Hi, I'm Rachel
Hello and welcome to my page. I hope it helps you to decide if I am the person you are looking for:
I have lived in the beautiful county of Norfolk since 1994 when I moved from the Black Country – a place that is still close to my heart. I spent much of my working life in the NHS, supporting people with health challenges of many types. This worked fulfilled my love of getting to know people's stories. My many years of talking with people has shown me that there is no such thing as an “ordinary life”; each life is unique. Having the opportunity to hear a person’s story and to tell it with compassion, honesty and warmth is always my aim.
I was delighted to discover Humanism after years of reluctantly referring to myself as an atheist. Humanism is a belief rather than a non-belief. It allows me the responsibility for living my one life in the best way that I can for myself and for the wider world. Once I had “realised” that I was a Humanist, I trained to become a funeral celebrant with Humanists UK in 2016.
My aim is to create a personalised funeral or memorial ceremony that reflects who the person was so that the people present will recognise them. We can work together to choose non-religious music, readings, and poetry that are meaningful, sincere, and an authentic representation of the person who has died. I can be the person to write and deliver the whole ceremony or the person that co-ordinates the event - whatever works for you.
Whether you want a non religious ceremony, or a memorial/celebration of life at a chosen venue other than a crematorium or similar, I can make it happen. A recent celebration of life followed a direct cremation and was held in the barn of a farmer who spent many hours there during his life time. It was personal, poignant and meaningful:
"I cannot thank you enough for making the Celebration of Steve's life a memorable occasion for everyone. People who had previously only attended formal funerals said how much they had enjoyed it. They had never attended a Humanist Memorial before and are now going to have direct cremation plus a Humanist Celebration later. I only had to read your web page and the comments to know I would be choosing the right Celebrant. Your suggestion of the barn containing Steve's work bench was the ideal place. The fact that so many were pleased with it, is all down to you, Rachel".
I look forward to hearing from you.
Rachel
I suspect you hear it a lot, but today you were fantastic, Every thing you did for us today was first class.
Afterwards we went for a cream tea and people were saying the service you did was the best they had been to.
You are at the end of the day only doing your job but I could see just how thoughtful, kind and loving a person you are.
— Wendy 2023
The most beautiful day - everyone was there - and what a service! I can tell you that you were a huge hit with EVERYONE - so many compliments - it was superb. Absolutely the right note - beautifully spoken, beautifully put together. I thought you might have regretted taking us on after all the argy bargy in the middle and our very traditional funeral director and bonkers father! :-) But it just worked. As mum would have said! It just all came together. I have to tell you that Dad came towards me afterwards and hugged me with a tear running down his face. He finally cracked. We very nearly killed him a few times over the last few weeks but he thought it was tremendous and he'd like to book you for his funeral!
— John 2024
I/we couldn’t have wished for anything more perfect, you are very special. I knew from the moment we met that you would find the right words, poems and reflections, and would know how to make it a perfect goodbye for Dad. Every detail was as it should be. We had tears of joy and happiness, accompanied by both lightness and laughter. A beautiful setting, birds singing and the sun shining - a day to remember with a smile.
Dad would have loved you, humbled by your warmth and kindness. Families are so lucky to have you walk into their lives at such a difficult time. Thank you.
— Marianne
Everyone I spoke to said that ******* was with us in the service and it was just a perfect tribute to a man who touched so many lives with his warmth, humour and kindness. Your eulogy did him proud and I will be forever grateful for your ability to convey the heart of a man who we all loved.
Thank you, thank you so very much…
— Richard
Thank you so much for everything you have done to support us and make yesterday a special celebration of them. You captured them perfectly and I feel proud that the service showed the love they shared, the love they gave to the world and the love the held for us. The service was wonderful and everyone commented on how 'them' it was. The open mic sections was beautiful also. Thank you for sending this to us as well - lots of people have already said how lovely the words were so it will be nice to be able to share it. No words can truly capture my gratitude, but please know that the service will warm me heart for the many years to come!
— Ben and Abby 2023
I just want to say a big thank you, from myself and my family, for the wonderful script outlining ***** life, and read so beautifully, almost as though you knew ***** personally. You gave us all a feeling of calm, warmth, and kindness. As you are aware we are planning a celebration of ***** life, hopefully at the beginning of September, and we would very much like you to come along in your capacity as a humanist, to read the script again, which I know everyone present will appreciate
— Dave 2020
"This was the best funeral I have ever been to. I want to book you for mine! The suggestion of applause was great. He would have loved that!"
— Graham 2017
Rachel Narkiewicz
Where I work
I work throughout Norfolk, Suffolk and some of Cambridgeshire. If you are further away and would like a discussion about me travelling to you, please get in touch.
Fees from...
£225.00 to 240.00 which includes all travel, contact, writing and delivering the funeral or memorial. The only time the fee would increase would be if it were a double slot.
How to contact me
Phone
Website
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.
