Sentiment - Video and photo montage production

Raised eyebrows, embarrassed giggles, “What????”, “Good grief…!” are just some of the responses I’ve been given when I tell people of my new venture with Sentiment, which only reinforces the idea that what I’m doing is right; that death is still a taboo area and that this needs to change. Whatever your belief of what happens to us afterwards, whatever culture or religion, we are all united in the fact that we will depart this life at some point.

I love life. I try to see the richness of every moment. I look for humour, and laugh often. I am happy. This doesn’t mean I haven’t experienced so-called ‘negative’ events. Quite the opposite, but I choose to see the positive and my life is fun. I also choose to accept that one day I will leave this life for something else, and in leaving this life I will leave behind some amazing people who have enriched my being more than they would ever know. And so when they come to my funeral to say goodbye, I also want to say goodbye to them. I don’t want a sombre, Dickensian affair. I’m sure (the ego suggests ‘hope’?!) there’ll be a few tears, but I want smiles and laughter to break through those tears. I want to hear “Emily would love this” and “That is SO Emily”. Black clothes and cucumber sandwiches just won’t cut it!

When my beloved mum (who was also one of my best friends) died in December, I helped arrange her funeral. There were bright colours and an ‘anything goes’ attitude towards the dress code, a 5 foot spray of flowers in her favourite colours on her coffin which was made of golden wicker. Each guest took away a collection of people’s tributes and memories of her, intertwined with photos and her artwork in a pearlescent booklet. It was a beautiful day. My only regret was, that due to the short time you have to plan a funeral and the emotion that surrounds it, I didn’t get to personalise it even more. Or film it. I felt the funeral was my last connection on this earth to my darling mum. I was in such a haze that day; I wish I could see it again.

To work with someone and to give them their final wish, or to help grieving families honour someone for the individual that they were, and to reflect their personality, whilst allowing them the space to concentrate on the difficult time they are going through, will be so fulfilling. I am so looking forward to this journey and cannot thank Louise enough for inviting me to join such an empathic, unique and special company.

Emily Lamont – Operations Director

emily@sentiment.co.uk