Patterson Brothers has been servicing the needs of the community for over 138 Years.
They commenced operations in 1882 in Boorowa before moving their base to Young where they have remained for the last 114 Years in the same building.
Daniel Patterson has continued the family tradition and after working in a number of different jobs in his earlier years, is now a 5th generation Director. He started working on funeral services as an 18 year old. Daniel and his wife Stacey have just gone into their 6th year with Daniel working for 10 years for his father David before that. His brother and nephew also contribute to the family business.
Patterson Brothers conducts approximately 150 funerals a year. There are not too many days off when your time is spent ensuring that
families can say goodbye to their loved ones. That is the nature of the business.
Daniel said, “We had a family holiday after my brother’s wedding last year and that was the first time we had since I had joined the business. We knew it was going to be life changing for us and I watched it through my life growing up, I knew what we were in for.”
When Covid-19 first hit, restrictions quickly came in to place before further tightening. Daniel said that 100 people could be inside a building and that 500 people were allowed outside. They conducted a funeral on the Friday before just 2 days later, the rules changed to 10 people.
Patterson Brothers had to ensure that the rules were maintained and that the families were still able to say goodbye to their loved ones.
Daniel said the rule changes were first announced over the news before the Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) were able to
disseminate information based on what they had been provided by the government.
Funeral homes have not been classed as an essential service which means they were not provided with any personal protection devices.
Rules are slowly being relaxed and 20 people will be allowed inside soon.
Daniel said that it has been difficult. Grandchildren and parts of the family are often unable to attend when the families are large due to the number of constraints.
An upside to the smaller gatherings has been that a number of families have told Daniel that the smaller services have allowed them to grieve without hundreds of people attending as they would have in the past.
Patterson Brothers have been using Zoom as well as recording funerals so that those who can’t attend can view the service.
Daniel is continuing to see changes in the industry including families preparing arrangements for loved ones including family members who are terminally ill. Patterson Brothers is proud of their ability to personalise services to the needs of the family.
Daniel noted that the industry and the nature of the work is difficult at times. He gets satisfaction that he can provide a service for people’s loved ones exactly how they pictured it.
The industry by its nature and the small communities that Patterson Brothers operates in, means that Daniel and Stacey often know the family and the members involved. Sometimes they have had to bury close friends. One can only imagine how hard it can be on them at times. Death and grieving are a part of human life but something that is never easy to get used to.
