A funeral administrator, Clare Curtis received warm words about her kindness, care, consideration and humour from nominators.
“An employee who has gone above and beyond her duties,” said one, who added:
“Clare looked after my family and me when my husband suddenly passed away.
“With care, consideration and humour she saw to all the arrangements and even made sure our dog Prince could attend the funeral service.
“She not only came to our home, out of office hours, to collect Ken’s clothes to be dressed in but during one of our conversations offered to lend and then delivered her own Vax carpet cleaner; something she could easily have dismissed, but her kindness is immeasurable and deserves recognition.”
A colleague at AB Walker said: “I have worked with Clare for a few years now. Clare’s dedication to her clients is truly amazing.
“As a funeral administrator she looks after families going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. It’s not just a job for her but more a vocation in caring.
“Families warm to her and open up to her about their problems of general day-to-day life trying to get back onto an even keel.
“I have also seen her making sure a very frail client was home safe after they’d made a very tricky bus journey to our Chapel of Rest.
“These tiny acts of kindness actually mean so much to people who just feel so lost.
“She does this as well as keeping spirits up amongst colleagues and officiants, hospitals and crematorium and cemetery staff.”
After winning the award, Clare said: “It’s an honour to have been nominated, and a real privilege to look after the families who come to us,” she said.
“They have given me the privilege of being involved in a very important part of their life.
“And I don’t take that for granted.
“I think it’s important to try to be myself, to listen, and to treat them with the kindness and respect they deserve.
“I really care about walking along this journey with them, and the community of Reading means everything to me.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a lord or a lady, or whether you’ve been living on the streets – you’re a part of Reading.
“We all go through bereavement at some point in our lives, and it’s important to have someone there to walk with you through it.
“We’re a family firm in the community of Reading – so it’s a case of our family looking after their family.
“This award isn’t just for me, it’s also for the lovely team around me.
“We work together, and we’re a family – it’s a real group effort.”
