Grantham Co-op Funeral Care Honors Boston Man with Travel-Inspired Coffin
A unique cardboard coffin reflects the adventurous spirit of Joshua Cullen, who passed away at 27 from a brain tumor
Boston, UK, Joshua Cullen, Brain Tumor, Travel, Funeral Care
To celebrate his adventurous spirit, his family chose a cardboard coffin decorated with travel-themed stickers for his funeral on October 31. It was a fitting tribute to Josh, who dreamed of moving to Canada.
His mom, Maggie, shared that Josh was always a bit unconventional. “He would have loved it,” she said. Josh had a passion for geography and aviation, and he traveled to places like Tenerife, Greece, and Germany.
Maggie reminisced about their trips to Vienna, a city close to her heart. She plans to take Josh’s ashes to Canada for his 30th birthday, but for now, he’s resting with her.
Sammy, one of Josh’s friends, helped brainstorm ideas for the coffin design. Maggie wanted something that truly represented Josh, steering clear of traditional gold handles.
She approached the Co-op Funeral Care in Grantham with her vision. Jo, the funeral arranger, was eager to help make it personal. They decided to create a cardboard coffin together, and Maggie spent time gathering items to decorate it.
They included a European map with an arrow pointing to the UK that read “you are here.” At the funeral, guests were encouraged to wear bright colors instead of the usual black, as Josh wanted a celebration of life.
Maggie expressed her gratitude to the Co-op Funeral Care team for their support. Jo Standley from Co-op Funeralcare said they were honored to help create such a personal farewell, noting that more families are choosing to celebrate their loved ones in unique ways.