This generational undertaking is about as unique as it gets.

To Bill Cole, there is no greater honour than bringing grieving family members peace during their final goodbye.

A self-professed ‘big softie’, Bill has known since his early teens what he wanted to do. Compassion has always come naturally to him, and as it turns out, he’s not the first in his family to act on the instinct.

“Getting into the industry just felt right. There has to be something in the genes that makes you want to do this job,” he says.

“My interest was first piqued in high school when I read a book called ‘The Loved One’, by Evelyn Waugh. I loved it and dove down the rabbit hole, learning everything I could about funeral homes.”

Years after founding William Cole Funerals with his wife Christine, Bill discovered his great grandfather had also built a life in funeral homes.

“I felt a real sense of excitement after learning that my great grandfather was also funeral director, in South Australia,” he says.

“Christine and I went on a pilgrimage of sorts, to find out everything we could about him. We were able to visit where he conducted services and take home a copy of his funeral register.

“To see his signature beside the names of so many families that he helped, dating back to 1923, was eerie. It certainly confirmed that my vocation choice was meant to be.”

The Coles’ first born, Judy, also felt drawn to the role from a young age. She completed her qualifications as the youngest female embalmer in Australia at the time, and is now an integral part of the business as a funeral director.

“We’ve invested so much of ourselves into what we do that the business and our family are, to a large extent, one and the same thing,” she says.

“So perhaps it’s not surprising that we feel a huge sense of pride in our work, which at its core is about providing comfort to those experiencing life-changing sorrow.

“As a family ourselves, helping other families come to terms with loss comes naturally to us.”

Working alongside Bill and Christine are their grandchildren Bronte and Ella. Both started working in the family business after high school – a solid foundation for their respective careers in medicine and hospitality.

To this day, Bronte and Ella can be found assisting funeral directors during service and helping out with admin when they’re needed.

The Coles make one unique family unit, relying on each other not only to do the job seamlessly, but for emotional support.

“We’ve seen much of Canberra cry over the years. Processing loss doesn’t happen overnight, so it’s important to have a calm, organised and gentle approach,” Bill says.

“We do shed tears behind the scenes – we’re only human, after all.

“When a story really tugs on my heart strings, it’s a gift to be surrounded by family who not only support me, but understand what my clients are going through as well.”

Having spent decades behind the wheel, Bill says the biggest changes to his industry over the last few years have been technology based – and funeral homes have had to adapt quickly.

“These days ceremonies are quite complex. Most funerals have a slideshow to play, music to pair or live streaming to organise.

“But the way we experience loss hasn’t changed, so neither will funerals’ purpose.

“Whether you want to be remembered with a service that has long stood the test of time or something more modern, what’s important is that your family and friends are given the time and space to express their love for you.”

This article, written by Morgan Kenyon, was featured on Riotact on the 4th of September 2024. You can see the original article HERE