Betty & Jack

(Age 82 and 83)

Betty:

“I reserved both Jack and I’s burial plots some years ago as I knew space was limited. Jack has of course put a request in for his transportation not to be a standard hearse, but a classic or vintage hearse.”

I like to grow things. I always have – my greenhouse is my second home! Jack says I’m like a mini market garden, which is quite true, I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with. We give a lot of our vegetables and fruit away to neighbours as there is far too much for just the two of us, last week there wasn’t anywhere to eat dinner as my kitchen table was awash with dozens of crumbles, I have to do something with all of those apples!

I’ve told Jack I want my final goodbye to look like a harvest festival, I have a fanciful notion that my casket is adorned with everything from my garden and that everyone would bring home baked cakes – my funeral will be known as the ‘Betty’s bake off’!
I reserved both Jack and I’s burial plots some years ago as I knew space was limited, and now we also have a Tong & Peryer funeral plan in place I simply don’t worry about it. I have made sure it’s clear that I would like my coffin swathed in the welsh flag and Tom Jones ‘Green Grass Of Home’ to be played. I am nothing if not patriotic to my origin.  We have so many photo albums in our house, we decided to pull some out and copy them for our respective funerals which we know will be useful for the family.  Its amazing the happy memories and laughter that came about when we went through them, we know the family will have the same experience as they sort through them and of course, we have saved them a bit of a job when the time comes.

Both Jack and I have talked about our funerals in good humour, I would like to think that’s how we will be remembered, for the funny little details that make us who we are. Jack has of course put a request in for his transportation not be a standard hearse, but an old classic.  I am more traditional when it comes to my final journey – I want my family gathering, and into a nice white hearse, however I would like to take a drive past our home on the way, a final farewell to our neighbours and life long friends.