Hi, I'm Joanne

Image of Joanne John

Having spent my 35+ year career as a nurse for people with profound multiple disabilities, mental health problems and behaviour that challenges I am experienced at giving a voice to those who are unable to tell their own stories. I bring this experience to my work as a funeral celebrant. Taking time to work with others to learn about the individual and delivering a person centred and unique ceremony is my priority.

I am known for my warm and compassionate nature. I have been privileged to have been alongside families during difficult times in their lives and I will treat your particular family circumstances with respect.

Like lots of people I have been a Humanist for the majority of my life without realising. I remember only pretending to pray at school! I feel strongly that people should be able to mark those important milestones in their lives in a non religious way. However, I am used to working in an inclusive way. I respect the views and beliefs of others and believe in the value of every individual.

I am a lover of animals, especially my trusty companion Jackson the Dachshund. I like the outdoors but I’m equally as happy indoors with my nose in a book. I swim in the South Wales sea throughout the year whatever the weather. No day is complete without music and I am more than happy to talk to you about appropriate choices for your ceremony.

If you would like to contact me to discuss funeral planning for your loved one please be in touch. If I am not the celebrant for you I will try and help to link you with someone in our supportive local network.

I am also accredited for pre-planning funerals with those who would like to make their own arrangements.

I cannot recommend Jo enough, she did such an incredible job as the celebrant for my mothers funeral. She had never met my mother but just from speaking to my brother and I she managed to encapsulate her personality so accurately, to the point many of our family and friends at the funeral assumed that my brother and I had written Jo’s speech. She also did a great job in making sure her part didn’t overlap with my brothers own eulogy. Our aim was to celebrate my mothers long and incredible life and Jo played a huge part in doing so. Am incredibly grateful.

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Joanne was a consummate professional throughout the entire process. Her communication via phone, email and when we met in person was first class. She is sensitive, empathetic, and really strived to understand our mother in order to personalize every word that she delivered during the service. We chose to celebrate our mothers life and Joanne struck exactly the right tone to ensure that the service reflected exactly that.

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I felt we were in such good hands with Jo. She put a huge amount of effort into preparing for the funeral. She listened to all our memories and put together an amazing and very personal eulogy for my Dad. Everything we could have wished to include was there and delivered with such calmness, authority and serenity. There was huge respect for my Dad and also moments of smiles and laughter. I can’t praise Jo highly enough. 🙂

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“May we, and on behalf of all the family, send to you our heartfelt thanks and love for the most beautiful way in which you conducted the short ceremony. Your calmness, and compassion shone through greatly to us which took out some of the sting that death brings to loved ones. It was perfect, just as C and the family wanted it to be, with ‘no fuss’.”

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“Firstly thank you so so much for W’s celebration. You really were amazing, listened intently and asked the right questions to create a prefect picture of our boy. We can’t thank you enough and you will always be a part of our special day.”

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“Joanne listened to my partner and I so intently and genuinely cared with compassion.

      She was supportive, understanding and captured the full story of our baby perfectly.

     We can’t thank you enough and you will always be in our memories. Thank you”

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Jo has been absolutely wonderful, her gentle approach and ability to capture how we all felt and write the eulogy for really impressive. Jo has the perfect personality to take on this responsibility and done so in the most friendly, thoughtful and professional manner. Jo’s communication and punctuality was excellent and reliable. At the end of it all it was like saying thank you and cheerio to a dear friend. We are very grateful for everything Jo is and had done for us and our family. Dad would of said it was perfect.

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Jo officiated such a beautiful tribute to my mother. Countless people told me how lovely the whole day was and (apologetically) said they\'d really enjoyed it, if it\'s possible to enjoy a funeral. She understood the tone perfectly and compiled some very lovely words of her own and beautifully fitting poems. Thank you Jo for bringing some beauty to what could of been a harrowing day. It was exactly as I\'d hoped. Thank you also for the unseen researching time and suggestions it was very much appreciated and it was obvious that Jo took time to understand the person she was officiating for. She was gentle and approachable. I could not have asked for a better experience and I would wholeheartedly recommend Jo as a celebrant.

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Image of Joanne John

Joanne John

Where I work

I mostly work in the South Wales area although I am happy to travel further when the need arises.

Fees from...

£200

How to contact me
Email

jojohn@hotmail.co.uk

Phone

07969 812256

Website

humanist.org.uk/joannejohn

HUMANIST CEREMONIES™ is the network of more than 550 celebrants, trained by national charity Humanists UK to a gold standard to provide memorable and meaningful humanist ceremonies to non-religious people. Operating throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, we deliver authentic, tailor-made and heartfelt ceremonies for life’s key moments. They are always inclusive and welcoming, regardless of the beliefs of those attending.

You can trust Humanist Ceremonies celebrants: We are DBS-checked, fully insured, and regularly peer reviewed for quality assurance. We are committed to a code of conduct, and have a transparent and robust complaints process in the rare case of a problem. We all pay a monthly fee to Humanists UK to further support the work of the charity, and are part of a regional network for like-minded celebrants for support and learning.

Humanist funerals

Humanist funerals, memorials and ash ceremonies are a fitting way to honour a unique life with warmth, sensitivity and meaning, but without reference to religion or an afterlife. They put the story of the person who has died at the heart of the ceremony, paying tribute to them and the legacy they leave, and provide an opportunity to bring people together, not just to share sadness but to celebrate a life lived.