A career as a funeral director might not seem an obvious choice, but for twin sisters Gill Martin and Nichola Linsley, working in the sector felt like the most natural thing in the world.
The pair from South Shields both work for Co-op Funeralcare after being inspired by their mother, Audrey Leonard, who has worked for the company for more than 20 years. Although Audrey had never actively encouraged her twin daughters to pursue careers in funeralcare, she admitted that as a family they have always been very open about discussing death and bereavement.
But it was only when the twins’ grandfather had passed away that they began to truly appreciate their mother’s line of work.
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Nichola said: "When our grandad died, mum accompanied him home in the hearse and made sure everything was taken care of so that the family had nothing to worry about.
"That’s when we both realised that what mum did for us at the time really helped us get through the shock of losing our grandad. It sparked our interest in the industry and made sure we were able to do the same for other grieving families.”
Looking back on her decision to enter the sector, mum Audrey said: “From a young age, I have always had a concern and empathy for those who were bereaved and wanted a career that would make a difference in people’s lives. It just so happened that a vacancy had arisen at the Hebburn funeral home, and I knew right away this would be a job I take pride in doing, so I applied, and the rest is history!”
Gill was the first to join Co-op Funeralcare in 2018, as a funeral service operative based in Jarrow and Hebburn before quickly working her way up to the role of funeral director. Soon after, at the start of 2020, Nichola was also hired as funeral service operative in Gateshead, being promoted to funeral director in 2021.
“It helped us a lot that we would talk about death as a family quite openly because that has motivated us to have proactive conversations with those around us," Gill said. "In our jobs, we try to make people feel more comfortable with the idea of passing away, as there is nothing to be scared of - it’s a natural part of life that will happen to all of us.”
Mum Audrey said she is incredibly proud of her daughters. “It is a privilege to work alongside them and to see them flourish,” she said.
Now, the family now wants to encourage anyone interested in helping to look after families during their time of bereavement to give funeralcare a go.
“If someone has even the tiniest interest in the sector, that means there is a reason behind it, so the best thing to do is follow your instincts," Nichola said. "The pride, the honour of doing something for your local community will absolutely outweigh the initial reservations you might have.”
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