The Heart of England Co-operative Society invites clients families in Nuneaton to remember their loved ones this Christmas

Bereaved friends and families facing their first Christmas without their loved ones are invited to pay tribute at a dedicated Christmas memorial service in Nuneaton this week.

The Heart of England Co-operative Society, which operates a network of 13 funeral homes under The Co-operative Funeralcare brand, has joined forces with a local church to organise the service for client families from over the past year.

The service, which is multi-faith to reflect the Society’s offering, is also open to client families from previous years.

Darryl Smith, General Manager of the Society’s Funeral Division, said: “This service lets our client families know we are thinking about them at this time of year – perhaps the most poignant time for them – and are providing a way for them to channel their grief.

“It also gives them the perfect opportunity to reflect on their year as they remember their loved ones.”

The service takes place at St Nicolas Parish Church in Vicarage Street, Nuneaton, on Thursday 15th December at 7pm.

For those unable to attend the service, the Society has once again dedicated a Christmas memorial tree in each of its funeral homes, allowing client families past and present to remember their loved ones.

This is the 13th consecutive year the Society has given client families the chance to place their personal tributes on the trees.

Darryl added: “Our memorial tree scheme remains extremely popular. Trees themselves are symbolic of many things including peace and eternal life, and our client families see the scheme as the most fitting gesture to pay tribute to their loved ones at this time of year.”

Client families from the past year are sent heart-shaped tags by the Society. They are then able to write their own tribute and post them back to the Society for inclusion on the trees, or pop in to any one of the Society’s funeral branches.

Christmas trees – one of the most practised and most popular traditions across the world – were believed to have first been introduced by German preacher Martin Luther in the 16th Century.

It is reported that one night before Christmas he was walking through a forest and saw the stars shining through the branches.

Returning home, he told his children he had found it a beautiful sight, and that it had reminded him of Jesus who had left the stars in Heaven to come down to Earth at Christmas.

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