21/07/2026
Meet the Team Tuesday: Introducing Sheila Henshall 🎩🥰
This week, we're delighted to introduce Sheila Henshall, one of the friendly faces who helps support families here at J S Hedges Funeral Directors.
Sheila joined our St Helens office just over a year ago as an Office Administrator, working part-time in a job-share role. Her days are varied, from answering phone calls and emails to helping families prepare Orders of Service, arranging visits to the Chapel of Rest, processing invoices, and responding to general enquiries.
Born and bred in St Helens, Sheila's roots are firmly planted in the local community. Although she spent six years living in France and seven years in London, she always knew she would return home.
"St Helens is where my heart is," Sheila says. "It's the people. We're friendly, we're local, and there's a real sense of community. People have a strong moral compass and want to do the right thing by others. Home is where the heart is."
After leaving school, Sheila joined her family's off-licence business before moving to France. She later completed her degree at Liverpool John Moores University and became a primary school teacher. She taught in London before returning to St Helens when she started her own family.
When her children experienced health challenges, Sheila took time away from teaching to care for them. During this period, she volunteered for a while before taking on the role of Co-ordinator for St Helens Parent Partnership/IASS, supporting families of children with disabilities and special educational needs.
Working closely with parents, schools, and children, she found the role demanding but incredibly rewarding.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, while caring for her daughter, Sheila also ran her own successful One-to-One Diet business for seven years.
Her journey into funeral care came unexpectedly. A friend working at J S Hedges was leaving her administrative role and suggested Sheila might be interested.
"I never imagined I'd enjoy it as much as I do," she admits. "It's actually a very peaceful place to work. Taking families into the Chapel of Rest and being there for them at one of the most difficult times in their lives gives me a real sense of purpose."
One of the aspects Sheila values most is hearing the stories families share about their loved ones.
"I love listening to people's memories and learning about their lives. Often they'll mention places around St Helens where they met or spent time together, and because I'm local, I can often relate to those stories. It's fascinating."
Sheila also enjoys helping to create Orders of Service and seeing the love and care that families put into celebrating a loved one's life.
"It's a real honour to be involved. Every funeral is different, and it's touching to see the unique ways people choose to remember someone special."
She believes many people have misconceptions about the funeral profession.
"Some people think funeral directors are serious or miserable, but we're just normal people. We laugh, we have families, and we genuinely care. There's also so much that happens behind the scenes that people never see, coordinating with priests, churches, crematoriums, florists, and managing countless details to make everything run smoothly."
Although there are difficult moments, particularly children's funerals or seeing someone facing loss alone, Sheila finds the work deeply meaningful.
"The best part of my role is that every day is different. I meet different families, hear different stories, and hopefully help make a difficult time a little easier."
The feedback she receives from families means a great deal to her.
"We receive lovely cards, emails, and phone calls. One lady recently told me she had been nervous about calling us, but said my voice had put her at ease. It was wonderful to know I'd helped in some small way. Sometimes people simply say, 'Thank you for listening,' and that means a lot."
Many people are surprised when they learn Sheila now works in the funeral profession after spending much of her career in education and family support.
"I was nervous at first, and I think people often ask whether I'm scared working in this industry. But now I take great pride in making sure everything is in place and families are looked after."
Having had her own family members cared for by J S Hedges funeral directors has also given Sheila a personal understanding of the importance of compassionate care.
"It brings me comfort knowing the level of care that's given and how much it means to families."
Sheila is also supportive of greater regulation within the funeral profession.
"The public often assume all funeral businesses work to the same standards, but that's not always the case. I welcome increased regulation and clear standards across the industry."
Reflecting on her role, Sheila says:
"We may be funeral directors, but we're people too. We have our own families, our own stories, and often our own experiences of grief. That helps us understand both sides and approach every family with sympathy and empathy."
Outside of work, Sheila loves spending time with her daughter, family, and friends. She enjoys travelling, walking her dog Dora, and planning weekends away.
"Life is for living," she says. "I always like to have something to look forward to."
Her next adventure includes a vineyard stay and a dog-friendly getaway, because no family member gets left behind! 🐾
Thank you, Sheila, for everything you do for our families and for being such an important part of the J S Hedges team, we are lucky to have you 🌟🥰
