WHILE A career in funeral care might not be an obvious choice for many people, for one mother-and-daughter duo it has not only provided them with a rewarding career, but also brought them closer together than ever.

Rhyl-based Sarah Myatt, 61, and her daughter, Jessica Myatt-Jones, 37, have worked together at Tongs Co-op Funeralcare on Brighton Road for more than seven years.

Sarah began her career as a funeral arranger 18 years ago, having previously worked in the property sector.

The move was something Sarah had wanted to make for a long time, as she “wanted to make a difference to families going through a very difficult time.”

She quickly excelled in her new role, caring for loved ones and arranging funeral ceremonies. Her dedication and impact did not go unnoticed by her daughter, Jess.

“I would come home from work and talk about what I had done, and consequently Jess grew interested,” Sarah recalls.

Following a stint at Chester Co-op Funeralcare and five years in the Royal Navy, Jess decided to pursue a career in funeral care, proving that caring is part of the family DNA – a trait further demonstrated by Sarah’s son, James, who works as a paramedic.

Throughout their seven years as colleagues at Tongs Co-op Funeralcare, Sarah and Jess have worked hard to strike the perfect balance between their professional and personal relationships, organising more than 900 funerals between them, with Jess also now completing an apprenticeship to become a funeral director.

“It helps that our relationship is quite strong, and we try our best to support each other through the pressures of the job,” Sarah says.

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“We understand the intricacies of the job in a way our other family members and friends can’t.

“We’re able to approach things in a unique way, which we wouldn’t be able to do with other colleagues; we discuss things outside of work and will call each other on days off to ask questions.”

Although a career in funeral care, and certainly working alongside a relative, might not be for everyone, Sarah and Jess have found that their joint venture has strengthened their bond.

The pair also credit the wider support from Co-op Funeralcare for allowing them to thrive in their roles at Tongs.

Jess added: “We love the way we can personalise funerals for our families – supporting them in arranging funerals that are truly unique to their loved ones is so special.

“Our clients are our priority and making sure they have the choice available to honour their loved one is so important.”

Sarah continued: “Our managers trust us to use our initiative and are always incredibly supportive.

“Myself, Jess and our funeral director, Lauren, like to do things in our own way as we know the area well, and this way of working has helped to maintain the long-standing reputation of Tongs and to ensure that the community sees us as their family funeral director.”