Hi, I'm Rachel

Image of Rachel Jones

I am a humanist funeral celebrant.

It is a humanist belief that we only have one life and that individual consciousness ceases upon death, so funerals are thought to be for the benefit of the living; for family members and friends to say a touching and personal farewell in a manner which they feel would celebrate the life of the deceased. A humanist funeral or memorial is more than just saying goodbye, it is an occasion for recognising the value and the influence of the life that has ended. The ceremony will be unique to each and every family and during the ceremony, there will be plentiful time for reflection; to pause and to reflect on all that your treasured family member or friend meant to you.

We can work together to create the atmosphere that feels right for you and the wishes of the person who has recently died. The ceremony can be long or short, have poetry or no poetry. If you are unsure about your decision around poetry then I can assist you with that. You may chose to have a strictly humanist funeral or you may chose to add something like 'The Lord's Prayer'; ultimately, the choice is yours.

I aim to develop a personalised relationship with all of the people whom I work with at this deeply sensitive and often uncertain time of life.

A funeral is an opportunity to represent the deceased in the manner which may have been discussed prior to the death or maybe what you and your family have put together at this time. Whatever the scenario, it is a one-off occasion; a most memorable and tender time that stays deeply in your memory for the rest of your life.

I am a qualified counsellor who works with bereavement, so have considerable understanding of what you may be going through at this time and bring empathy, compassion and professionalism to the way in which I work with you.

Feel free to email me or telephone me. If I am unable to pick up the phone, I will call you back as soon as possible and then we can arrange to meet or liaise via Zoom or email - whatever suits you best.

The ceremony can take place in a chapel, at the graveside, in a hotel or at your home (a memorial) - the choice is yours.

As we let the deceased go on in peace, we take him/her with us and we leave them in the most special of places ... in our heart

From our first phone conversation, Rachel was warm and supportive, listening carefully to what we wanted for my brother's memorial. She kept in contact throughout the planning of the service and was very willing to accommodate our requests. On the day, her welcome and introductions of the eulogy and readings pulled the service together, making it a coherent whole. She also thoughtfully put together a folder with copies of everything as a keepsake for us. Rachel spoke with everyone who attended and impressed us with her warmth and kindness.

— Pete

Rachel officiated the funeral of our mother, Carolyn. She was sensitive and professional. I felt 'taken care of' and that our family's wishes were respected. I felt guided without being directed. A wonderful person to have met and shared this difficult time in our lives.

— Ceri

Rachel made this time more special than I could have imagined. I was bereft at the idea of putting this ceremony together but my fears were unnecessary. My dealings with Rachel and were perfect.

— Geraldine

Rachel did a wonderful job officiating at Dad’s Celebration of Life. In the run up to the actual day she was in touch often and was meticulous in checking that her words reflected exactly what we wanted. Our event overran but Rachel didn’t rush us and stayed as long as she was able to. She captured Dad beautifully, we couldn’t have chosen a better person.

— Liese

Image of Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones

Where I work

I am based in Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan but can work anyway in the region of South Wales and beyond.

Fees from...

Starting at £180

How to contact me
Email

racheljones86@hotmail.com

Phone

07773 278918

Website

humanist.org.uk/racheljones

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.