Sister’s heart breaking story of arranging a funeral in a lockdown

Dave Hartle, 57, from Abergele, died in April 2020, a few days before his 58th birthday after catching coronavirus which led to further problems due to underlying health issues.

Dave had lived in Abergele for his entire life and suffered underlying issues with COPD and hypertension, living a carefree childhood in North Wales, it was said he spent much of his growing up in the mountains with the dogs.

Full of mischief, but hardworking Dave once worked as a milkman but had worked for the Royal Mail for the last 21-years, other than work colleagues its believed Dave had no family in the area.

Dave’s sister, Beverly Williams, 59, from Coventry spoke to North Wales Live about how not being able to give her brother a ‘proper send off’ was ‘heart breaking.’

Beverly said: “I’d been trying to get hold of him for a week.

“I contacted a friend who lives in Abergele and asked if she had seen him to which she replied saying that a local mans body had been found but no name was mentioned. .

“I tried to phone Dave several times again, but had no luck, so I had to phone the police and they did confirm that it was my brother.

“He’d died at home alone in April, with his one comfort Tezzak the sheepdog.

“He’d been married twice and lost both wives tragically in 10 years which was why nobody could identify.”

Arranging Dave’s funeral in lockdown fell to Beverly which was a struggle given that Beverly lives in England and the funeral was to take place in Wales.

Due to restrictions in place in Wales Beverly had to contact North Wales Police for ‘permission’ to travel across the border to arrange and attend the funeral.

With only limited numbers being allowed to attend the funeral it was difficult for Dave’s work colleagues which resulted in four attending the funeral with 14-following behind.

Having to turn to family back in Coventry for support Beverly said: “I’ve got my granddaughter living with me so she’s kept me going, She’s four and really he understands when I’m upset so she’ll bring a teddy to me.

“I’m back at my job as a dinner lady in a primary school now so that helps massively.

“Also a dog walker, which I’m back doing now but it was hard at first because whenever I walked the dogs I just thought of Tezzak who unfortunately the RSPCA had to take as I couldn’t take care of him.

“It has hit me hard. I have down days where I don’t want to go anywhere. I don’t want to do anything.”

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As well as the funeral arrangements, Beverly was also left to sort out Dave’s ‘affairs’ such as closing his energy accounts and bank accounts, which also proved difficult with most businesses having offices closed and operating a work from home model throughout lockdown.

What difficulties have you faced during lockdown? Share your thoughts about this story in the comments section below.