Hi, I'm Maria

Image of Maria Thomas

I am a Humanist Funeral Celebrant, providing non-religious ceremonies in Hertfordshire, Essex and East London.

I believe it is important to create a funeral ceremony that is personal: as every person is unique, so every funeral should be unique. I can help you create a ceremony that features the right words, music, images and poems to celebrate the life of your loved one.

My work running music workshops and delivering concerts in a variety of settings has given me a wide experience of engaging with people. I bring this experience to my work as a celebrant, being able to work with people in a creative way, including children, young people and those with additional needs.

When designing a ceremony, I love that we start with a blank slate, allowing me to work with families and friends to create a special ceremony that is unique for their loved one.

 

About me

I am an experienced public speaker, facilitator and event organiser. My background is in music – as an educator, lecturer, and concert organiser.

I am passionate about working with people to create memorable events, whether a music workshop, performance, or a funeral.

I grew up in East London / Essex and now live in Hertfordshire, but I am proud of my Welsh roots. Both my parents are from Neath in South Wales, and having spent most of my childhood holidays there, I still love visiting South Wales.

Maria devoted tremendous care and sensitivity when tasked with leading the funeral of my brother, Andrew. She spend a lot of time talking to me and to my sister in law (Andrew\'s wife). She captured the values, spirit, and achievements of the man perfectly and relayed moments of his life with real conviction (several members of the congregation asked if she had met or knew Andrew - which she did not. She just expressed what Andrew\'s father, brother, wife and wider family all felt and all wanted to celebrate. She helped a lot with the logistics and \'process\' questions we had and liaised very well with the funeral directors and the crematorium. She really was a special celebrant....

— Paul

"Maria was the perfect celebrant for us . She really understood us and how we wanted my husbands service to be. Her quiet, reassuring, knowledgeable manner was so helpful in such a difficult time for us. Her description of a Humanist ceremony on the day really made every one feel comfortable with whichever beliefs they held. It was a truly personal service."

— Carole

Image of Maria Thomas

Maria Thomas

Where I work

I work in Hertfordshire, Essex and East London.

Fees from...

£250

How to contact me
Email

maria.thomas@humanistceremonies.org.uk

Phone

07956 952320

Website

humanist.org.uk/mariathomas

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.