Funeral Ceremony
To complete my training as a Funeral Celebrant I’m looking to write two funeral ceremonies. Would you like to work with me?
Maybe a partner, family member or friend died – it could be a while ago – and you feel the send off was not quite right. We won’t do a ceremony, but working together to draft a ceremony might act as a kind of ritual.
What’s involved
- contact me via DM on my facebook page where you saw this, or here
- on the phone we establish rapport and arrange a time and place to meet nb I might need to triage the requests to get contrasting ceremonies for the assignment
- I send you an email to confirm, and attach a prompt sheet for you to prepare for the meeting 20 – 60 minutes’ pre-input from you
- we have a two-hour meeting could be on zoom, but I’d prefer to visit in person
- during our conversation you have time to reminisce and tell me about your loved one other family and friends might be present
- together we identify elements of the running order for the ceremony, including music, poems/prayers, songs/hymns, photos for the visual tribute, how the comittal is done…
You can be as creative or conventional as you like: green burial, crematorium, cardboard coffin with post-it well-wishes, meaningful items displayed, ritual elements (candle lighting, the spraying of a signature perfume, for instance). It’s totally bespoke and true to your loved one.
A simple running order can look like this,
- Entry music: ‘Fields of Gold’, Eva Cassidy
- Welcome and introduction
- Eulogy
- Visual tribute to ‘Moments of Pleasure’, Kate Bush
- Thanksgiving
- Committal
- ‘I am Love’, by author unknown, read by Sue
- Closing words
- Closing music: ‘Shine’, David Gray
Based on our conversation, I will write the eulogy and draft the order of service. You will receive this as a pdf within three weeks. I’ll offer some times for a follow up conversation for tweaks and feedback.
Ultimately, you might write a testimonial about working with me that would go on the new website.
My role
As a funeral celebrant my role is to listen and be alongside family and friends. I am present to you and the memory of your loved one in a calm and empathetic way.
At a difficult time when there is much to organise, I support you to creatively shape the best and most authentic ceremony. We find a way to express feelings at such a confusing time.
On the day, I work with other professionals (funeral directors, crematorium assistants and others) to hold a good space for a celebration of your loved one’s life. The ceremony is also a threshold to the next stage of grieving.
Spirituality
With training in the church I am able to include faith and Trinitarian elements, and bring an understanding of the Christian landscape. Also, with a long hinterland in yoga spirituality I bring a oneness and mystic approach. In addition, through my practice of living in rhythm with the seasons of the land, an appreciation of Celtic earth-based spirituality.
I am able to draw on a wealth of readings, poems, songs and hymns that resonate truly. As a writer, I am able to add nuance where ideas around death are, understandably, varied and hard to define.
Future services from me include:
- We draft your Celebration of Life explore how you want to be remembered and give your loved ones one less thing to organise
- Grief coaching an element of the Transitions Coaching I already offer
- Ritual for stages of life marking thresholds to let go of the old and bring in the new