On the 1^st of February 2012, The Co-operative Funeralcare at 76 Regent Street, Shanklin, Isle of Wight invited distinguished guests into their funeral home to officially open the branch.

Among the many attendees were representatives from the local Clergy, local Councillors and colleagues from The Southern Co-operative. The honour of cutting the ribbon was afforded to the National Association of Funeral Directors’ (NAFD) President Mr Andrew Pargetter.

Mr Pargetter commented “It is a privilege to have been invited by The Co-operative Funeralcare to officially open tonight’s proceedings. This service is a vital part of the dedication of the new funeral home here in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. I believe that the premises have been completed to an excellent standard.

I would like to say a special thank you to the team here including Loretta Dyer and Sandy Taskas for making me and my wife Anne most welcome. I would like to wish The Southern Co-operative well with this new venture, and it gives me great pleasure to declare this funeral home officially open.” 

 Pictured above: National Association of Funeral Directors’ (NAFD) President Mr Andrew Pargetter declares the branch open

Following on from Mr Pargetter’s opening address, the Town Mayor of Shanklin Mrs Denyse Larner concluded “There has been tremendous work put into the opening of this funeral home. I believe the premises are welcoming and the staff are very well presented and friendly. Shanklin would like to officially welcome The Co-operative Funeralcare to its town.”

On the 25^th of January 2012, The Co-operative Funeralcare at 1 The Fairway, Lake, Isle of Wight invited distinguished guests into their funeral home to officially open the branch, and dedicate their Chapel of Rest.

Among the many attendees were the High Sheriff of Isle of Wight, Susie Sheldon, the Chairlady of Lake Parish Council Sue Horton, representatives from the local clergy, local councillors and colleagues of The Southern Co-operative.

The honour of opening the Dedication was afforded to the National Association of Funeral Directors’ (NAFD) President Mr Andrew Pargetter.

Mr Pargetter commented “It is a privilege to have been invited by The Co-operative Funeralcare to officially open tonight’s proceedings. The National Association of Funeral Directors sets the standard of practice for its member funeral directors, and I would like to congratulate the team and believe these premises will be of significant benefit to their clients. I wish the funeral home in Lake every success in the future.

Therefore it gives me great pleasure to declare this funeral home officially open.”

Pictured above: National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) President Andrew Pargetter cuts the ribbon to declare the funeral home open

Following on from Mr Pargetter’s opening address, the dedication service was led by Reverend Nigel Porter, Reverend Tony Richards ofChristchurch, Sandown and Pastor Jonathon Snell of the New Hope Christian Fellowship.

In addition to the dedication, The Co-operative Funeralcare donated £1,000 to the Playing Fields Association. Team Leader Sandy Taskas commented “We are delighted to be able to make this donation as we believe the work that the Isle of Wight Playing Fields Association do to promote sports and healthy communities is of high importance.”

High Sheriff Susan Sheldon commented “I would like to offer my sincere thanks for this kind donation. I am delighted to be able to welcome a business who employs local people, and is exactly the sort of business we want on theIsle of Wight. I would like to wish The Co-operative Funeralcare every success.

Chairlady of Lake Parish Council Sue Horton concluded “Those who pass through Lake will know that the building has been disused for some time. In dealings that I have had with The Co-operative Funeralcare thus far I have found the staff to be very helpful and compassionate. I would like to extend my welcome to The Co-operative Funeralcare in Lake.”      

Pictured above: Chairlady of Lake Parish County Council welcomes The Co-operative Funeralcare to Lake

Over the festive month of December a local Funeral Directors in Fareham have been busy donating gifts to various charities they support throughout the year.

The Co-operative Funeralcare branch in Fareham donated £100 to the Holy Trinity Church in Fareham for the renovation of their memorial garden. Reverend Sally Devenport was delighted to receive the donation and thanked The Co-operative Funeralcare for all the support that they have given them.

The branch donated a hamper to Hawthorne Court Nursing Homein Fareham  for their Christmas raffle. Hawthorne Court said this was very generous and they used this as 1st prize, the raffle raised £162.00 for the resident’s amenities fund.

The branch continued their support for Hawthorne Court Nursing Home by donating a £50.00 voucher which was used to buy new games to help give the residents a nice Christmas, again Hawthorne Court were over the moon with all the support that The Co-operative Funeralcare has shown them over the festive period.

In December the Earl Mountbatten Hospice on the Isle of Wight holds an annual event called the ‘Lights of Love”. Services are held in local communities across the Island bringing people together to light candles, say prayers and remember people that they have lost.

As it is the only Hospice on the Island, The Earl Mountbatten cares for more than 800 patients a year. This means that most Island people have some connection to it and show strong support for the events that they hold.

On Friday 16th December a ‘Lights of Love’ service was held at the Isle of Wight Crematorium where Canon Graham Morris led the service. People were encouraged to a light candle or write their thoughts on candle shaped paper decorations.

Carolyn Yeates a Funeral Co-ordinator from The Co-operative Funeralcare in Lake, Isle of Wight went along to help with the running of the evening, serving refreshments and helping people to light candles. Carolyn commented “It was a lovely service and it was also great to be able to help the staff at the Crematorium who have welcomed The Co-operative Funeralcare to the Isle of Wight and been so kind to all of our staff”

The Southern Co-operative is holding Christmas Tree Blessings in all of its Funeral Homes throughout Portsmouth and the surrounding areas during the month of December. Clients from the past year have been invited to attend and place personal message cards on the tree in memory of their loved ones.

A blessing held on Thursday 8^th December 2011 at The Co-operative Funeralcare, 157 Fratton Road, Portsmouth, was led by The Canon Father Bob White of St Mary’s Church, Portsmouth and supported by the Spirit of the South female choir.

Father White commented “It was a pleasure to once again be asked to bless the Christmas tree at the Co-operative Funeralcare in Fratton Road, Portsmouth.  The Co-operative Funeralcare play an important part within the Portsmouth community through their involvement with bereavement talks and study days through to their annual memorial service held at St Mary’s Church.

Christmas is a very poignant time, especially if it is the first Christmas after the death of a loved one.  The idea of remembering them by hanging a message on a Christmas tree and having the tree and message blessed is a tangible and hopefully comforting gesture.

An event like this organised by The Co-operative Funeralcare, is a thoughtful way in helping the healing process.” 

The team, including Howard Price, Claire Cobb, Maggie Boyton-Salts, Sue Barry, Team Leader Jessica McInnes and Sector Manager Ken Newman (pictured) commented “We were delighted to see so many families attend our blessing service and place their memorial card onto the tree.  It is a privilege to be able to offer the service at such a special time of year”.

The Christmas trees will now remain within the reception areas of all the Portsmouth Co-operative funeral homes, which are all holding blessing services, until after the festive season.

When The Co-operative Funeralcare branch in Shanklin received a letter from the Age Concern Day Centre asking for their support, they jumped at the chance to help out. The Day Centre is an integral part of the local community, by involving the elderly citizens with the local organisations and groups associated with the interests of the elderly.

The Shanklin Age Concern Day Centre is completely self funded and relies purely on its fund raising events to provide the money to keep on top of running the centre. On the 3^rd of December they held a Christmas Fayre and Loretta Dyer and Carolyn Yeates from The Co-operative Funeralcare went along to offer their support. The Co-operative Funeralcare donated some prizes for the raffle, Loretta commented “It was a successful morning and we are proud to raise money for such a worthy cause”.

Dorothy Coleman, Fund Raising Officer from the Age Concern Day Centre commented “In the new year we are hoping to decorate the exterior of the Centre, and the money raised at the Christmas Fayre will enable us to do this. We are very grateful for the help and support The Co-operative Funeralcare has provided”.

Woodcot Lodge Nursing Home in Gosport approached The Co-operative Funeralcare branch in Rowner Gosport, as to whether they would be able to help them with the festivities over the Christmas period.

Woodcot Lodge Nursing Home is a modern and purpose-built facility constructed to provide an effective day-to-day care environment for a number of care needs. As well as nursing and respite care, Woodcot Lodge staff are also skilled in looking after individuals with dementia and some with physical disabilities.

The Funeral Directors in Rowner Gosport were delighted to be able to help provide Christmas tree’s, one for each of the three floors in the nursing home.

Linda Ince Funeral Co-ordinator at the Funeral Directors was able to present Cath Bezer the Nursing Manager with three cheques for the purchase of the Christmas trees. Linda commented “Once December is on us, as l drive home l can see the lights twinkling on the trees and know that we have been able to brighten up the lives of the residents of the nursing home.”

Cath thanked The Co-operative Funeralcare for their continued support, in making life a little brighter for the residents at Woodcot Lodge Nursing Home.

On the 10^th of November 2011, The Co-operative Funeralcare ran a one day educational course for local medical and nursing staff at the branch in Gosport.

This education day entitled “What Happens When” run By Rod Newman a Funeral Co-ordinator at the Funeral Directors in Gosport, not only strengthens local support between nursing homes and medical centres but also serves to assist medical staff with more in depth knowledge when answering questions posed to them by relatives.  

Rod commented “Funerals are an area that many clinical staff feel uncomfortable discussing with families largely because they do not know “what happens when” hence the title of the education day.  Over the past four years I have run several of these days and without exception they have proved both educational as well as beneficial to medical and nursing staff; enabling them to answer questions and queries posed by relatives.”

One of the fundamental points that is put across is that the service provided by The Co-operative Funeralcare is a “continuation of care” and this has proved extremely reassuring to staff and relatives alike.  These one day courses are in addition to a three day course that takes place twice a year for Student Nurses and are run along approved guidelines from the General Nursing Council which they can use towards their approved training.

The course is open to all medical and nursing staff, Medical Centre Reception Staff and Members of the Clergy.  Anyone wishing to take advantage of this free educational day should telephone Rod at The Co-operative Funeralcare direct on 02392 581032 or e-mail gosportfuneral@southerncoops.co.uk.

Sue Morrison a Funeral Co-ordinator from The Co-operative Funeralcare in Gosport attended the Annual Service of Thanksgiving at the Harbour Cancer Support Centre in Gosport. The Harbour Cancer Support Centre is one of the many local charities The Co-operative Funeralcare are working with in the community.

The charity provides cancer patients; their families, carers and friends with the emotional and practical support they may require and to help people with cancer live their lives as normally as possible, promoting independence and quality of life. The charity aims to bring together people in similar circumstances to share emotions and experiences across the South East Hampshire area.

The Thanksgiving service was led by Father Andy Davis the local Parish Priest, the service included hymns, prayers and the lighting of memorial candles. The service was attended by many local dignitaries including the local Mayor.

Sue commented “It is very important to The Co-operative Funeralcare that we maintain a strong partnership with the community and support local charities such as the Harbour Cancer Support Centre in Gosport, which is such a worthy cause”.

The Co-operative Funeralcare would like to introduce their new funeral home at 65, Tangier Road, Baffins,Portsmouth. 

Professional, dedicated and above all caring, the team at Baffins, Portsmouth including Funeral Co-ordinators Linda Crowley & Maggie Boyton-Salts, are there to help you 24 hours 7 days a week, throughout the year.

The new Funeral Directors has a private and comfortable arrangement room, where the team will be able to arrange funerals for clients in a modern environment as well as offer a choice of high quality memorials and floral tributes.  Vehicles include a fleet of premier hearses and limousines. The funeral home will offer the community a free bereavement service providing support and friendship groups within Portsmouth and the surrounding area.

The Co-operative Funeralcare offer personalised, tailor-made, inflation-proof funeral plans with a choice of payment options available.  A funeral bond is the ideal way to reduce the burden of funeral arrangements for loved ones and to make financial provision in advance.

From Monday 28th November through to Friday 30th December 2011, the new Funeral Directors will offer a £100 discount off any funeral bond.