East of England Co-op Funeral Services Chapel of Rest Dedication
Councillor Roger Fern, Mayor of Ipswich, was amongst many local dignitaries at the dedication service of our Chapel of Rest at Boss Hall on Friday 30 September.
Designed in partnership with East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice (EACH), St Elizabeth Hospice and the East of England Faiths Agency (formerly Suffolk Interfaith Resource Centre), the Chapel of Rest is welcoming, peaceful and available to all members of the community, no matter what their faith or belief.
The ceremonial ribbon was cut by Councillor Roger Fern and the dedication was undertaken by Canon Charles Jenkins, followed by a symbolic dove release.
There were many special guests in attendance, including Cynthia Capey, Managing Director of the East of England Faiths Agency (EEFA) as well as representatives from EACH, St Elizabeth Hospice, Ipswich Crematorium and Seven Hills Crematorium.
Based just outside of Ipswich, the calm, comforting and modern Chapel of Rest opened earlier this year and offers a warm and welcoming reception, quiet rooms for families and loved ones to use for reflection and three large private viewing rooms. Each room is uniquely designed with subtle differences and gentle distractions, to make the experience more relaxed and less daunting.
For young families, the Chapel of Rest offers a child-friendly environment, where little ones won’t feel frightened or uneasy. There are coloured bean bags and boxes of toys to help make the experience a little easier. Beloved pets are also most welcome.
Andrew Dawes, Head of Specialist Services explained: “We live in a vibrant and diverse community and have worked closely with EEFA to create a space where people can practice their beliefs and reflect in a peaceful environment. Talking with families, it’s all the little things that make a difference, from capturing the true essence of an individual in a service, to the welcome and facilities, we’re able to offer support to families in their time of need.”
Cynthia Capey, Managing Director of EEFA said: "We appreciate the opportunity to support the work of the East of England Co-op Funeral Services. The team is well equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of clients with different faiths and from diverse cultural backgrounds.”
Local families have been putting their trust in us for over 90 years, to provide excellent levels of service, care and reassurance when it’s needed most, and over that time they’ve learnt that in a difficult situation it’s the little things that count.
Our Chapel of Rest on Boss Hall Road in Ipswich is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm, with out-of-hours- appointments available.
If you would like to arrange a meeting, please call in to the Chapel of Rest or you can contact the team directly on 01473 727056.