Funeral parlour

Meet the team bringing the fabulous and quirky to people's dying wishes

- BY MARK JEFFERIES

Morning, sir. How are we today? Still looking good, aren't we? The girls are coming in shortly to see you, so let's spruce you up." To some people, speaking to a dead body and applying aftershave to his neck or making them a brew they will never drink seems odd.

But at the Butterflies Rising funeral home in Liverpool, every small detail that can provide comfort to a family is being undertaken.

The business looks a bit like a spa, including a waterfall in reception.

And most of the people inside the venue are relaxing or resting, but resting in peace. Hayley McCaughran, 39, is the founder and lead funeral director and the one applying the aftershave to a much-loved grandfather.

Explaining the concept, she says: "It's important, you know, to address them as individuals, because just because they're asleep, it doesn't mean that they don't deserve the same respect as you or I."

Hayley used to be an aesthetic technician providing fillers and botox but was inspired to open her firm in 2023 by her mum's death in 2019 and wanting more comfort around that time that had not been available.

She has since got her level 3 qualification as a funeral director. Hayley says: "Mum got diagnosed with cancer at just 59. When she was admitted into hospital, it was the day after my dad's birthday and she never came out. When my mum passed away, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. She always said she wanted someone in the family to be a doctor or a nurse. Obviously, I was too old to go into that field, but just knew I wanted to look after people."