For many nowadays, the traditional funeral ceremony or cremation to say goodbye to their loved one, just doesn’t seem personal enough.
As an experienced, professional celebrant, I realised long ago that I am in a unique position to be able to help a grieving family to create and deliver an entire funeral ceremony, that is completely personalised for your loved one
Creating a bespoke ceremony
Talking to you and your family about your loved one, I will create a ceremony that is then a celebration of their unique life.
It will reflect your (and their) wishes, beliefs and values and can include spiritual content and prayer if you wish. Listening and learning about your loved one's life is a crucial part of the process, in creating your bespoke ceremony. We can talk by phone, email and online communication tools such as Skype or Zoom or of course in person, if you'd prefer.
This process in itself can be therapeutic as you are able to recount stories, memories and anecdotes about your loved one’s life and by talking about them like this, it is often the case that you become inspired as to how the actual funeral ceremony should be best personalised, in order to best reflect and honour their life.
Celebration of Life
If you opt for a Celebration of Life or Memorial Ceremony, these ceremonies have no time constraints and can be held anywhere that is important to you. Ideas include sunrise on a beach, an afternoon tea on a river boat or a lavish evening celebration in a favourite hotel. I have plenty of others, if you need inspiration.
There should be no constraints when it comes to paying respects and celebrating the life of a loved one and my ceremonies reflect that. I'll help you every step of the way.
You could create a Memory Table to display their achievements and hobbies, in fact, anything they were proud of. You could organise a slide show or video of their life. Or maybe you want to play music that was dear to them.
Scattering of Ashes
You may wish to hold a Scattering of Ashes Ceremony together in the future. I will write your ceremony and you can take your time to select the right spot, choosing the perfect place to gather together and remember your loved one.
There are many ideas to make your ceremony more personal, you can send their ashes up in a firework, plant them under their favourite tree or even send their ashes off in a Viking Boat. All these ideas and many more are possible.
Continue to connect
The funeral ceremony doesn't have to be the end. Many are deciding to continue to reach out afterwards and connect virtually to share memories of your loved one; their stories, their adventures and even their terrible jokes.
Since Covid struck, there appears to be a growing demand for different types of ceremony which allow family and friends to come together and celebrate the life of a loved one and new, online technology can certainly help that process.
Daragh
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