'I'm 22 and a funeral arranger'

Skye O'Neill, 22, from Nottingham, was inspired to become a funeral arranger after her dad died when she was 14. She has since conducted her great-grandmother's send-off

- LUCY ROBINSON

'Standing in the chapel of rest following my dad Gavan's death, I knew I wanted to help people one day, but I wasn't really sure of how - until my first day as a funeral arranger.

When I was 14, my dad was run over and tragically died. He was 38. As I was young, the grief I experienced didn't feel like a natural sort of grief. I just remember it being very shocking and I almost wanted to forget about it, but I found comfort from the funeral planning process.

Given my age, people were trying to keep me out of things, but the funeral directors made me feel very included. Hundreds of people attended my dad's funeral and we couldn't close the gates at the chapel as a result. It was so beautiful, but very overwhelming. It felt wrong to be having a funeral for him, but I was glad he had such a respectful send-off.

A few years later, I began studying for a counselling diploma, in bereavement specifically, and in January 2023 I moved to Nottingham to live with my nan Cheryl and great-grandmother Irene. My nan already worked at the funeral directors and I got talking to the person who ran the company about my diploma and things progressed from there. It was a unique situation within weeks I was being trained on the job.

I don't really remember what happened on my first day. It was like I started the job and it just came naturally, but I do recall my first removal where I dealt with the deceased. It wasn't something that I could have prepared myself for and it was scary and nerve-wracking, but also put me in good stead for the rest of my role and I felt honoured to be trusted by families to look after their loved one.

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