Hi, I'm Rachel
It is an honour to be able to support family members and friends who have been bereaved to plan unique funerals and memorial events, and then to lead inclusive and respectful ceremonies on their behalf.
My commitment to you is to ensure that the ceremony is a milestone which you are comfortable with and which you know puts the person you have lost at its heart.
While bereavement is an experience we can all anticipate, the reality of it can be unexpected and overwhelming. At this time planning a ceremony can feel challenging, even if your loved one had created some plans of their own. As celebrant I can ease that challenge and ensure that the ceremony is conducted with dignity and meaning, is responsive to your wishes and meets the individual needs of the mourners. I offer advice on what to include, and how you can contribute if you wish to.
In my conversations with you I can help you to share your memories and to explore the character, relationships and life events of your loved one. I create tributes that are authentic and appreciative, and adopt a careful balance between celebrating lives and acknowledging the grief of loss. Between us we can create a ceremony which is itself an opportunity for new memories. Following the ceremony you will receive a presentation copy of the ceremony as a keepsake.
Rachel Mears
Where I work
I am based in Harrogate and am happy to take funerals in many parts of Yorkshire. If I am able to I can also support families based further into the North East or other regions.
Fees from...
For 2025 my fee for the family meeting, planning, writing and conducting the ceremony is £225. This includes travelling to venues within 30 miles. For ceremonies further afield or for longer ceremonies or memorial events additional expenses will be agreed,
How to contact me
rachel.mears@humanistceremonies.org.uk
Phone
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.
