The Funeral Cermony
Honouring and remembering a loved one is an important rite of passage and a very special occasion.
A celebrant led Funeral is about crafting and delivering a ceremony that can help either someone to plan their own funeral before they die and say farewell in their own personal way. Or help the bereaved family to plan and organise a special ceremony to mourn and say good-bye and to celebrate their loved one's life. It give centre stage to the deceased by paying a special tribute to their talents, character, humour, personality, and life story.
A Funeral Ceremony can be set in a traditional religious setting within a particular faith or cultural background. However, some prefer a different approach that may not always include a specific faith. Here symbolic rituals can be included in the funeral ceremony - these include; placing items in or around the coffin, grave presents, post it notes and letters, rosemary sprigs, herbs and flowers, lighting of candles, releasing of balloons, or your creative ritual that you feel best fits your loved one.
While a funeral director is the best person to deal with the practical arrangements of a funeral, the type of ceremony you choose is entirely up to you. A Celebrant-led Funeral Ceremony is centred on a spiritual, humanistic perspective that allows the deceased person’s character, life story and beliefs to shine through. The funeral can be held in a religious setting (with the religious leader's approval ), a crematorium, a natural burial sight, or home of the deceased or any location that best fits the funeral ceremony.
As your Celebrant, I will liaise with the Funeral Director you have chosen, and I will work with you and your family to create a bespoke, personalised ceremony to celebrate the life of your deceased family member or friend. I will transform an otherwise traditional, scripted service, into a creative, sincere, personal and meaningful funeral ceremony.
I'll help you plan the ceremony, share happy and sad memories and funny stories which will help me create a special Ceremony Script. I will help you with ritual ideas, poems, songs or music, and with reading a eulogy. I'll officiate at the funeral to give your family and friends a ceremony that captures the true meaning and personality of the deceased.
Although the passing of a loved one will always carry grief and loss, it is also a celebration of their life. I am here to deliver a beautiful Funeral Ceremony, that will be a special farewell, which will be remembered forever.
MEMORIAL CEREMONIES
A Memorial Ceremony for a loved one is a very special event and can be held at anytime after the funeral of a loved one. Perhaps on the Anniversary of their passing, or on their birthday, or other special date.
When thinking about what a Memorial Ceremony can include, there really is no right or wrong. They can be grand occasions and celebrations or small, intimate events. Simple memorial service ideas can often be the best, and you really only need to do one thing, and that's to think about your loved one and what he or she would have wanted or liked.
As a Celebrant, I can help with ideas for symbolic and meaningful rituals, and write a beautiful Memorial Script and Blessing, that will pay respect to your loved one. Deciding who speaks at a Memorial Ceremony is one way you can really pay tribute to their life. Perhaps ask friends or family to tell some funny stories about them,give a performance of some kind
You may want to display memories of their life through songs, dance or poems, use candles, set up a flower or stone-ceremony, create a memory tree or have a range of photos or a slideshow displayed for all to view. Perhaps enjoy a special dinner party or an organised walk (at your loved one's favourite place) or hold the ceremony at a venue or garden.
This special event is personalised to fit the type of Memorial Ceremony you want to have. Whether it's in a religious setting such as a church, or at home, in a garden or at a special place for them, you can chose to remember your loved one anytime and anywhere. and I can be with you every step of the way.
To plan a beautiful Memorial Ceremony for your loved one, please get in touch and let's get talking.