Every now and then, a story comes along that reminds us why we do what we do. This is one of those stories—and I’m so proud to share it.
It all began in April 1963, when Bungards held the funeral of Mrs Margaret Mackillop, a local resident who lived just across the road from our office in Hove. Her devoted husband, Archibald, made sure she had the finest farewell possible: a beautifully polished coffin and two of our best limousines. Nothing was too much trouble for his beloved Margaret.
Archibald had a Sunday ritual—calling his family in Ireland using the phone at the local newsagents. But not long after Margaret’s passing, he fell ill. Concerned for his wellbeing, the newsagent pressed redial after one of Archibald’s Sunday visits and alerted his family in Ireland to the fact that Archibald appeared very unwell. In a touching act of compassion, they came over and took him back home to care for him. And so, Margaret’s ashes remained with us, quietly stored away for the next 62 years.
Over the years, I have made several attempts to trace Margaret’s family, but each time I came up short. This year, I decided to try something new: Ancestry. To my amazement, I found a link to Archibald—and even a photo of him standing beside a cruise ship! I enlisted the help of my mum, an avid Ancestry researcher, and within two hours we received an email from a family member who knew Margaret and Archibald’s grandchildren.
The response was overwhelming. Margaret’s grandchildren were overjoyed to hear from us. They had no idea their grandmother had been resting just across the street from their old home in Hove. After many heartfelt emails, it was decided: One of the grandchildren would travel up from Cornwall to collect Grandma and take her back so the family could all get together to honour her final wish—to be scattered at sea!
After 62 years, we’ve finally brought a loving family back together with their grandmother. In doing so, we’ve honoured our promise to return her home. Stories like this remind us of the profound emotional bonds that lie at the heart of every funeral—and why perseverance matters. As a sweet thank-you, Margaret’s grandchildren sent me a beautiful box of chocolates. My heart is full… though my waistline might not be quite as grateful!