VIGILS & VIEWINGS
The Green Funeral Company has small and welcoming premises in Dartington, next door to the wonderful Luna Bakery...
Within, we have our office, meeting space, mortuary and chapel of rest.
Here we welcome you in to talk, cry, share your thoughts, your experiences, to be silent. It is a safe space to be who you need to be at one of the most fundamental and significant moments in your life.
The chapel of rest is a calm and quiet space where you can spend time with the person who has died.
If you wish, you are also welcome to hold a vigil here, to open the space to friends and family to come and visit throughout the day. This can be particularly important if there is to be no formal service or ceremony, as it allows those to come and say their own goodbyes in a safe and held space.
Alternatively we can arrange for the body of the person who has died to be brought to your home.
Bringing the body home can feel intimidating, but is for many a natural instinct; indeed it was part of our culture until recent history. We can help and support you with this decision. In our experience, bringing the body home can have huge emotional benefits, and in the case of an unexpected death, or when a child has died, it allows time for acceptance of loss.
In the past a wake was a traditional part of the funeral where the body can be laid out, if the family wish. It is a chance for family, friends and the wider community to share their grief and exchange stories and memories of the person that has died. We have found these occasions to be both moving and uplifting and can foster important community ties, which may be very useful later.
