Celebrant Funerals
I know that organising a funeral for someone who was close to you can be incredibly difficult. I can guide you to having the best ceremony you can. You may already know some of the things you would like to include or say, or the person who has died may have been able to express their wishes about what they want.
If you are in the terribly sad place of saying farewell to someone who was very young, I hope I can understand, at least in part, what you are feeling, through my own life experience. Whatever the circumstances, I will help you bring a ceremony together that is a celebration of their life, and I'll lead and support you on the day.
A humanist ceremony, whether it's a memorial, a cremation, a burial, or scattering of ashes, is all about the person who has died and the things that were important to them. There are no rules about what to include and a ceremony might have live music, funny stories and laughter or be intimate and solemn or sad. Quite often, they are somewhere in between. Every person is unique and there are no prescriptions for how to tell their story or how you should feel.
“Jane has a warm nature, this came across in the service that she delivered. The wider family and attendees all commented on what a lovely service it was and how well Jane had conducted it. Although I was buying a service, Her friendly approach made the whole process from start to finish very easy.”
- Lindsey
humanist celebrants
When my own parents died, we had live music for my mum from her friends in their local music group, and autumn leaves decorating the space. We sat together in a semi-circle for the celebration of my dad’s life which was held in a village hall.
My experience helping to organise their funeral ceremonies was very moving and it was another reason why I decided to be a celebrant.
You don't have to be a humanist yourself to choose a humanist celebrant. I am not religious but I respect the convictions of others. Some of the most affecting music and readings were written by people who had religious or spiritual beliefs. A ceremony will often include a brief period for individual reflection, either in silence or listening to music; this can be a good time for prayer for those attending who do have religious beliefs.
I do have a deep-held belief that creating a personal funeral service to celebrate someone you loved in a way that is true to them, can bring comfort for you, and your family and friends. It’s an important way that you can express your love.
“Jane has been everything we hoped for in a celebrant for our mother's funeral - and more. She was warm and thoughtful, sensitive and genuinely interested. She produced a lovely celebration of a life in just a week from our first contact. The service felt so personal: not only did it feel as though she had known our mother, but it felt as though she knew us as a family too, and included everyone from each of the three generations there. Thank you, Jane!"