A Bespoke funeral in Totnes – A Musical Story

One ‘bespoke’ funeral we organised was held a number of years ago in a Totnes pub for a man whose religion was Sunday lunchtime jazz, a pianist.

We held it at midday on a Sunday. His coffin was present. Everyone sat at tables with a drink. We had a more formal part, where the celebrant and others talked about him, his life, his character and foibles. A Catholic nun read something beautiful and said some prayers. Everyone stood and we said a proper goodbye to him.

Then the jazz session started, obviously with a substitute pianist(!), and his favourite tunes were played. His coffin remained and people came and stood around it chatting about him and other things.

At 2pm, after playing the final number, ‘Body And Soul’, the coffin was taken out and his cremation took place the next day with a few close family and friends present.

The whole event felt just right for him and people took comfort from that.