Funerals and Memorials
Funerals and Memorials are not something any of us want to think about or really discuss but they are part of life. Just as much as we celebrate the fun moments like weddings, babies and more we can also celebrate the life that a loved one has led.
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Though I don't do a lot of funerals I have done some and I am open to helping you celebrate the life of someone you have to say goodbye to, and I am here to support you through this. It is an honor to be a part of the celebration of a loved ones life and hopefully I can help make a difference in yours, I am happy to create the send off that best suits you as a family and be there to empower you to be involved, as much or as little as you want on the day.
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I can help you plan and organise everything – from start to finish, doing as much – or as little – as you need me to. If you need me to, I can help you write your eulogy, I can assist with ideas, readings and poems. I will write and perform a funeral service, life celebration or memorial ceremony that brings everyone closer. I’ll be there to support your funeral director and your family members and I want to help make this experience a little less traumatic for you.
A loved one has passed away, what next?
When someone passes away you need to make a lot of tough decisions, and choosing a celebrant is one of them. You will be guided when someone passes aware generally by a funeral home of your choice, they will have a list of celebrants but you can also choose your own. If you choose me, you can let them know that you would like me to be your celebrant, then you will contact me and we can discuss further your wishes for the service.
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I will work with you and your Funeral Home to decide:
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The type of service you would like.
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Where you would like the service to be held.
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The date of the service.
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The music would you like to play.
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If you would like flowers or donations in honor of your loved one.
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If you would like a slideshow of photos to be played.
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I won't be rushing you to make choices, I will come to you and we can work through each of these things together. I will give you the time to share memories, thoughts, photos, and anything else that you feel will be important for me to know. I want to truly capture your loved one through your eyes and create a service that honors their memory and the life they led.
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When do we contact you?
You should contact me as soon as you can, I am here to help you through everything from start to finish.
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Some people may want to contact me before they pass away especially when the time is coming to an end and they want to be involved in the decision making and plans. Please reach out to me and I can help you all through this time and the choices to make.
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There is never a right or wrong time to make plans for your funeral, I am here for you through it all.
Some FAQ's
Can other people be involved in the service?
Yes! I invite anyone to be involved in the service though I do encourage you not to have too many as then the service may take a long time and your guests may get restless.
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What if I can't speak on the day?
If you start to share and you can't manage it I can step in to take over from where you have left off, there is no pressure at all to speak and sometimes it can just be all too hard even though you really want to.
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Do we have to have the service at a church?
No, the service can be anywhere you choose especially if you are having a memorial. You may choose to have it at the beach, on top of a mountain, at a sporting club or anywhere that holds a special memory.
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What is the difference between a funeral and memorial?
There isn't a lot of difference really, but generally a funeral is where a body is present - pre-burial or cremation. A funeral tends to be organised quite quite quickly and as the body is present you are a little more restricted as to what you can have.
A memorial is where no body is present, this can be held later (days, months or even years later) and allows family time to get together and prepare mentally as well as physically.
The actual service itself is very similar and you can have all the same things included.
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What music do I choose?
This is totally up to you. It doesn't need to be the traditional hymns like Amazing Grace, it can be a song that holds a memory, something that the deceased love to sing or dance to, it can be anything you choose.
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What do we wear?
There are no rules on what you need to wear to a funeral or memorial. Traditionally it was thought that you should wear black but we find now that people are moving away from this and what you wear is up to you. You may choose to wear you loved ones favourite colour, something they loved, their footy team or even your pjs, there are no rules.
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How do I tell people about the service?
Traditionally we would've put it in the paper but with so many people no longer reading the paper you may find that social media has a better out reach to share with friends and family.
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What happens after the service?
Once we are finished the service your friends and family will want to pay their respects, so depending on the location you may have the coffin carried out with the friends and family behind it and then gather together to say goodbye. After this you may choose to have a wake, or a time when you can get together with friends and family to share memories, thoughts and goodbyes.
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Please remember that there is no wrong or right way to have a funeral or memorial, just as we are all individuals, the time for saying goodbye to those we love is also unique. I will be there to guide you and support you through each step.