Visiting your loved one

There is no right or wrong answer. Some people find great comfort in visiting a loved one prior to their funeral and it can help them come to terms with what has happened. Others would rather remember a person as they once were, or simply don’t feel the need to visit someone before their funeral. Do what feels right for you and your family. If you are unsure, speak to our staff – we can provide you with guidance and will support you as you make your decision.

What feels right for one family may not feel right for another, and the choice is entirely your decision.

Sometimes we will advise a family not to have an open coffin. This could be for a number of reasons, such as if the cause of death has changed a person’s appearance. Whilst we may offer our recommendation, the final decision is down to you.

Your loved one can be dressed however you wish. Many people find it comforting to see their loved one in a way that they remember, and clothes can help to do this. We will ask you to bring in any clothing, jewellery and shoes you would like them to wear, and will make notes about any specific requests you have. If you would prefer not to provide us with clothes, we will dress your loved one in a simple funeral gown.

If your loved one wore makeup and you would like it to be applied for your visit, we will ask you to bring in their makeup bag. This allows us to do their makeup in a way that you will remember them by and ensures the right colours and tones are used.

You can spend as long in the Chapel of Rest as you need. There is no set amount of time you should take – some people only need a few minutes, others need much longer.

Yes. Our staff will need some time to get everything ready for your visit, so will require you to book an appointment beforehand. We are open Monday to Friday between 9am and 7pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm and can arrange an appointment at any time that works for you. Out of hours visits may also be arranged but there will be a small cost to do this.

If you are arranging a full funeral service with Hillier Funeral Service, then you can visit your loved one at no extra cost during our opening hours. For simple funerals, such as a direct cremations, there would be a small charge for Chapel visits. Likewise, any out-of-hours visits would also incur a small charge. Our staff will be able to advise you on this when you book your appointment.

We don’t have a set number of people we can fit in to our Chapel of Rest and the room comfortably fits a family or small group. If you would like a larger number of people to visit your loved one, please speak to our staff who will ensure our larger Chapel of Rest is made available.

We don’t have a speaker system located in our Chapel of Rests, however you are more than welcome to bring a small portable music system to play music from.

There are no laws or regulations that prohibit you from taking photos of your loved one during a Chapel of Rest visit, however it may not feel appropriate for everyone. Before taking any photos, consider how your loved one would feel about having their photo taken. If you are not the next of kin, seek their permission first, and ensure everyone in the room is comfortable with a photo being taken.