Funeral director releases book on grief

Lianna Champ, owner of funeral directors Champ Funerals, has released a new book giving advice on how to cope with grief after the death of a loved one.

Champ held a book launch on 5 July at the Breda Murphy restaurant in Whalley, Lancashire to celebrate its release.

The book goes through different kinds of grief and bereavement that people may experience, offering tips on how to deal with the loss of a parent, partner, child, sibling, pet or colleague. Outside of the topic of death, the book also discusses how to deal with the breakdown of a romantic relationship.

Champ, who has been in the profession for over 40 years and knew she wanted to be an undertaker since she was nine, dedicated the book to her close friend Guy who suddenly passed away following a diagnosis of terminal cancer.

She was then encouraged to write the book by private investor and former Dragon’s Den panellist, Richard Farleigh.

Champ said: “The book just seemed to happen. It took just over two years to write and has been a wonderful experience. A very close friend of mine, Guy died last year following his diagnosis of terminal cancer.

“My book is dedicated the book to him. When Guy told me that it was down to me to get him through, I had to begin to understand how I did what I did. I had always worked instinctively and intuitively with grievers but now I had to break it down and put it into words. In truth, Guy, unknowingly to us both at the time, was my springboard.”