About Me.
My name is Ann Hollowell, and I am a Funeral Director, a partner in my family’s business B Hollowell & Son based in Abington in Northampton. I began working for the company in 1991 and qualified as a Funeral Director in 1995.
I have been where you are today, I have lost children at various gestational periods from 6 to 21 weeks. Each time the pain was unbearable and I was left with so many questions. Why me? Was it something I did? Was it my fault? Nature can be cruel and quite often there is no answer, sometimes life is unfair and there are events that we can have no control over.
On the positive side, out of all the heartache I have two beautiful daughters who are my inspiration and I have met many many families who have suffered tragedy but then gone on to receive the gift of beautiful children
Why Butterflies?
As children we were always told by our Grandma that we were not to be afraid of dying.
She would take us into the garden and show us the butterflies gently floating in
the warm air. She explained to us that when you die you become a butterfly, a delicate
creature that is gentle, unique and beautiful.
As we have grown into adults we have told our children the same story and it has now become part of the Hollowell belief that when you die you become a butterfly.
I could think of no better name for the service that we offer to families who have lost a child ~ Children Are Butterflies.
Essie Hollowell “Our Grandma and Grandma to All.”
The Need For Extended Support
Whilst in hospital families will be supported by midwives, nurses and doctors. Sooner
or later families will find themselves outside of that support network, facing the
potentially daunting task of arranging a funeral for their child, with all the emotional
and financial distress that may come with that. My dream for “Butterflies” was to
extend that support network, to give families the support and guidance that may be
otherwise lacking for them, to enable families to gain support from others who have
been through similar experiences -
“Come With Me”
I want to fly, will you come with me?
Hold my hand tight and we soon will be~
Drifting over the countryside far below us,
And enjoying the freedom without any fuss.
How lovely is it to be happy and free,
Life is such fun for you and me.
Warmth on our faces as we flutter away,
Towards the stars as they come out to play.
They twinkle and dance as the day reaches its end,
Never thinking a butterfly could be such a good friend.
Thank you for taking me up into the sky,
Holding onto me tight until morning is nigh.
How could I forget such a magical day,
When me and my ‘Butterfly’ went out to play.
Annette Hollowell 2009