If you are reading this then perhaps you are looking for someone to lead a funeral ceremony, or memorial, for someone close to you. Every experience of grief is personal, unique, complex and, to some extent, unpredictable. I know from my own experience that these can be difficult, emotional, and exhausting times, and that the funeral is not the point after which life instantly clicks back to normal.
Funerals are significant occasions that mark the end of a life, gathering family and friends together to pay tribute, share memories, and celebrate. For someone we care about it feels important to get this right. Working with experienced funeral directors and celebrants during these difficult times can be a great help.
Humanist ceremonies are unique, personal, non-religious celebrations that are suitable for all. They are often chosen when faith was not an important part of the life of the deceased. ‘Non-religious’ does not mean anti-religious: indeed, humanist ceremonies usually include a period for quiet reflection and private prayer, and beloved poems and songs chosen for the ceremony often use religious vocabulary.
Everyone is different; each person carries their uniqueness throughout their life, their key events likely spread across spectrums of good to bad, and funny to sad: there is brilliance, shade, colour and nuance in us all. These are the parts of what make us exactly who we are, and why our loved ones are so special, and you know from your feelings about someone that this is true. This side of cloning, there will never be another one quite like any of us.
A funeral or memorial ceremony often follow a familiar structure, though it can be tailored to your preference. There will usually be time to include meaningful music, favourite poems and prose, and indeed other rituals. Guests may like to read tributes, also. Every life is unique, so celebrate it with the uniqueness it deserves.
It is both a pleasure and honour to be trusted to prepare and deliver a funeral ceremony, and a privilege I do not take for granted. As the celebrant, I work with you to paint a detailed picture of the deceased’s life, then design and choreograph a rich tribute and celebration, including their highlights, achievements, and stories to remember. I will work with you to set the right tone and style, and ensure it fits within the chosen funeral arrangements, whether at a crematorium, a natural burial ground, or to scatter ashes in a location holding significance.
