The mourners will normally gather close to the chapel entrance a few minutes before the appointed time of the funeral service. The service normally last 25 to 30 minutes and the allowed time for the whole process is normally 45minutes. This included the time it takes for the congregation to enter and leave the chapel, unless extra time has been booked in advance. When the principal mourners are ready to proceed, the coffin is usually brought into the chapel by bearers from the funeral director’s or the family. While the Coffin is being placed on the catafalque, the mourners take their seats and the service proceeds. At the moment in the service when the committal of the body takes place, there is an option for the coffin to be obscured from view by curtains.
The crematorium offers the following choice at the time of committal:
Curtains to close and the coffin to remain in situ,
Curtains to close and coffin to lower,
Voile drapes only and the Coffin to remain in situ,
No curtains, no voile, no coffin to lower – coffin to remain on view when guests and family are exiting the chapel.
The mourners then proceed to the Terrace to pass on their condolences to the family and to view the floral tributes before leaving the crematorium. Floral tributes will remain on view and are disposed of a few days later.