When one walks into a funeral home, the expectation is often hushed voices, sombre music and a cloud of grief. But stepping into the Goodall and Bourne Funeral Undertakers, Athlone offices of sisters Candice Austin, 37,  and Lynn Truter, 42, you’re met instead with laughter, warmth and an unmistakable sense of ease.

Austin, with a quick, infectious laugh, makes visitors feel instantly at home, even though bodies rest just metres away. Truter, the elder sister, reassures with calm authority, her stylish glasses framing a face that radiates compassion. 

Together, they’ve breathed new life into a 90-year-old family business, proving that dignity and empathy can live side by side with humanity and humour.

Austin reflected on their journey after their parents’ passing: “When our parents died, we both knew what had to happen and we both knew what they would have wanted so there was no arguing at all, in fact we hardly ever argue.

“We are both very different in so many ways and we respect that about each other. Arranging funerals makes me see first hand how siblings and families argue when a death occurs and sometimes families see each other for the first time in years when they have to come together to arrange their mom or dad’s funerals and then it’s like a reunion almost.”

She admitted she initially resisted change. “I struggled a lot with change in the business and my sister is more tech advanced than what I am. So, where she tried to implement certain things or change certain things in the company I wasn’t happy with, I at first put up a fight, a small fight but eventually realised that she is right and that change is necessary and important.”

Over the years, Austin said they’ve encountered more than their fair share of unusual requests. “We’ve had clients request us to drive for their matric ball, and that the matriculant be placed in a coffin behind a hearse. Others also ask me to put glasses on their loved one’s face in the coffin, even though the eyes are closed. Someone asked me for their loved one’s glass eye back after the funeral, so we removed the eye and returned it to the family. Recently someone tried to sell a coffin to us.”

Truter explained that the job sometimes makes them accidental mediators. “People ask us to mediate between family members, especially those not talking to one another. We respectfully explain our situation that we only deal with one family member.”

For Austin, working in the presence of death daily has ignited a deeper appreciation for life. “Working with death everyday makes me want to live life to the absolute fullest and realise the importance of boundaries and being intentional about who you want present in your life. 

“You know we have many friends or even family that’s always around but I have come to learn that for me, being really happy and really living life to its full potential comes from me because I am responsible for my life and my happiness, but also who you allow access to is also very important.”

For Truter, the work feels like a calling rather than a career. “Work and life feels the same, so because it’s our business it doesn’t feel like work, it feels like we were put on this earth to help people, understand the industry and understand the transition between life and death.”

If there’s one thing both sisters agree on, it’s that they’ve heard every funeral-related joke under the sun. Truter laughed: “Sometimes you have to put up a fake smile because you heard the ‘oh it’s not a dead business, is it a dying business,’ and then people are very surprised that us as sisters are very fashion forward are in this business and we conduct ourselves very professionally and make sure to show them empathy, and give their loved ones a dignified send off.”

 “I think its very important to know and realise that even though we are a funeral parlour, we are still normal and run an office environment. People think we don’t laugh, swear or that we only wear black, but to us it’s about brightening up our clients’ days in those very dark and sad moments,” said Austin.

“They are already coming here during one of the worst times of their life, so we a tleast want to be able to put a smile on their face when they walk through and out of our door.”

tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus 

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