It is difficult when your partner has a terminal illness. I felt it was important to be prepared for death in advance. I do not recall the few Funeral Directors I visited, but I immediately felt comfortable when I had a chat with Peter Smith and Son. I appreciated their attitude and friendly guidance. That was in November 2024. I was happy to have the Care Home list Peter Smith and Son as my preferred Funeral Directors.
My wife passed away on the 16th April 2026.
Within a few days I met Alex Taylor a Trainee Funeral Director. I immediately felt comfortable talking with him. I had ideas, but really knew nothing about funerals and the procedures involved. He talked me through different scenarios and I reappraised my thoughts and decisions.
A date was decided upon, which enabled my sister and her husband from
Australia, to include the farewell to Patricia at the end of their European travels. They were already coming to Witney as they had each summer for the last few years. This year the circumstances were different.
Alex introduced me to a Celebrant, Nicola Wilson. Nic did a wonderful job pulling together all the strands from what I told her and comments from my initial Facebook announcement into a wonderful service and Eulogy.
We talked about music, a song to sing, appropriate poems, tributes from Connie, a friend of 70 years and my brother-in-law Pete, who has known Patricia since 1976.
Alex did a wonderful job scanning photographs that were put together in a Visual Tribute with a musical version of Memories playing in the background.
It included her parents marriage in Cairo towards the end of WW2, her childhood years, our marriage and more recent photos. Many of the photographs included long time friends who attended the service.
Patricia was cremated in North Oxfordshire Crematorium on the 26th June 2026 I cannot fault Peter Smith and Son in any way. I am sure Patricia would have enjoyed her farewell.
