Over the past few years, we’ve noticed that talk of funerals has become more open. There are regularly adverts on TV promoting pre-paying for your funeral, whether you want to have a quiet one or go all out with a big celebration of your life. There’s a lot to be said for this, so your relatives know your preferences.
But what if you’re the one who is organising it? Having to arrange a funeral service or memorial is not something anyone really wants to have to do, although for many of us, it’s something that we will have to take on at some point.
Escot House is a wonderful Devon venue for funeral services and memorials. We’ve hosted many such events over the years and have received lots of kind positive feedback from families.
We provide several options to make the day happen exactly as you want it, removing as much of the stress as possible from an occasion when you, the family and guests want to spend time sharing happy memories.
Funeral service
Many people think a funeral service has to be held in a church or crematorium. But you can in fact hold it somewhere else. Escot House is an ideal alternative for a service. The house is in a peaceful location with a lovely outlook over the lake and Escot Park.
Our team will work with you to provide a discreet and calm environment for the service. We can recommend a funeral celebrant for your service, and you are most welcome to bring the coffin into the house if this is something you would like to do.
Gathering/wake
If you decide to have the funeral service at a church or crematorium you may want to offer funeral guests the chance to meet after the service. Escot House is a lovely choice, with beautiful, light-filled rooms, views, and an outside terrace giving the chance for some fresh air in clement weather.
We’re experienced caterers and all food is freshly prepared in-house. We will discuss all the options with you. You may prefer traditional sandwiches and cake, or something different, like canapes. Plenty of tea and coffee on hand and if you think it appropriate, we can open the bar so you can raise a toast to your loved one.
Memorial service
Sometimes celebrating someone’s life after the funeral isn’t what you want to do. You may prefer to hold a memorial service at a later date. This allows you to spend more time remembering your loved one and is an opportunity for anyone who couldn’t get to the funeral to join you to remember their relative, friend or colleague. Some people like to have the memorial service on a day that has a special meaning, which could be many months on from the funeral.
A memorial service is usually a celebration, a chance to share photographs, videos or even have a band or a singalong. It is entirely up to you what you want to include. You might want to think about having a memorial book and give people the opportunity to donate to a charity.
You may also like to give guests a memory to take away with them: a personalised packet of forget-me-nots, a memory coin (we can organise this for you), a tiny charm or a seedling to plant.
Practical tips
Whichever venue you choose, make sure there’s plenty of parking. There’s nothing that raises the stress levels more than panicking about where to leave your car! Here at Escot we have plenty of parking right next to the house.
Some people like to keep funeral services, wakes and memorials traditional and quiet. Others like to have something lively and upbeat. Whichever is your preference, the team at Escot House will make sure everything is exactly how you want it to be.
