A Natural Undertaking

I’m sitting with Carrie and Fran in Loco Lounge, talking about death. A little morbid for a Monday afternoon? Well, no actually. Carrie and Fran run ‘A Natural Undertaking’, and their open and positive approach towards the subject has helped them win several accolades, including the title ‘Green Funeral Director’ in this year’s Good Funeral Awards.

“We’re so touched that the families we’ve worked with went out of their way to support and nominate us,” says Fran. “That means the world to us. It’s a big challenge, in the middle of the UK’s second biggest city, to try and put a bit of green in everything, but we do what we can.”

Carrie was born in Marston Green Maternity Hospital and, apart from a short stint in Manchester, has lived in the area her whole life. Fran came to university in Birmingham twenty four years ago and never left. They’re passionate about the area and supporting other independent businesses.

“We work with a number of florists, celebrants, caterers, venues and car hire companies,” says Carrie. “There are so many great, small businesses in Kings Heath and Moseley. It’s very exciting to be a part of that community.”

But it’s the bereaved families that are at the heart of what they do. “The service we offer is really personal and creative,” explains Carrie. “Our aim is to empower our clients by giving them all the options. It’s about families taking control and creating something that really reflects the person who has died.”

Fran gives some examples. “For one lady, her grandchildren helped decorate the coffin and one of them ended up submitting it as part of her GCSE Art portfolio. Another funeral was held in the deceased’s own garden using the flowers she had grown and with the family sitting on camping chairs. Even the dog was there. It was a really beautiful day.”

Fran and Carrie also run regular ‘Death Cafes’ where people can come along, drink tea, eat cake and talk about death, helping break down taboos around the subject.

To find out more, visit their website.

Published in My Moseley and Kings Heath, December 2015.

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