Birmingham homes praised for remembrance services

Midlands Co-op Funeral Services in Birmingham held a series of remembrance services this Christmas, for the families it has helped throughout the year.

Families were invited to services, at St Philip’s Cathedral on Colmore Row and Kings Heath & Moseley Baptist Church on High Street, as a way of demonstrating the funeral services’ continued support.

Bagpipes were played as families entered both services. Loved ones were blessed and candles were lit in their memory. Bible readings were read by representatives of Midlands Co-op’s 2007 corporate charity, the Alzheimer’s Society, and an a cappella of the Ave Maria and Somewhere over the Rainbow were sung at Kings Heath & Moseley Baptist Church. Both the Church and Cathedral held a collection during the services raising £365 and £478 respectively for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Mark Kennedy, Midlands Co-op Regional Manager, said: “Christmas is a time of peace and giving but for those who have lost a loved one it can be a time of emptiness and reflection.

“Our Remembrance Services are very well received. This year’s ceremonies were truly personal and we had a very positive feedback from the families attending.

“Many people find them to be a useful healing experience, which helps them in some small way to move on and come to terms with their grief. We feel it is important to support the families, not just when we deal with the funeral, but also afterwards to help them through the grieving process.”

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