Hello there

Its such a personal choice whether to go to the Chapel of Rest

First of all I would say if you have not experienced it before take someone with you

If you do take into account how long your dear one passed away, as people do alter facially the longer it is

If you decide not to go don't think you have let her down, it doesn't make you disrespectful or weak

My husband died on January and I went to see him twice, but my, adult children didn't want to,and I respect that ,we all got  to the hospital 30 mins after he died and he just looked asleep and that's how they want to remember him, I respect that,it doesn't mean they loved him any less

You do what feels right for you my dear

kind Regards

Maddy

Hello 

thank you for your stories I think it will put my mind at rest to know she is at piece now and not in any pain as she was towards the end of her life. I am allowed to take things with me to put in the coffin with her so I am going to take a picture of my son ( her grandson who she idolised) and a poem or letter 

thank you again 

Hello sorry for your loss it's certainly an experience seeing your loved ones laid out I have seen many my nan unless you looked at a particular angle it didn't look like her then there is other relatives who look no different. My father in law when I visited him was first one i completely broke down he was like a dad to me a very caring man and only day I could see him was on my birthday as funeral was the next Day. He looked older than he was his face had sunken he looked strange. I also don't like to touch them when there passed a while I don't want the memory of the cold feeling I kissed them goodbye when just passed but not in chapel of rest there too cold it's that feeling I don't want to remember. We put pictures and other bits and pieces in the coffin.

When you go don't go alone but do what feels right in that moment of time but the quiet you sense when you go in is something very different I always approach slow never rush. I do hope my experiences help you I'm sorry for your loss.

Big hugs Brady xx

I wanted to place some items in her coffin and at the last minute decided to do it myself and go in. My mum did not look like herself at all. I only looked quickly then looked away.  Instead I stood at the top of the coffin and put my items in anc stroked her hair and kissed her forehead and said my goodbyes. But I could not look at her face.  It was very eerie for me I didn't like it. But I'll never regret giving my mum one last kiss.  I wasn't prepared for how cold they would feel though. Quite a shock. Even her hair.  It's a personal decision but my dad found it very comforting