Two decades for chapel

A BACCHUS Marsh funeral home has commemorated twenty years since establishing its chapel this month.

Michael Crawford Funerals have been there to support countless families in the Marsh, and last Tuesday the funeral home’s chapel marked its 20th anniversary.

The company itself has been around since 1987, but owner Michael Crawford said the 20th anniversary on Tuesday 21 May had been a time of reflection.

“The other side of the old ambulance station was the vets, and they moved up to where they are now, and I moved in there. I lived in the back there originally,” Mr Crawford said.

“It’s a proud achievement to have run this chapel for 20 years when I look back, from humble beginnings to now having my family involved as well. “It’s gone in the blink of an eye. I don’t really pat myself on the back, no-one wants to come to us, but unfortunately it’s something that happens.”

While not a happy job per se, Mr Crawford said he had valued his role in comforting people during a sad time in their lives, and helping them move on.

“Obviously we can’t change what’s happened – if we could, we would – but we get great satisfaction out of guiding people,” he said.

“Sometimes they’re a little bit confused, and have no idea where they’re going or what they’re doing.

“That’s what we’re here for, perhaps to offer some suggestions of different ways of going about it.”