A HOSPICE has opened its second funeral home in Bridgwater.

The new St Margaret’s Funerals home in Eastover has been brought up to date by the St Margaret’s Hospice Care and St Margaret’s Funerals team.

St Margaret's already has an existing funeral home in Bridge Street, Taunton.

Funeral director Julie Lacey and her assistant Angela Morteo are delighted with the response since they began offering "a modern, transparent, personal and affordable" funeral service.

They have been joined by funeral assistant Terena Gill, who was previously a community fundraiser for the hospice in the Bridgwater area.

Funeral assistant Terena Gill

Funeral assistant Terena Gill

She said: "While I worked at the hospice, I worked very closely with recently bereaved families; helping them come to terms with the loss of someone close, by doing something positive and giving something back to the hospice.

"When I heard of the role of funeral assistant, I thought it was the perfect role to put my experience to use."

She is planning to offer open mornings when the public can visit the funeral home in Bridgwater and meet the staff, and local people such as celebrants, over a cup of coffee.

She added: "The office is warm and inviting and we have a family room providing privacy to families. It really is a lovely space."

When restrictions ease, the community will be welcome to visit to meet the team and see around the premises.

Inside the new funeral home

Inside the new funeral home

The home includes a space that could accommodate families in the future wanting to hold celebrations of life for their loved ones.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "St Margaret’s Funerals aims to help people in the local community by providing a range of high quality, fixed-price funerals and fully guaranteed funeral plans.

"Coupled with this all profits from St Margaret’s Funerals goes directly to St Margaret’s Hospice Care to help provide care and support to patients facing a life-limiting illness across Somerset."