funerals: I Did It My Way

Have you ever pictured what your own funeral will look like? The stock image we're given in films and popular culture has all the mourners dressed in black, facing a coffin at the head of a church or standing around it in a graveyard. But funerals are becoming increasingly diverse, as people move away from the traditional models towards something that is much more bespoke and personalised.  Jane Harris, one of our guests this week, realised that none of the options presented to her for her son Josh's funeral felt right for her and her family. Instead, they decided to do it themselves. Jane talks us through that process, and how her and her husband, Jimmy, were able to turn such a tragic occasion into something positive and meaningful with the film they made about the day. Today, Jane and Jimmy continue to explore grief and bereavement through filmmaking with the Good Grief Project. We also hear from Hasina Zaman, Director of Compassionate Funerals. Hasina set up her funeral business because she wanted her diverse London community to be able to access completely bespoke services that were appropriate for their personal preferences, religions, and cultures.  The message Jane and Hasina have is clear: when it comes to organising a funeral, you can do it your way.  Theme music is by Bernadette Ryan. Find out more about The Good Grief Project at www.thegoodgriefproject.co.uk Find out more about Compassionate Funerals at www.compassionatefunerals.co.uk Dying Matters online: Twitter: @dyingmatters  Facebook: www.facebook.com/DyingMatters/ Instagram: @DyingMatters  Dying Matters is a part of Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice and palliative care. Registered in England and Wales No. 2751549. Charity registered in England and Wales No. 1014851, and in Scotland No. SC041112. VAT No 731 304476.

Om Podcasten

“Let’s talk about it.” Death and dying is one of those topics that’s just hard to talk about. We know that we will all have to face it one day, but we put that “difficult” conversation off until tomorrow. Or the day after… Well it doesn’t have to be that way. The people we talk to on this podcast are people who do talk about it. They’re people who have learnt through personal experience how important it is to talk about our wishes before it’s too late, and they have a lot to say. Whether you’ve been bereaved, have a family member who’s approaching the end of life, want to support a friend, or just want to know how to start the conversation for yourself, this podcast is for you. Dying Matters is a part of Hospice UK (https://www.hospiceuk.org/) , the national charity for hospice care. Registered in England and Wales No. 2751549. Charity registered in England and Wales No. 1014851, and in Scotland No. SC041112.