3 minute read
A Graceful undertaking
Whangārei’s most innovative funeral service provider is now five years old.
The threewomen who established A Graceful Undertaking in June 2017 are friends; Jo Samuel, Jo Moselen and JulesPalmer. They were motivated by over 20 yearsof shared and individual experiences supportingfamily and friends dealing with death in various settings.“We realised our friends needed funeral services that were abletobe more responsive and creative in the options they had on offer, to be more relatable andtobe abletoprovide a bespoke combination of service options”
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Offeringa fullrange of services,A Graceful Undertaking supports home death care as well as in-house services. They arefully-equippedto supporteverything froma passing that occurs athome andyour loved one does not leavethe home until the day of the service, throughto providingcarein their purpose-built premises in Glenbervie.
“We prefer to workas funeral guides,rather than traditional directors. It’s importanttous towork as emotionally engaged undertakers, drawing from ourown life experiencesto recognise andrelate tothe many challenges of life and death, and the toll that can take on thefamilieswe work with. Whenfamilies are empowered to make absolutely the best choices and decisionsfor their circumstances, without judgement, we rarely needtobe in control andcan gentlywalk beside offering our expertise and guidance.”
Finding the right premiseswas amajor challenge that occupiedover two years. “We wanteda calm environment; aplace people couldfeelrelaxed in and one that they could relate to.”When the opportunity aroseto rebuild an almost derelict herringbonecowshed ona semi-rural property, thewomen jumped atit and set about securing the necessary resource consent, buildingconsent, and then contracting with builders to gettheworks completed. The buildingat7 DicksonRd was officially blessed and opened in March 2021.
An invitationtotalk about death is often unwelcome,yet that is exactly what thewomen atA Graceful Undertaking offer. “Having conversations and sharing our thoughts on anythingtodo with thepassing ofa loved onecan make sucha difference. Any amount of planning,atany time inyour life, willgo a longway when it is needed, supporting those aroundyou to be confident in the many decisions that needtobe made. Developing a plan and sharing that is one of the biggest gifts you cangive your nearestand dearest,it creates a map that eases the burden.” Instructionscan be leftina will, but it is importanttoremember this often will not be read straight away so making sure those closetoyou know what your wishes are beforehand, is important.
A Graceful Undertaking host Death Cafes, following the protocols of the international social franchise, https://deathcafe.com/ as one way to facilitateand encourage conversations about all things death related. These are heldevery three months or so invariouscafé locations around Whangārei. Enquiriesatany time are alsowelcome.
A Graceful Undertaking is 100 percent locallyowned and operated,focusing on natural and sustainable solutions as much as possible. Offeringa range of NewZealand madecaskets, includingcardboard, ply, wool, and timber. A Graceful Undertaking uses effectivecoolingtopreservethe body. “In our experience, embalming is necessary only a small percentage of the time, which enables familiestomake a choice about this procedure.”
“We take acollaborative approachtoour work, both withfamilies andother providers, workingtogether toachievethe best outcomes. Whena family says that the person who has diedwould have been happy with the funeral, that is what they would have wanted,you can’t askfor much more than that.”
A fresh approach to after death care and funeral arranging Contemporary and natural solutions, offering choice, facilitating creative, personalised family led funerals that truly reflect the uniqueness of every life.
