Lea Campbell is manager and funeral director at H Morris Funeral Services in Northcote. She talked to Channel Magazine about her job, and about today’s funeral options.
Channel Magazine: What’s so great about a funeral?
Lea Campbell: We all die, and it’s over to family and friends each time to make the best sense of a death, regardless of when or how it happens. Having someone to listen to your stories and grief matters, and at H Morris we do our best to be empathetic and understanding. When families thank us for helping them, what they are usually thanking us for is the care and attention and the connection we have made with them. But we’re only part of the story; we help gather together the people who matter, make sure there’s grace and space for people to tell their tales to each other, and connect (sometimes re-connect) with the friends, acquaintances and colleagues who will last the distance, however long or short that turns out to be. That’s what’s so great about funerals.
CM: Why are you a funeral director?
LC: In between my Mum’s death in 1991 and a few years later my Dad’s, I attended an evening class on death, dying and funerals. This made such a positive difference to my experience of death. I realised I could help others get that same positive experience in times of death and grief. It’s been a most rewarding career change and there is nothing else I can ever imagine doing. There is something special about working every day with a group of people who have all chosen to work in this field because they are passionate about having a positive impact on people’s lives when someone has died.
CM: What is one important thing that helps families when a death occurs?
LC: We definitely see a sense of calm and confidence in families where some pre-planning has been done by the person who died. Just simple details: choices between a burial or a cremation, where the funeral is to be held, or a casket choice can make a big difference. There’s nothing stopping people planning right down to the photo tributes, flowers, music and readings. They key is making some plans and making sure the right people know about these. We have useful packs for recording this information to make it simple for families when the time comes.
CM: What do today’s funeral look like?
LC: They are so varied! People often don’t realise there are very few rules and countless options. We go to churches, people’s homes; we go to gardens, marae, and public venues, and make use of our peaceful location here. H Morris Funeral Services has an 85-year history and our building, Romaleigh, has a long-standing history on the North Shore. We get lots of comments about the native bush backdrop, the birds and the sense of calm here.
There is a noticeable increase in the use of technology with photos tributes and recordings and live streaming options. Some services are led by clergy, others by funeral celebrants and even family members.
H Morris Funeral Services, 31 Ocean View Road, Northcote 09 489 5737 www.hmorris.co.nz
