Funerals - A time to celebrate a life
If you have visited this page due to the loss of a loved one, then may I extend my heartfelt condolences at this most painful of times.
If this is the first or fifth time you have had to arrange a funeral it is never easy, however there are fantastic teams of people to support you through this time. Your funeral director will support and carry you through the process with extreme kindness and sensitivity.
My role as an ‘Independent civil Celebrant’ is to help you and the family to celebrate the life of your loved one. That means we will work together to write and plan the service, you will be completely in charge of what is read and by whom (sometimes family members like to read a poem or share memories?) You chose the music and I will either write or support you to write the eulogy.
As I’m independent I am not bound by any religion or movement – therefore your service can be completely non-religious or various religious elements can be included, what-ever the faith.
How does it work and what do you need to do?
Either the funeral director will put us in contact with each other OR you can contact me directly – just ring me and I will do the rest.
To allow me to get to know the life of the deceased and yourselves I would like to arrange a visit to the family home (or a venue of your choice). You, as the chief mourner, can invite anyone to that meeting. During this time we will discuss what you and the deceased would like included in the service. I can advise on appropriate readings or poems, or help you write your own. After the meeting I will compose the service and send you a draft copy, allowing you to change, delete or add to it accordingly. Once it is finalised you can relax and I will deliver the service on the day of the cremation or burial.
Living wishes:
If you want to discuss you own future service, to ensure you funeral is conducted how you want it, using your words with your music choices, please contact me and we can meet to write it together.
Grief and grieving
This can be a very fraught time for families, for many and sometimes unexpected reasons. Remember everyone is going through their own journey and it may not be the same as yours.
There are five stages of grief identified by Kubler-Ross, these include denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. These stages do not follow a particular pattern and not everyone goes through all the stages, at the same time. This in itself can cause stress and tensions.
There is support for people going through this time, see the list of support below:
- Your GP
- Macmillan Nurses
- Marie Curie
- Midwives, Health Visitors
- Charities such as:
- Cruse Bereavement care. https://www.cruse.org.uk/
- SANDS (for support with Stillbirth and neo-natal death) https://www.sands.org.uk
- Samaritans – Free number 116 123
- Child Bereavement UK – Helpline -0800 02 888 40
- Winstons Wish – 08088 0202 021
- Children and bereavement – Live Well – NHS Choices
- Death Café’s – these are a fairly new concept – google to see if there is a local one to you.
What families have said about my services:
“I have received many comments about the quality and presentation of the service. Thank-you so much for your efforts and commitment”
“Thank you again for your beautiful eulogy. Lots of people said how lovely Mam’s funeral was and there were many compliments about your part in the funeral service. I feel that Mam would have approved of it all”
Hi Karen
Thank you very much for the lovely service you gave for mams funeral ,everyone has remarked what a lovely tribute to her ,every thing was just as we wanted it .
“Hi Karen
Thank you very much for the lovely service you gave for mams funeral ,everyone has remarked what a lovely tribute to her ,every thing was just as we wanted it .
Thank you once again”
‘Hi Karen
It was a pleasure to work with you! Your support was fantastic!
Stay safe’
“Hi Karen, just wanted to say thank-you again, thought I’d leave you with this comment below from my Aunty **: “it was a lovely service people came up to me and said it was nice so we got it right – nice lady that did the service”