If a recent bereavement has brought you to this page, please accept my sincere sympathies.
You may be feeling overwhelmed, so I want you to know that my role as a Celebrant is not only to help you say farewell with the most meaningful ceremony we can devise, but also to support you throughout the process with empathy and patience.
Every person is one-of-a-kind. Their send-off should be, too. Their life is at the very heart of the ceremony.
Talking about someone we have lost can, of course, bring a whole gamut of emotions. There may be laughter and tears, happy memories alongside difficult ones, and stories that remind you just how much a person meant to you. The result can be warm, personal and sometimes surprisingly joyful, whilst also acknowledging the pain and sadness that comes with saying goodbye.
How does it work?
After an initial phone call, we meet for an unhurried chat about the person's life. I will take the time to understand something of their good and bad times, their achievements and quirks, the things they loved and perhaps the things that drove everyone else slightly mad!
I can help you choose music, poems, readings or photos for the ceremony, reflecting their wishes and interests, or whatever feels appropriate to you.
I then write a tribute that tells their story in all its richness and complexity. I will email a first draft for you to check in advance of the ceremony, so you can be confident I’ve got it right.
Whether you are expecting a very well-attended ceremony or a quiet, intimate gathering, I would be honoured to help you create a fitting and heartfelt farewell.
Why me?
I think I have the skills necessary to be a good celebrant: I’m an attentive listener; people like listening to me speak (I have often been told I have a “Radio 4” voice); I’ve travelled widely for business and more recently, lived in France long enough to acquire dual nationality. And I love writing, having kept a diary since the age of twelve.
I can help with:
- Funerals, cremations, traditional burials and natural burials
- Memorials, Celebrations of Life, at a venue of your choosing
- Interments or scattering of ashes
- Pre-funeral planning
Contact me for a no-obligation, friendly chat!
