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Funeral Care Before, During, and After the Service

Planning a funeral is one of life’s most delicate tasks, especially when the person who has passed is a child, parent, or elder. Each stage of life comes with its own traditions, expectations, and emotions, and at Hillier Funeral Service, we believe every farewell deserves dignity, compassion, and understanding.

Equally important is the support families receive after the service, as grief does not end when the day of the funeral is over. That is why Hillier’s care continues long after the farewell.

Funerals for Every Age

Infant and Child Funerals

Losing a child is perhaps the hardest grief a family can experience. At Hillier’s, we provide gentle guidance and personalised arrangements for child and infant funerals, helping families include meaningful tributes such as favourite songs, colours, or symbolic rituals. Our team ensures that even the smallest details reflect love and care.

Funerals for Adults

Adult funerals often reflect a lifetime of achievements, relationships, and values. Hillier’s works closely with families to tailor ceremonies that capture an individual’s personality, whether through religious traditions, non-religious celebrations of life, or unique symbolic touches.

Funerals for the Elderly

Funerals for older loved ones often provide a chance to celebrate a life well-lived. Hillier’s helps families to honour legacies, share memories, and include symbolic gestures that reflect a long journey of love, work, and family.

  • Celebratory focus on legacy, wisdom, and family ties.
  • Option to involve grandchildren and younger generations in remembrance.
  • Greater flexibility in creating a reflective, story-driven service (Cruse Bereavement Support).

Supporting Families After the Funeral

A funeral is just the beginning of the grieving process. Families often find the days and weeks afterwards to be the most difficult. At Hillier Funeral Service, we provide ongoing bereavement counselling and support for adults and children.

Our counsellor, Sarah-Jane helps families cope with grief in healthy, constructive ways – whether that means talking about feelings, addressing complicated grief, or simply offering a listening ear in confidence. This ongoing support ensures families never feel alone in the journey of loss.

Conclusion

Every funeral is different because every life is unique. We take pride in accommodating funerals for all ages, from the smallest infants to beloved elders, and ensuring that families feel supported before, during, and long after the service.

Because saying goodbye is only part of the journey. With Hillier Funeral Service, families can trust that compassionate care continues every step of the way.

You don’t have to go through this alone. Speak with one of our supportive team members today.

Attended vs unattended funeral service illustration

Funeral Types: Attended vs Unattended Explained

When planning a funeral, one of the most important decisions is whether to have an attended or unattended service. While both options honour a loved one’s life, they offer very different experiences – each with its own emotional, practical, and financial considerations.

At Hillier Funeral Service, we’re here to guide you through these choices with care, compassion, and transparency.

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Funeral Services for All Faiths and Beliefs

At Hillier’s Funeral Service, we understand that every funeral is deeply personal – and often shaped by faith, culture, and symbolism. Whether you follow a particular religion or none at all, we believe every life deserves a funeral that reflects its unique story, values, and spiritual beliefs.

Our family-run team is proud to offer funeral planning support for families across Swindon and beyond, catering to a wide spectrum of traditions, from Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish customs to Humanist, spiritual or fully non-religious ceremonies.

No two lives are the same, and no two funerals should be either. At Hillier’s Funeral Service, we believe in providing compassionate, expertly tailored farewell ceremonies that honour all faiths, beliefs, and traditions. Our experienced team helps you craft a meaningful send-off imbued with resonance, respect, and personal significance.

  1. We Respect All Faiths and None

We’ve guided families through many types of funerals, each one as individual as the person being remembered. According to the National Bereavement Service, understanding the symbolic rituals of different religions – from Islamic Janazah prayers to Hindu cremation rites or Christian hymns – is vital to providing sensitive and meaningful support.

At Hillier’s, we ensure that religious leaders, readings, music and rituals are honoured exactly as needed, while also helping families navigate logistical aspects like timings, venues and permissions with calm, respectful guidance.

  1. Blending Beliefs and Cultures with Care

Modern funerals are often a fusion of different cultures or spiritual beliefs.

“People may choose a ceremony rooted in one faith but make adaptations—such as music or readings—to include others or reflect their personal worldview.”

Whether you’re planning a Christian service with a civil celebrant, a Buddhist farewell with a memory slideshow, or a secular cremation with personal prayers and poems, our flexible approach ensures your loved one’s legacy is honoured just as they would have wished.

  1. The Rise of the Personalised Funeral

The UK is seeing a significant shift toward more personalised funerals. A 2019 study reported by The Independent found that more than half of the funeral directors (53%) said they are seeing a move away from tradition and an increase in people wanting a unique service that reflects the deceased’s life.

We support this movement wholeheartedly. From favourite songs and poetry readings to custom floral tributes, keepsakes, or live-streamed ceremonies, Hillier’s makes it possible to build a funeral that feels truly personal, without losing touch with important beliefs or traditions.

  1. Spiritual, Religious, and Symbolic Needs Met with Expertise

According to researchers at Goldsmiths, University of London, the line between religious and secular funerals is increasingly blurred, with families mixing symbolic rituals, personal meanings, and shared values in the same service:

“The everyday funeral is neither entirely religious nor completely secular… People use symbolic elements that meet emotional and spiritual needs.”

Our team is trained to understand this blend. Whether it’s lighting candles, reading scripture, sharing memories, or offering moments of stillness, we ensure every element of the funeral carries meaning and comfort for those grieving.

Why Families Trust Hillier’s for Inclusive Funerals

  • Cultural & Religious Expertise – Our team is experienced in a wide range of funeral customs.
  • Trained Celebrants & Clergy Partnerships – We connect families with the right faith leaders or celebrants.
  • Tailored Support – We listen closely to every detail and adapt the funeral around your preferences.
  • No Judgment, Just Care – Whether traditional or contemporary, religious or symbolic, we’re here to help.

Final Thoughts

At Hillier’s Funeral Service, we’re committed to honouring every life with compassion, respect, and attention to spiritual or symbolic meaning. Whether rooted in centuries of faith or shaped by personal values, your loved one’s funeral will be guided by our promise: to create a ceremony that reflects who they were, and what they meant to you.

Let us walk beside you as you honour your loved one’s life, beliefs, and legacy. Speak to one of our friendly team members today.

Hillier Funeral Service: A Legacy of Care For Your Loved Ones 

Hillier Funeral Service: A Legacy of Care For Your Loved Ones 

When faced with the loss of a loved one, selecting a funeral service provider that offers compassion, professionalism, and a deep-rooted commitment to the community is paramount. Hillier Funeral Service, an independent, family-run business established in 1923, has been serving Swindon and its surrounding areas for over a century, providing personalised and dignified funeral services (Good Funeral Guide). 

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