Model designed to quell children’s funeral fears

A funeral home with branches in north Suffolk has continued its support for local bereaved children by commissioning a doll’s house style church to help support workers explain what happens at a funeral.

The church, designed by Rosedale Funeral Home, is fitted with pews, a lectern and coffin trestles, and is accompanied by a model hearse, limousine and coffin, and a complete set of characters, including a minister, funeral director and mourners.

The church will be a tool for child bereavement support workers at Norfolk charity, Nelson’s Journey.

Rosedale director, Simon Beckett-Allen, said: “Children can quite often be overlooked at a time of bereavement and we feel it is important that they are supported through their grief and helped to understand what has happened.

“We knew that Nelson’s Journey had wanted a church for a long time, but had never been able to find the right thing, and one night I just came up with the idea of commissioning one ourselves.”

Mr Beckett-Allen’s wife, Anne, a trustee of the charity, hopes the church will help quash any scary images children may have conjured in their mind about funerals.

“Rosedale is a family business and as my brother Paul built and painted the church, it feels like it’s a true gift from our family, to be used to support other families.”

Child bereavement support worker, Fiona Coull, said the charity was thrilled by Rosedale’s continued generosity and support.

While visiting the charity, the Beckett-Allens also delivered a new supply of memory bears, created to help families keep precious memories of their loved ones safe, with a specially designed zip compartment to hold either an ashes container or a much loved keepsake.

Rosedale has homes in Attleborough, Beccles, Bungay, Diss, Halesworth and Wymondham.