Trailblazing Female Embalmer Jackie Lymn Rose Steps Back After 48-Year Career
One of Britain's pioneering female embalmers, Jackie Lymn Rose, has announced she will be stepping back from her daily responsibilities at the award-winning A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service. After conducting hundreds of funerals over a remarkable 48-year career, Jackie will remain actively engaged in the family business while dedicating more time to personal pursuits such as family, travel, and hobbies.
A Groundbreaking Career in the Funeral Industry
Jackie Lymn Rose, a fourth-generation Lymn and Company Director, blazed a trail in the funeral sector by becoming only the sixth woman in Britain to qualify as an embalmer. Her influential commitment to the profession and the wider Nottingham community was formally recognized in 2019 when she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nottinghamshire Live Women in Business Awards, a highlight of her career.
Reflecting on her time in the industry, Jackie said: "The industry is a wonderful profession to be a part of. While it is demanding emotionally, it is also incredibly fulfilling, and I’m humbled to have been able to support so many families across the Midlands."
From Teaching to Funeral Directing
After leaving school in 1974, Jackie achieved her Certificate in Education at Birmingham University, specializing in Physical Education. With a background in Human Biology at A-Level, she developed an interest in anatomy and physiology, leading her to pursue an embalming qualification concurrently with her teaching studies at the Midland School of Embalming.
Following a year of teaching at a Nottingham school, she returned to the West Midlands in 1978 to take on a role as an embalmer. She qualified as a Funeral Director the next year and held two management positions, but found she missed the direct interaction with families. In 1992, she joined the family business, taking a more active role in funeral directing and later being appointed as Company Director.
Driving Force in Business Expansion
Since joining A.W. Lymn, Jackie has been a driving force as the business expanded into new regions and markets. The company now operates 25 funeral homes across the East Midlands, having constructed its own cemetery and barrow site in Gedling and acquired a cemetery and crematorium in the West Midlands.
Jackie added: "I have truly loved working in our family business over the last 34 years. I feel honoured to be part of a workplace that has continued to expand while maintaining its core values of quality of care and service. The commitment of our staff who have bought into our vision and continue to implement our exceptional standards across the East Midlands and beyond is second-to-none."
Contributions to the Funeral Industry
Alongside her day-to-day work, Jackie has made significant contributions to the funeral industry. She served as an accredited tutor and examiner at the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) from 1983 to 2025 and was the National President for the British Institute of Embalmers (BIE) between 1988 and 1989. In 2013, she was appointed as a Fellow of the BIE.
Despite stepping back from her current role, Jackie will continue to direct funerals upon request from families and deliver training sessions for care home staff across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, helping them support the bereaved.
Legacy and Future of A.W. Lymn
A.W. Lymn was established in Nottingham in 1907 and has grown to become one of the UK's largest independent funeral directors, with 25 branches across the region. Recently acquiring M.A. Mills and expanding into Leicestershire, the company continues to grow its reach and network of talented funeral directors, supporting people in their time of utmost need.
Jackie concluded: "The profession has changed immensely since I joined, with attitudes to funerals continuing to evolve. Our business has been at the helm of responding to this. I’d like to thank all those who have made my time at A.W. Lymn so rewarding."
