Hi, I'm Joanne

Image of Joanne O'Neill

Welcome

Arranging a funeral can be a daunting task at a time when you may still be coming to terms with the loss. I would like to help and support you through this difficult time, to create a unique ceremony, one that is as individual as the person it celebrates.

My name is Joanne O’Neill, and I am an accredited funeral celebrant with Humanists UK. I would love to work with you to create a personal funeral service that reflects the personality of your loved one, your memories of times shared and their relationships with friends and family. Services can include music and laughter, poetry and readings, they can be full of joy, or solemn and contemplative or a mixture of all these things. You decide, there is no set rule.

You don’t have to be a humanist to have me as your celebrant. Just the desire to remember your loved one with a non-religious ceremony that will be inclusive of everyone, whatever their beliefs or background.

If you’d like to talk through your thoughts, have a friendly, informal chat and find out a little more about me, please feel free to call me on 07960 689940. I would very much like to help relieve you of some of the pressure planning a funeral can bring.

Planning the Ceremony

First, we will meet to discuss the general outline of the ceremony. Ideally this will be in person, but we can also conduct the family meeting online. This usually takes between 1-2 hours as I get to know your loved one through the memories you recount.

Working together we will decide the content of the tribute and who might want to take part.

We will discuss possible music choices, readings, poetry etc. I can also help with suggestions if you are unsure.

If you are planning a ceremony at a Crematorium, we will usually be working to a 30-minute time limit, other than that, there are no restrictions as to what you can include.

Background

I live in Bishops Stortford and most recently worked as a Hypno-psychotherapist, dealing with a variety of people and issues. I realise I have always been drawn to helping people during difficult times. It is this care and empathy that I bring to my role as celebrant. I also love walking and being in nature, am an avid reader, enjoy music and dancing and am at my happiest spending time with family and friends. I have been with my husband Mark for 19 years and I am a Mum and stepmum to 4 daughters and 2 sons and step granny to one granddaughter.

Jo was amazing. She had officiated at my mother’s funeral in September 2025, so we were happy that she was able to help with my brother’s funeral last week. He had sadly taken his own life, so it was a very difficult time for his family and friends. Jo was able to get to the heart of his life and make the funeral a celebration of the man he was. I had sadly attended another funeral recently and the celebrant did a poor job, it sounded like he had memorised platitudes, almost ‘insert deceased name here’, with the only personal elements coming from my friend’s son and grandson. The contrast with Jo’s officiating at my brother’s funeral was clear. We all came away feeling comforted by Jo’s words. Anyone choosing Jo for such an important event will be very lucky to have her.

— J. McKee

Jo made my partners funeral as straight forward as possible from our initial chat on the telephone to her conducting the ceremony. She captured the spirit of my partner perfectly and this made it so special. Many attending the funeral said it was the best they had ever attended.

— J.Peck

We are incredibly grateful to Jo for the care, warmth and compassion she showed our family during a very difficult time. From our first conversation, she was kind, calm and deeply empathetic, and she took the time to truly listen to us. What meant the most was how thoughtfully she got to know Barry. Not just the facts of his life, but who he really was. The service she created felt personal, respectful and genuine, and it reflected him beautifully. Her presence on the day was reassuring and heartfelt, and she guided us with such sensitivity and professionalism. I genuinely believe my Dad would have really liked her, had they had the chance to meet. We cannot thank her enough for helping us honour Barry in a way that felt right for us. We would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a celebrant who is both highly skilled and deeply human.

— K. Brett

The ceremony designed and delivered by Jo guilty meet and in many aspects executed or expectations. The conversations ahead of the service with my brother and I were really helpful to us in processing our grief. The services provided by Jo were exceptional. Her kindness and compassion and willingness to go the extra mile was really appreciated. We believe the fee charged is well below the value she provided to us

— M. Caunt

Jo was an absolute star from first contact to the end of the celebration of life for my husband. Jo made my whole family feel comfortable and like we were talking with a friend. Jo spoke beautifully on the day and I can’t recommend her enough. Thank you Jo for you beautiful reading and support leading up to our special day for Brian x

— KW

Jo was very kind and helpful guiding us through the whole process. Everyone was very complimentary as to what a lovely, fitting send off it was for our uncle

— L

Jo was excellent, from the time we met her to discuss the way we wanted to honour our late Mothers life, to the empathetic delivery of our memories and tributes. I could not recommend her highly enough, she made the whole experience so much more bearable than I could have wished for

— C

Jo was exceptional, She was kind and caring to us all, which was particulary important for my children. Jo's telling of my husband's story was perfect. We received many comments from attendees.

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A perfect memorial to my dear husband's life.

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Joanne conducted the service with warmth and compassion, creating a truly meaningful farewell to my Mum. She was amazing and we could not have done it without her.

— T

Image of Joanne O'Neill

Joanne O'Neill

Where I work

I am based in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire and conduct Humanist (non-religious) ceremonies in East Herts, Essex, South Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk.

Fees from...

£250.00 This includes the family meeting; planning, writing and delivering the ceremony, and a presentation copy to keep.

How to contact me
Email

jo.oneill@humanistceremonies.org.uk

Phone

07960 689940

Website

humanist.org.uk/joanneoneill

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.