Working With Me...
Why choose a Civil Funeral Ceremony?
A civil funeral focuses on the life of the
person who has died and the wishes of their family and friends. As a civil celebrant, I will work with you to create a ceremony that pays tribute to your loved one in a way that is personal and unique to them.
The ceremony may include readings, music, poetry and photographs. Religious or spiritual elements, such as prayers and hymns, can be included, or the ceremony can be entirely non-religious. The important thing is that the ceremony reflects the life, and personality of the person who has died.
When we meet...
When you have chosen a civil funeral, I will meet with you, usually in your home, and we will spend time chatting about the life of your loved one. I will ask lots of questions about their personality, their life, what they were proudest of and what made them laugh.
There is no time limit for our meeting, but a typical meeting will usually last around two hours.
Following our initial meeting, we will be in contact regularly as we put in place all that is required for the ceremony.
Planning the Ceremony
When we meet we will discuss the funeral you are arranging. There is no set formula for what makes a perfect funeral- each ceremony is unique.
We will discuss any music or readings you would like to include, along with any other elements you feel would commemorate and celebrate the life of the person who has died.
I will help you choose appropriate music, readings, and poems and also to liaise with other family members and friends to capture more stories and memories that we can reflect on during the service.
When choosing what to include, there are no real limits! As a Civil Funeral Celebrant, I can include hymns and prayers, or the ceremony can be completely non-religious.
I have taken funerals where the music is heavy rock and others more traditional with the Lord's prayer and hymns, and everything in between!
Paying Tribute...
One of the most important and valuable parts of any funeral is a carefully scripted tribute that accurately reflects the life and the character of your loved one.
This personal tribute is often a celebration of their life, recounting their experiences, attributes and qualities. I take time, talking with you to get to know about your loved one so that the service can capture the essence of the person who has died.
I will write the tribute for your loved one, or if you wish I can help you write a fitting tribute. There are also other options such as asking family members and close friends to write short letters to the deceased which they, or I could read as the ceremony.
At the ceremony, the tribute, or parts of the tribute can be delivered by me, a member of the family or a friend.
On the Day...
On the day of the funeral, I will lead the ceremony that we have discussed and you have checked.
I will work closely with the funeral director to make the day flow seamlessly, so you can concentrate on remembering your loved one.
Afterwards...
After the funeral, I will present you with a copy of the ceremony for you to keep.
Although the funeral is an important part of the healing process, it doesn't end there. I can also chat about organisations that will be able to support you if you wish. For more information click here.