A World-First Innovation: The Experiential Funeral Venue
At Obitus, we’re constantly striving to meet the evolving needs of families and the venues we work alongside. We know that saying goodbye is a deeply personal and meaningful moment, and as the world changes, so do the ways families wish to honour their loved one
Improving funerals for today and tomorrow
One of the most pressing challenges in the funeral industry today is the rise of unattended direct cremations. While these provide simplicity, they often lack the opportunity for shared reflection and closure. We aim to highlight the enduring value of attended, full-service funerals by continually improving day-to-day experiences and reimagining how funerals can be both personal and transformative.
Looking towards the future, we’ve invested heavily in research and development to ensure venues can offer services that resonate deeply with families. Over the past two years, we’ve welcomed many visitors to Sheffield to share insights into our R&D work. All this has paved the way for groundbreaking advancements in funeral experiences and in September this year, we were incredibly proud to show families this new technology in a working Crematorium.
A World-First Partnership
We have partnered with Westerleigh Group to showcase the world’s first experiential funeral venue at Gedling Crematorium in Nottingham, and we are excited to expand this type of technology to other venues in the future.
The project recently had its grand opening, attended by press, industry leaders, and representatives from the ICCM, the Cremation Society, SAIF and other key organisations, and the tech is now actively in daily use. The excitement has been palpable, with over 95% of families choosing to include these new features in their services. Media coverage has reflected this enthusiasm, and you can explore some of the press articles in our gallery at the bottom of this blog.
This milestone reflects years of research and development by our team, and while proud of this achievement, we remain focused on working hand-in-hand with venues to find the right fit for their needs and the communities they serve.
Transformative features tailored to Venues
At Gedling, we’ve introduced two key innovations:
The Canvas: A dynamic back-wall projection system that transforms the chapel with visuals, soundscapes, and custom lighting. Families can select scenes that reflect their loved one’s personality or passions.
The Gallery Wall: An installation with digital frames displaying cherished photos, offering a touching way to reflect before the service begins.
Compassion-driven Innovation
At the heart of our work is a belief that every family deserves a service that feels personal and reflective of their loved one’s life. Through technology, music, and visual storytelling, we aim to support venues in delivering experiences that are as unique as the people they honour.
We recognise that every venue is different, and for some, these advanced features might feel like a bold leap, and we are here to explore solutions that align with your unique goals. Whether it’s enhancing your current offerings or introducing something entirely new, we’re committed to working collaboratively to find the right approach.
Our team’s experience ensures that we can adapt to a wide range of settings, from modern facilities to more traditional venues. Whatever the scale or scope of a project, we aim to create solutions that bring meaningful benefits to both families and venues.
Get in touch
This project is just one step in our journey, but it’s a step we’re proud to take alongside our partners. We are committed to supporting our partners in delivering the best and most fitting bereavement experience for families. We’d love to help you achieve that in whatever way, big or small you want to.
Whether it’s the Canvas, the Gallery Wall or a standard install of our equipment to deliver Music, Streaming, Tributes or Keepsakes, we’d love to talk to yo.
Get in touch to register your interest.
Press Coverage
