A Scots funeral arranger who planned her own service including the coffin and country music has told young people “you’re never too young to arrange your own funeral”. And Chloe-Nicole Corbett said that taking time to decide now means it will help their loved ones when the time comes.
The 25-year-old was inspired to start planning now due to her experiences in her job. She has watched some families struggle to plan the funeral services for their loved ones, so decided to jot down the details for her own arrangement so her son “won’t have to worry” about what to do.
And she hopes others will be encouraged to do the same as it “doesn’t have to be a morbid thing”. Chloe, of Ayrshire, said: “I’ve got it all written down in a folder in the fifth drawer in the kitchen. I would like The Last Supper coffin and I’ve chosen some country songs so I’d like the entrance to be Outskirts Of Heaven by Warren Zeiders.
“I want the exit song to be Give Heaven Some Hell by Hardy. I’m also hoping, it might be unrealistic, but I would want my ashes taken to the Grand Canyon and scattered there. You’re never too young to arrange your own funeral and you can always change the plans – it’s just best to be prepared.”
Chloe became a single mother at the age of 19 to her son Adam – who she said is “six going on 16”. She said: “It was tough because it was just me on my own. As a mother, you want to provide for your kids so it was tough, especially work-wise trying to find something that would go around Adam.”
She had worked as a gym coach, a waitress and in fast-food restaurants, but started work as a mobile funeral arranger when she stumbled across an online ad in 2023. She responded to a job advert on Indeed for a role at Co-op Funeralcare and her parents thought she was “pulling their leg” when she first told them.
Her partner of two years, who did not wish to be named, found it “interesting”. The job, which involves visiting different funeral homes to help families make arrangements, can be “really emotional”, Chloe said, but she enjoys “being there” for them and she now wants to retire in the sector.
Chloe took the leap and was hired as a mobile funeral arranger in November that year, which involves travelling to different funeral homes, meeting with families and getting their services organised – which she said was “exciting” but “nerve-racking” at the same time.
She said: “Most people said I was pulling their leg when I told them at first but they later said it sounds really interesting and it would suit me.” The best part of the job is “being there for the families“. She added: “I go to all the different branches, meet with the families, go through the funeral arrangements and get everything booked and organised for them.
“We are able to take so much off their load and do as much as we can for them. It can get really emotional though and it does get to you a bit, especially if it is a young child with having Adam.” She added funeral care is not a career she “ever imagined” getting into but she now feels it is where she is “meant to be”.
“This is the job I want to be doing when I retire,” she said. “I do eventually want to move up to a funeral director which will hopefully be on the cards over the next few years.” After seeing some families struggle to plan the funeral services for their loved ones,
Chloe wrote down arrangements for her own funeral after seeing families struggle to plan services for their loved ones.
She said: “Some people have not had that talk with their loved ones, they start panicking and they’re worried about whether they’re doing the right thing. I wouldn’t want Adam to be in that position.” Chloe has decided she would like to be cremated in a Co-op Funeralcare Last Supper coffin, which is white with gold detailing and has a carving of Jesus at The Last Supper along the side.
She has also chosen her flower arrangement, a rose and lily coffin spread in red and white, and she would like country music to be played throughout the service as she is a fan of the genre. She said: “I have left the reflection song empty because I want Adam to chose that one. I would also like the pastor from my church, if he’s still around, to do the service.
“It was quite natural to plan it and it didn’t take much thinking really.” With her preparations, Chloe hopes her son should not have too much to do when it comes to arranging her funeral. She also wants to encourage others to plan their own services sooner rather than later.
She said: “It’s a good thing to talk about it, it doesn’t have to be a morbid thing, You’re doing it now to help your loved ones later.”
Chloe said her job has helped her to “appreciate things more” and she hopes younger people will be encouraged to pursue a career in funeral care.
She said: “One thing I’ve taken away from the job is to enjoy every moment, You get people that come in and things have been so sudden and unexpected. I’d say to definitely get into it and I can guarantee it’s not as bad as people think it is.” To find out more, visit: coop.co.uk/funeralcare
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