A funeral director facing allegations of leaving a deceased child in a baby bouncer while watching cartoons has defended her actions, emphasizing her support for grieving families. Following a BBC investigation, Amie Upton, 38, was accused of causing distress to a mother who found her deceased child in a baby bouncer, leading to her exclusion from NHS maternity wards and mortuaries in Leeds.
Despite the controversy, Upton operates Florrie’s Army, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting families who have lost infants, offering services like handprints, photographs, baby clothing, and burial or cremation support. Recent complaints surfaced from two clients, alleging Upton’s dismissive attitude, which she has refuted as “ridiculous”. Upton, who experienced the stillbirth of her own child, Florrie-Mae, at 29 weeks following a traumatic event, maintains that her care for families has been extensive and positive, with only a couple of dissatisfied individuals.
In response to criticisms from Zoe Ward and Cody Townend, Upton defended her practice of bringing deceased children to her sitting room for a peaceful environment, where she engages with them through conversation, songs, and reading. Despite ongoing scrutiny, Upton emphasized her intent to assist families in need and highlighted the lack of evidence of any wrongdoing in her operations amid previous investigations.
Reflecting on her personal tragedy and subsequent challenges, Upton recounted the traumatic incident that led to the loss of her daughter and her own health complications. She shared details of the legal proceedings against the perpetrator, Florrie’s father, and how her journey of healing through creating funeral gowns from wedding dresses inspired the establishment of Florrie’s Army.
While West Yorkshire Police has looked into complaints regarding Upton’s funeral services since 2021, no criminal activities have been identified thus far. Upton remains resolute in her mission to provide compassionate care to families in distress and continues to navigate the aftermath of her own heartbreaking experience.