A woman who was ‘traumatised’ by the cost of her dad’s funeral has revealed how it lead her to a career working with the dead.
Hayleigh Davis, 37, was convinced the funeral industry profited from people at their most vulnerable.
She decided to see the reality for herself in 2016.
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Starting out as a funeral service operator, Hayleigh worked her way up through on-the-job training into the world of mortuary care where she realised her early assumptions were wrong.
“It’s so important that the last journey of someone’s forever rest is as dignified, calm and filled with care,” Hayleigh, from Tidworth, Wiltshire, told Need To Know.
“I genuinely know grief through the loss of my father and my three babies that I’ve lost and honestly, grief is horrendous.
“If I can make the family’s grief just a little easier by making that goodbye peaceful and respectful, then I’m satisfied.
“I was so traumatised by the cost of my father’s funeral and I was convinced they profited from people’s grief.
“That was soon put to bed when I realised just how much care goes into looking after someone.”
Hayleigh says the decision left those closest to her baffled and strangers are always shocked when she reveals her profession.
She said: “My family thought I was joking.
“They didn’t understand why I would want to do it.
“My friends were oddly supportive and very encouraging so I had a very mixed response.
“Now, they are all very proud of me.
“I’m often told I look like I would be in the beauty industry, in admin or on OnlyFans.
“When I tell them I work in a mortuary they often look at me very puzzled.
“When I speak about what I do they always have the same response.
“They say ‘we would never have guessed that’.
“I think because I do like my make up, it catches them off guard a little.”
While much of her work is routine, Hayleigh admits there are moments that stay with her.
She said: “Families argue whilst stood over the body of their loved one, full on shouting at each other.
“I’ve had bodies that sadly, when I’ve touched them, their skin has come away attached to my gloves.
“For instance, this poor gentleman had been sadly deceased a while before he was found and we assured his wife we would put items in the coffin for her and she wanted him to hold some rosemary beads.
“I lifted his index finger and the skin stayed attached to me.
“That actually really upset me as I felt so responsible but sadly it can happen.”
Hayleigh is also shutting down the most common myths.
She added: “I always get asked the same questions.
“The biggest is whether bodies sit up. The answer is that no they do not.
“People ask if after a post mortem, are organs in a bag in the abdomen and that’s true.
“If it’s a forensic post mortem then in the bag the organs go.
“People ask if it’s grim and gory but it’s far from it. It’s surprisingly peaceful and there’s nothing gory about it.”
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