CO-OP FUNERALCARE in Alloa will be paying tribute to those that have sadly passed away during Covid–19 with a Remembrance Garden at the entrance to the funeral home.

The staff at the funeral home are asking locals to email or phone their suggestions for what to name the main Memory Wall in the Remembrance Garden.

The chosen name of the Remembrance Wall will be revealed at its grand opening on September 16.

In return for a donation to the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), bereaved families will be also be able to have a plaque placed on the other garden walls to honour their loved one and use the garden as a special place to reflect and remember, regardless of whether their loved one's funeral was with Co-op Funeralcare or not.

Arlene Graham, funeral arranger at Co-op Funeralcare in Alloa, said: "All of the staff at the home thought it would be a wonderful idea to renovate the outside area and to do so whilst paying tribute to those who have sadly passed away during Covid-19.

"Luckily for us, Paul Duffin, who is one of the home's Funeral Directors, offered to renovate the area and make our plans for a Remembrance Garden to come to fruition.

"It is clear that all of his hard work has paid off as it looks incredible and we are so proud to soon open a special place for family and friends to come and visit."

Arlene added: "As this is a communal garden for all, we thought it would be appropriate for our local community to be involved in naming the special area in the Remembrance Garden for those who passed away during Covid–19 so we are very much looking forward to seeing the suggestions ahead of the reveal at the grand opening in September.

"The past few months have been unbelievably difficult for many families across Clackmannanshire and beyond, so we hope that the Remembrance Garden will bring some happiness back into the community and for the years to come."

In addition, the home is encouraging locals to decorate a Memory Rockz in memory of a loved one that has passed away.

After decorating the rock, individuals will then be able to place it in the garden, as a symbol of communal remembrance.

Memory Rockz can be collected from the funeral home or a member of staff can deliver a rock to their homes to decorate.

To send the Funeral Home a name suggestion, please email alloa@letsco-operate.com or call on 01259 724211 before September 11.