It's all about partnership

Why work with an independent celebrant?

At the time of the death of a loved one or family member it can be difficult to think clearly about how you might want their funeral to be. Some wish to make it a celebration of the life that has been, while others may prefer a quieter honouring and acknowledgement of the loss of a loved one. This is where it can be helpful to have a celebrant come and sit with you, to talk about your wishes including those of the deceased if these had been discussed previously.

If you did not contact me directly then it is likely that your funeral director will have recommended me and been in touch. After first confirming some basic details about your loved one with the funeral director, I will be in contact with you to arrange a meeting. This would normally take place at your home, but you may choose to meet me at a coffee shop, the funeral director’s office or any other location that’s convenient for you. If you’d like to have the meeting remotely, we can do so by telephone or by an online platform like Zoom or Teams – it’s entirely up to you, however face to face is usually best.

If you choose me as your celebrant, you can be assured of being treated in a caring and dignified manner at every stage, from initial contact through to the delivery of a professionally written and delivered service that reflects the life and interests of your loved one.

Our meeting

I recognise that this can be a very difficult time and will work with you and your families and friends in a professional and sensitive manner.

It would be helpful when we meet for you to have there anyone else who you think might make a significant contribution in helping me best understand the life of your loved one and what makes their life story special. This would normally, but not exclusively, be close family members and/or close friends. It also helps if people have thought about stories before they meet with me. If there are people who you would like to be present, but who cannot attend then please either have their written contributions ready in advance of our meeting or ask them to email me with them directly.

At the meeting my aim is to get a clear idea about who your loved one was. Some of this will be practical such as family details, schooling, work etc, but the emphasis will be on understanding what makes their life story unique. For example, what their passions and interests were including any significant achievements and/or memorable moments that live on in family folklore as well as any favourite holiday destinations, sports teams, music and films that they loved. Reliving and sharing such fond memories can understandably be emotional though while understandably tinged with sadness, can also be times that bring unexpected joy. It can also be very cathartic and a helpful part of the grieving process.

After our meeting

After our meeting, I will then craft all the information into a fitting eulogy that reflects the story of your loved one’s life uniquely lived.

I will send you a draft of the eulogy by email and invite you to review, approve or make any changes. After any changes have been made I will send you a final draft for approval. At this stage we will also finalise any decisions about any music, readings and photo tributes that you may want. We will also confirm the roles of any family or friends who may be participating in the service.

If you have chosen a cremation service, then it might be, that at some point in the future, you wish to scatter your loved one’s ashes at a special place or inter them in a family plot. Should you wish to have a short ceremony for this, then please get in touch with me directly and we can arrange to do this. This is in addition to any previous service I have offered and will cost from £75 depending on location.

If you’d like to check my availability or have questions about working with me, please get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Cookie Policy