Cheer for their football team at the Crucial Environmental Stadium, enjoy a picnic in the beautiful Highdown Gardens, or take in the views from Worthing Pier while enjoying afternoon tea at the Pavilion Atrium.
Hosting a wake in Worthing
A wake is an informal event that traditionally takes place after a funeral service and cremation or burial. It’s usually an informal event that involves family and friends gathering to share memories and celebrate the life of their loved one.
Traditionally, wakes would take place at someone’s home, or a community centre or pub, but they can take place anywhere. The people organising the wake may want to honour their loved one by holding the wake at a place that was special to them, such as at the grounds of their favourite football team, for example.
Also, although wakes usually take place directly after the funeral service, they can be held at any time. They can also be as structured or as informal as the organiser would like. Wake organisers have the freedom to host the event that’s right for them, their family and friends, and their loved one.
If you’re organising a wake in Worthing, there are plenty of unique venues where you can host the event in your own way, from raising a toast at the Crucial Environment Stadium’s Woodside Bar to enjoying a picnic at Highdown Gardens.
Find your funeral director in Worthing who will help you arrange a cremation or burial, and give you ideas for a wake, memorial or reception that's right for you.
The word ‘wake’ descends from Old English and Old Norse
We think the word wake comes from the term lichwake or lyke-wake from the mid 13th century. In Old Norse (a North Germanic language) vaka meant vigil, to stay awake at a time usually meant for sleep.
And in Old English the word wacu meant to watch. So the word wake is thought to have developed as a combination of wacu and vaka.
Lich is an Old English word for a dead body. Often the gate at the lowest end of a cemetery was called the lich gate, as this is where funeral processions carried the body in.
So lichwake literally means to stay up at night whilst we’re meant to be asleep to keep watch over the person who’s died. The tradition became most popular in Ireland and over time lost the word lich and became ‘wake’.
Raise a toast at the Crucial Environment Stadium
The Woodside Bar at the Crucial Environment Stadium is the ideal wake venue for any Worthing F.C. fan—gather your family and friends and raise a toast to your loved one at their favourite team’s home stadium.
The bar can host up to 100 guests and offers a catering service, though the wake organisers are also welcome to arrange their own food. The Woodside bar also allows guests to play their own playlist using in-built speakers, but the venue can also help with organising a DJ.
Take a picnic to Highdown Gardens
Head to Highdown Gardens on a sunny day to take in the stunning surroundings as you remember your loved one. Invite your family and friends to take a walk around the garden and admire the diverse plant life before settling down in the grass with a picnic.
The 8.5-acre chalkland garden is set in the South Downs to the northwest of Worthing. If the day you visit is too cold or grey for a picnic, you could book a table at the Highdown for lunch, which offers views of both the downs and the sea.
Enjoy the sea views from Pavilion Atrium
The Pavilion Atrium at Worthing Pier boasts beautiful views of the Worthing seafront. You can hire the intimate venue for private events such as memorials, and have access to bar facilities and a kitchen surface area if you’d like to serve up food and drinks. The venue also has a projector and screen, which you could use to share photos and videos of your loved one.
There are a number of different packages available which the Pavilion Atrium team can tailor to suit your needs. Get in touch with the team at the Pavilion Atrium for more information on hosting a wake at Worthing Pier.
The right choice for you
If you’re interested in a wake funeral and need to organise a direct cremation first, we can help.
Article reviewed