Latest news with #funeral service
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Mass. woman killed in crash loved to cook, be with family and 'lived life to the fullest'
A Newburyport woman killed in a car crash in Rowley last week was remembered by her family as the 'life of the party' and someone who cared about others, according to her obituary. Rowley police arrived on Main Street along Route 1A in the Warehouse Lane area on Friday, July 18, police previously said in a statement. First responders found a 2013 Ford sedan off the roadway with heavy damage to the front of it after it struck a tree. The driver, Natalie Munoz, 25, was unresponsive and treated by Rowley police and firefighters, the statement continued. She was taken to Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport, where she was pronounced dead. Munoz was born on March 5, 2000, in Newburyport, her obituary read. The daughter of Maria Ellison of Newburyport and Hector Munoz of Boston, their daughter went to schools in Newburyport. 'She was the life of the party, and lived her life to the fullest, was sassy as can be and was an extremely beautiful Puerto Rican princess...' her family wrote. 'Natalie loved cooking and spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite restaurant was Casa Tequila.' Munoz is survived by her sisters, nieces, nephews, stepfathers and half-siblings, along with several aunts, uncles cousins 'and dear friends,' the family wrote. Ahead of Munoz's funeral service, visiting hours will be held at Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home at 35 Green St. in Newburyport from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1. The funeral service will also be held at the funeral home at 6 p.m. Then a celebration of life will be held on Aug. 22 at The Elks Lodge located at 25 Low St. in Newburyport, from 5 to 9 p.m. More people being remembered Grandmother who died in Gabriel House fire lived life in the service of others Western Mass. man struck, killed by car was hardworking, known for his smile Worcester man killed in shooting enjoyed 'thrill that nature had to offer' Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
CNA
31-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
This mother and daughter run a funeral service – helping others grieve taught them to treasure every moment
Most of us go out of our way to avoid thinking about death. But for 54-year-old Stephanie Chan and her daughter Rachael Tay, 25, who run a funeral service business, confronting death is part of everyday life. As part of the family helming Casket Fairprice (no relation to the FairPrice supermarket chain), the mother-daughter duo helps bereaved families navigate loss, grief and final farewells. And in helping others say goodbye, they have learnt how to live and love – fully and without regrets. That's what they told CNA Women during an interview at their office in Sin Ming Drive, which houses an embalming room and a funeral parlour. Chan serves as the company's director while Tay is its corporate development manager. 'Life is really very short and unpredictable,' said Tay. 'Being in this line of work, you realise that time is limited, and that things can happen anytime to people whom you love… so you need to treasure them while they're still around.' FROM FACTORY WORK TO THE FUNERAL TRADE Their respective journeys into an unconventional profession began decades apart, but both women eventually found their footing in a male-dominated industry that's often hidden from public view. A small-town girl from Melaka, Malaysia, Chan moved to Singapore in 1989 to work in an electronics factory, starting as a line worker before being promoted to an admin clerk. She later left her job to help her husband. He had joined his family's funeral service business as an embalmer but was soon struggling to keep up with various aspects of operations, from embalming to coordinating bereavement services. At the time, Tay – the couple's eldest of three daughters – was one year old. The company had a policy that every new employee be placed in a role that matches their work experience, so family ties notwithstanding, Chan started at the bottom. Recalling her fear and inexperience, the older woman said: 'On my first day of work, I didn't dare move around and only stayed in the office doing paperwork. I was that fearful.' She also recalled assisting her husband in the embalming room for the first time. 'I was supposed to help with undressing the body, but my hands were shaking nonstop. After a while, my husband asked why I hadn't even unbuttoned a single button. I just couldn't muster up the courage to carry out the task,' she said. 'Thinking back, I wonder why I was so frightened back then. After all, death is a journey that everyone takes.' Chan's initial fears were a stark contrast to her firstborn's gung-ho attitude towards the job. The younger woman sat in on her first embalming session 'almost immediately', within the first few weeks on the job. Whatever hesitation Chan had about her daughter entering the funeral trade quickly vanished when she saw how calm and composed she was. She was surprised but also proud that her daughter, only 19 at the time, showed no fear. 'To be honest, I was happy and comforted when she expressed interest in this line of work,' said Chan. 'My husband and I have always felt that we need more young people to join the funeral trade.' PRESSURE TO PROVE HERSELF For Tay, stepping up wasn't just about learning the ropes; 'I wanted the staff to know that I can do it. That was a push factor for me,' she explained. Now 25, the business administration graduate, who has an embalmer certification, manages various aspects of the business, such as operations and planning. Since joining the family business, Tay has brought about change. The embalming facility has been upgraded twice within three years, expanded in space and redesigned to look more clinical and surgical. Specialised teams in human resource, accounting and customer service have been established to streamline processes. In 2020, the mother and daughter co-founded Petal Elements, a bereavement flower service under Casket Fairprice. Previously, they worked with external vendors but the pair felt that they could do more for grieving families. 'Flowers are a very important visual aspect for the bereaved. We felt that by having our own floral team, we could customise arrangements and ensure better quality control,' Tay said. As a young woman entering a traditionally male-dominated workplace, she said: 'There were many senior, very experienced people at work. Coming in as a young girl and the boss' daughter, I felt a lot of pressure. 'I was worried that the staff wouldn't accept me or my ideas. I felt like I 'represented' my parents, so there was a lot of self-imposed pressure, even though they didn't put that on me.' The most difficult parts of the job aren't necessarily technical. One of the toughest cases Tay encountered involved arranging the cremation of a friend's unborn baby a few months ago. 'That was very hard for me personally because the parents are very close to my age,' she said. 'When you see how affected they are during the service, it was tough emotionally.' Still, neither mother nor daughter regret their unconventional career choice. Chan said she finds meaning in supporting families through one of the hardest moments of their lives. 'In the past, I wouldn't tell people that I worked in the funeral trade because I was afraid of it myself. But now, I openly share about the values and mindset behind what we do, and help people understand the importance of preparing for death,' she added. THEIR TAKE ON MORTALITY AND FINAL FAREWELLS So, what makes a 'good' funeral? It's one that brings peace of mind, the women said. 'To us, it means ensuring the family doesn't have to worry about anything, so that they can focus fully on accompanying their deceased loved one through their final farewell,' said Chan. Does she talk about her own funeral plans? 'Yes, we do,' Chan said. 'I like nature and I love looking at the sea – so I told them to scatter my ashes into the sea. As for the service itself, I want it to be peaceful and they should play the songs I like.' She added: 'If you're not in this line, you might find it uncomfortable to talk about death, but after being in this business, I've learnt that this is a natural part of life.' For her daughter, however, who is very close to her parents, the thought of one day losing them remains unthinkable. 'It's hard for me to say how I prepare for that day,' Tay said quietly. 'No matter how much you prepare, it'll still be very sad and very hard. All I can think of is, before that day comes, I just want to spend more time with my parents. That's the only thing I can control.' LESSONS FROM WORKING TOGETHER Working side by side has deepened their bond, even though the mother and daughter admit to having the occasional disagreement. For Tay, joining the business gave her a new perspective on the woman who raised her. 'After joining the business, I saw how my mum works with a very male-dominated team, managing the logistics and supplies. I see how strong she is.' She added that her mother often reminds her to 'be like water', drawing from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu's philosophy that water is soft, fluid and yielding, yet will always flow silently to where it is needed to nourish all things. Chan, in turn, said that working with her daughter lets her see 'how brave Rachael is'. Asked if she had any advice for her younger self, Chan paused before replying with a smile: 'I'd tell my younger self: Be brave. Don't be afraid and be steadfast in your choices. I hope you'll have courage in whatever you do – just like I do right now, bravely sitting here, taking this interview and sharing our story.'
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Community impact of Buchanan family shown through memorial
A memorial created in memory of the Buchanan family who died in a plane crash earlier this week continues to grow as people drop off flowers, stuffed animals and figurines in front of Buchanan Farms on Broadway Road. Friends, relatives and the Lee County community will bid a final farewell Monday at a funeral service. The deaths of the Buchanans — Travis, 35, Candace, 35, their daughter Aubrey Renee, 10, and son Walker Wayne, 9, — have devastated many Lee County residents. Travis founded Buchanan Farms, well-known for its produce market and the site of festivals, fellowship and fun. Travis grew tobacco, produce and other crops on his land. As director of the Lee County Cooperative Extension office, Bill Stone had many chances to work with the Buchanans. 'What always stood out to me about Travis and Candace is how innovative and fearless they were to try new things on their farm,' he said. 'Whether it was the launch of the farm stand a few years ago or the coordination of a number of successful festivals that welcomed visitors from across the region, they never shied away from a challenge,' Stone said. Teresa Dew Kelly is a Broadway commissioner and is the director of Regional Development for the Sandhills Branch of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. She is the former director of the Christian United Outreach Center. 'They donated food from their farm to people who needed it,' Kelly said. 'They were totally committed to the Broadway area to bring people in. It's just been real devastating for a lot of people that they touched,' Kelly said. Stone agreed. 'They also lifted up and supported a number of other local businesses, whether it was hosting vendors or food trucks at special events or collaborating with other small businesses to promote and showcase their products at the Buchanan Farm stand,' he said. Several residents have posted their feelings about the deaths of the family and paid homage to them as well. Other produce farming operations have posted their sympathies as well. 'We are heartbroken over the tragic loss of the Buchanan family. Travis was not only a loyal customer, but a true friend to me and everyone at Thomas Tire,' Dale Talbert wrote on Facebook. 'From the very beginning of his logging days, he was someone we respected, enjoyed working with and deeply admired.' Buchanan Farm was indeed a family farm operation with friends and relatives often coming to lend a hand, Stone said. 'Through hard work and tremendous passion, their operation grew quickly. I also think their success can be attributed to how much value Travis and Candace placed on engaging the community in their farming operation,' Stone said. 'I was looking back through photos from their Strawberry Festival this past May, and the smiles and joy on the faces of the visitors spoke volumes about the positive impact the Buchanans had on the lives of so many and the lasting legacy they'll leave behind.'
