What happens at a chapel of rest?

A chapel of rest is a room or a building where you can come and sit with someone who has died. It’s usually part of a funeral home. To arrange a visit, you need to speak with the funeral director organising the funeral.

Can you touch the body in the chapel of rest?

It is here that you can say your final farewell before their funeral service. If you’d like to speak to someone about the chapel of rest, please get in touch and let our family look after yours.

Should you visit a loved one in the chapel of rest?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. You don’t have to visit the Chapel of Rest if you don’t want to. While many people see this as a chance to say a final goodbye to their loved ones and to aid the grieving process, others prefer to remember them as they were.

Do you see the body at a funeral?

Your funeral director will discuss arrangements for viewing your loved-one’s body with you. Some families ask for an open casket so that the body may be viewed at the funeral home or even during the wake. Although the body may look ‘lifelike’, the skin will feel cold and waxy to the touch.

What is embalming a body?

Embalming, the treatment of a dead body so as to sterilize it or to protect it from decay. For practical as well as theological reasons a well-preserved body has long been a chief mortuary concern.

Can you view an unembalmed body?

For remains that have been autopsied in order for a medical examiner or private doctor to determine the cause of death, or for remains that have undergone a long-bone or skin donation, the unembalmed body may simply be not suitable for viewing.

Why do they cover the legs in a casket?

The person’s hair, makeup, and clothing are done so that they closely resemble what they looked while they were alive. Usually the casket is only open from the deceased individual’s waist up, rather than the entire body. Legs may be covered with a blanket.

Should I see loved ones body?

Viewing of the body should always be considered before final disposition. The open casket viewing is the most personalized part of any funeral ritual or ceremony. Not having the body present at a funeral ceremony or ritual is like having a wedding ceremony without the bride or groom being present.

Is it rude to not view the body at a funeral?

You are not required to actually view the body at a funeral viewing. Many people are a bit uncomfortable with the idea of attending a viewing, but keep in mind that funeral viewing etiquette does not require you to actually look at or spend time with the deceased if you are not comfortable doing so.

What do you mean by Chapel of rest?

It’s in a chapel of rest that many people say their last goodbye to a loved one, but not everyone knows exactly what a chapel of rest is. What is a chapel of rest? A chapel of rest is a room or building, often attached to or within a funeral home, where families and loved ones can come and view someone who has died before their funeral.

Can a funeral home have a chapel of rest?

It is a common feature of funeral homes, but it’s not universal. If a funeral director does not have a chapel of rest in or attached to their funeral home, they will usually be able to arrange a space for you to come and view your loved one prior to the funeral.

When is the best time to visit the chapel of rest?

We are happy to arrange visits to the Chapel of Rest in the days before the funeral. However, we do try to avoid scheduling visits on the day of the funeral itself, to ensure that we have adequate time to get the deceased to the venue or procession start point in time for the funeral to take place. Can I take photos in a Chapel of Rest?

Is there dress code for chapel of rest?

Typically, the dress code for visiting the chapel of rest will be less formal than the funeral itself. The people organising the funeral may want visitors to the chapel of rest to respect a certain dress code, for cultural, spiritual or personal reasons, but that is their decision to make. Can you take photos in a chapel of rest?