The bereaved can now remember and celebrate the lives of their loved ones even more uniquely, thanks to new personalised canvas experiences at Gedling Crematorium.
In a world first, last autumn the crematorium on Catfoot Lane started offering families a chance to experience the funerals of the future, today, thanks to state-of-the-art technology.
It meant services could be uniquely personalised, using the projection of dynamic theming, such as seasons, in the chapel, accompanied by harmoniously coordinated soundscapes and lighting.
Now, families can take this experience even further thanks to personalised canvas experiences.
From the moment mourners arrive at the chapel, they’ll be welcomed by an image of their loved one displayed on external welcome screens – gently setting the tone for the service to come.
In the waiting room, a gallery-style showcase of treasured photos will offer a quiet space for reflection and remembrance. Then, as they enter the chapel, a personalised canvas theme paired with soft, complementary lighting will create a serene and intimate atmosphere.
At the heart of the service, the loved one’s name and a beautifully set holding photo will be displayed as a touching focal point on the canvas, honouring their memory throughout the service.
During the service, up to 25 carefully chosen photographs, accompanied by a special piece of music, will beautifully celebrate the life and memories of the life once lived.
New personalised canvas experiences have four categories: the floral collection, with 12 options ranging from Forget-me-nots to roses; the classic collection, with 10 colour opions; and the scrapbook collection with seven themes including DIY, cars, travel, pets and music.
The fourth category allows supporters of Nottingham Forest FC or Notts County FC to select an interactive canvas wall from the football collection and bring their loved one’s favouite football team’s stadium into the chapel.
The experience is further enhanced by having the name of the deceased scrolling on what would usually be an electronic advertising board running all around the stadium.
The innovative experience is the result of a partnership between Westerleigh Group, which operates Gedling Crematorium, and the UK’s leading audio-visual provider to the bereavement industry, Obitus.
Gedling Crematorium Manager Giulia McDonough said: “Since the immersive experience was launched last year with an introductory selection of canvas wall backgrounds, 99% of families who have held funerals here have chosen to have a wall or element of the wall included within the service.
“We’ve had many mourners mouth the word ‘wow’ as they have walked into our chapel, and saw them well up, telling us they have loved the canvas wall and how it added a truly personal touch to the funeral.”
The world-first launched last year with a choice of ten dynamic backgrounds, from Country Hills and Waterfall to a Gentle Glimmer and a Football Stadium, all of which are still available, and are known as Canvas Walls.
But now a number of new themes have been added together with additional options for personalisation.
These ‘personalised canvas experiences’ offer even more options for tailoring the displays to be specifically relevant to the person being honoured in the service.
Giulia added: “We are now looking at the next phase of what the Canvas wall has to offer to help families honour their loved ones in an even more personal and meaningful way.
“The options can reflect a loved one’s passions, they can commemorate them in ways that feel personal and close to the heart.
“We’re very proud of the touching ways in which we can help the bereaved pay a very personal tribute to their loved ones.
“We said when we launched last year that this was only just the beginning and that we would be looking to increase even further the personalisation options available, and we’re now in the position to do that.”
Westerleigh Group is one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries, with 41 sites across England, Scotland and Wales, all set within beautifully landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.
For more information about the innovative immersive themes available at Gedling Crematorium, visit: www.gedlingcrematorium.co.uk/personalising-a-funeral or www.obitus.com/personal
