Mothering Sunday at Westerleigh crematoria
Westerleigh Group is opening the chapel doors at its crematoria in England, Scotland and Wales to bring families and friends together to celebrate Mothering Sunday on 27 March.
For those unable to attend in person, or who may still be apprehensive because of the pandemic, a specially-recorded Service of Remembrance will be available to view on YouTube, with details available on the website and facebook page of each crematorium.
Westerleigh Group is the UK’s largest owner and operator of crematoria and cemeteries, with 36 sites in England, Scotland, and Wales, all set within beautifully landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide pleasant, peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.
The Service of Remembrance is being recorded in advance at Waseley Hills Crematorium in the West Midlands, Westerleigh Group’s newest facility which only opened a few weeks ago.
The service is expected to last around 45 minutes and will include readings, music and poems.
Many of Westerleigh Group’s crematoria are inviting families into their chapels on Mother’s Day to watch the special service there.
Debbie Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Westerleigh Group, said: “Mother’s Day can be a particularly poignant time for those who have lost their mum or cannot be together on this day.
“Due to the exceptional circumstances families have endured as result of the pandemic, and lockdown restrictions, this year we wanted to open up our chapels on Mother’s Day, in order to give families an opportunity to gather and remember their mum or mother figure while visiting our beautiful sites.
“Some people will find it a great comfort to be able to come to our tranquil crematoria and watch the specially-recorded service in the company of others, or have a quiet moment of reflection in our chapels.
“But those who are not able, or who do not wish, to attend in person will not miss out, and can view the service online via YouTube, so that they can still honour their lost loved ones in a special way.”
The service will be provided in partnership with Huntington’s Disease Association and Scottish Huntington’s Association as Westerleigh Group’s corporate charities of the year.
They provide care and support services for people with Huntington’s disease living in England, Wales and Scotland, educate families and professionals and champion people’s rights. You can support their work by donating here:
England and Wales: www.justgiving.com/campaign/westerleighgroup
Scotland: www.justgiving.com/campaign/WesterleighGroupScotland
Cath Stanley, Chief Executive of the Huntington's Disease Association said: “We would like to thank the Westerleigh Group for choosing us as their charity of the year.
“We are delighted to be part of this year's Mother's Day service. Thank you to the member of Huntington's disease community who wrote the poem in honour of her Mum which will be shared during the service.”
Alistair Haw, Chief Executive of Scottish Huntington’s Association, said: “We thank our friends in Westerleigh Group for their continued support of the Huntington’s disease community in Scotland. Families whose lives are impacted by this incurable and hereditary condition are often overlooked because it is a rare disease that is not widely known about or well understood by the wider public.”
“We look forward to being part of the Mother’s Day Remembrance Service and hope as many people as possible from the HD community and beyond, in person or virtually, will find some comfort in joining us.”
For details of what is happening at your nearest Westerleigh crematorium, or how to view the service of remembrance on the Group's YouTube channel, visit the Events section on the website of your local crematorium.