Like many, I knew nothing about the Antrim and Newtownabbey Crematorium until 10 days ago when a funeral service opened my eyes to this state of the art building. That sounds very cold and functional but that’s far from the truth. Talking to manager Jim Parker, gave me an insight into how personal their service is, how unique each of 1000 cremations have been since it opened just over a year ago. This will be news for a lot of people and a comfort to those facing family sadness.
Many, including the older generation, still prefer to be buried whereas others favour cremation for a variety of reasons, ease of scattering, sending to family, also if there’s a change of address an urn containing ashes travel with the family.
Jim explained that when someone dies, it’s usually the funeral director who plans and organises everything from paperwork to service details including music from traditional church to modern pop, for Jim the most popular is Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’, photographs to be used and personal details. The director will then liaise with the crematorium and family wishes are put into action, including the use of multi-media technology allowing services to be recorded or transmitted live to those unable to attend.
Before the service it’s decided whether the coffin will be carried in and placed on the catafalque or will already be there before the mourners take their seats. No matter the denomination or none, as the service comes to a close blue curtains slowly close over.
Here each service is unique and each lasts 45 minutes six services a day with 15 minutes between for staff to take the coffin to be cremated.
Only one body is cremated at a time, a name plate arrives with the coffin and is carefully placed in each area during the process to ensure the correct remains are passed to the family. There’s a viewing area specifically for members of the ethnic community who need to see their relative entering the cremator to be burned as is their tradition. This is carefully controlled by John White and Stephen Nelson, trained technicians also front of house staff; a series of green lights mean they both know when the sequence is ready and the chamber is heated to 850 degrees Celsius. Eventually the ashes are removed and a powerful magnet sifts out any metal objects, these are then recycled resulting in £14,000 being donated to the Children’s Hospice in the last 15 months. The ashes are available from 2 o’clock the following day.
The front door at the County Antrim crematorium is reserved for the coffin being borne in and the family welcomed, a crucial time and John and Stephen are well aware of its importance. John with 32 years experience worked in Roselawn, Stephens who is new to the business did his initial training in the same place. And like all those involved they are aware that first impressions are vital, they don’t get a second chance to receive the family with empathy and professionalism.
“It’s a ministry to us,” John told me, “we get a chance to talk to the minister or priest and the funeral director prior to family arriving and so we get a feel for the situation.” Sometimes it’s a celebration of a life well lived sometimes it is the tragedy of a young life taken too soon and this is heartbreaking for all concerned.
It’s interesting that Roselawn Crematorium is a listed building opened in 1961, the first in Ireland and designed to cater for 700 cremations each year, during the Covid pandemic numbers reached 4000. In the early 60s the roads were small and windy and to an extent still are unlike the Newtownabbey centre which is just off the M2. At present there are seven such facilities in the Republic of Ireland and two in Northern Ireland.
Here in Newtownabbey the Ceremony Room is high, wide and handsome, chairs covered in blue, walls and ceilings of pale wood, full length windows looking out into the gardens. The landscaping is impressive, there’s an artificial lake, a memorial garden available to anyone who wants to have some private time, especially those who have chosen to have ashes interred in the above ground family vaults. At the moment an area at the side of the building is being prepared as a scattering lawn.
Jim Parker, who has been in this business since 1993 where he worked at Roselawn, has six staff all with special training relating to cremation. I also met administrator Miriam Cully and Keira McWhirter who is also a technician. They will be holding open days on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22nd September from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Undoubtedly a visit will impress families who want the very best for their loved ones.
Prices vary between Newtownabbey Borough Council residents and those from other parts of Northern Ireland, for example 18 years of age upwards for a resident £550 a non-resident £950. All details at Antrim and Newtownabbey Crematorium.
JOYFUL MORNING
What a day yesterday – T Day for tickets. Two fans sitting at either end of the settee. “I’m getting there I’m now 4,078.” That was down from over 5,000 and it was still only 10.30 a.m. Silence from the other end. “4,075 hooray!” 11.05 a.m. A scream, a whoop, a jumping up and down with joy, “We got tickets!” And sure enough two tickets for Edinburgh himself and his mate, 20 year old in a magic heaven of happiness. “Well, I’ve crashed out,” from the other end, a grown woman intent on reliving the glory years of Oasis. Immediately the house was filled with the Gallagher brothers belting out their stuff and celebrations began. Phone calls to other 20 year old and, more power to them, they were all delighted. Since then the talk has been of booking plane tickets, finding accommodation and time off work, saving money. If nothing else these two brothers have given us all something to talk about, renew the love affair with their earlier work and most important of all given happiness to those who managed to get the golden tickets.
It’s been a quiet weekend with no television since Friday, something wrong with the signal but that didn’t matter as I was staying in a little house over looking the Atlantic and the sun was shining. I often think that unless you are a fisherman or a farmer, weather doesn’t matter a lot after all what can we do about it – nothing. This was the case last Wednesday when a young couple celebrated their wedding ceremony on the beach, the cows all round looking on and the miselling rain. What a memory for them, no doubt as children one or other or both of them played there never thinking that one day in August 2024 they would be joined in marriage and probably in time to come bring their children to play on the same beach. Good luck to them. As a message sent to me during the week says, Wishing you only the lightest of drizzles,
If you know me at all then you’ll know that my tomatoes are vitally important. I am happy to tell you this year they are the best crop ever. A huge number from only four plants, big and beautiful
And as tasty as you like. Alisa Craig is the variety and is a family tradition to grow rather than any other. At the end of July we passed the real thing rising majestically out of the Firth of Clyde. Fascinating to know that all the curling stones used in Olympics and world Games are cut from this pieces of rock known as Alisa Craig. The granite stone is harvested once every decade so precious to all curlers.
It’s a real sign of Autumn when you see the birds gather on the telephone wires ready for the long journey to the warmth of the sun somewhere other than Ireland! However the noise they are making must been they’ve had a happy summer and are now taking a break until next year. This sight always makes me sing the song – ‘All God’s creatures have a place in the choir, some sing lower and some sing higher , some sing out loud on the telephone wire, some just clap their hands or paws or anything they’ve got.’
By the way, all well with my blog provider for another year, thank you Jeff. Happy September everyone.