"The song has ended, but the melody lingers"...
For many of us, losing someone who has been part of the fabric of our life sets us on one of life’s loneliest and overwhelming journeys, especially when we want to ‘do right’ by that person but are not quite sure how!
No two people are the same, so no two funerals should be the same. You may choose a traditional cremation or burial for your loved one; there are also other options, such as woodland (or even sea) burials….and if you want to remember your loved one in a separate Memorial service or change the tone entirely and hold an upbeat ‘Celebration of Life’ ceremony, you can! Whether you want a traditional Funeral, woven with faith, sacred or old school practices and reverence, or are striving to bring smiles, informality and laughter or something completely different, I can weave that in to a bespoke Funeral service for you. Memorial and Celebration of Life services are gaining popularity with the rise in direct cremations which invariably do not allow family the opportunity to honour their loved ones or share personal or collective tributes or farewells.
Celebrating a loved ones life
Choose a Service that Resonates!
Remember the life I lived not lost...
I often get asked by families what is appropriate to weave into a service. If you are second guessing any decision you are making, let me reassure you - when it comes to honouring a person's life, if it is done in a way that would have resonated with them directly, it will always be appropriate.
Scattering Ashes at Sea
"Apart, you and me, but know I am at peace in the sea"...No matter what your personal spiritual or religious beliefs may or may not be, scattering ashes at sea ceremonies, brings a feeling that we are touched by Heaven here on Earth, and offers a beautiful, intimate, thoughtful and peaceful way to release your loved ones physical presence in a way that can leave you with a lasting feeling of peace and release in a way that is tangible, knowing your loved one is eternally free, connected to you, the earth, the oceans, the stars and the sky; unbounded once more…I am privileged to work with a wonderful crew offering these ceremonies and services. If scattering ashes at sea resonates with you, please do not hesitate to contact me….
Make yourself heard...
....Just a little note for the 'forward thinkers' amongst you, but you can of course plan your own funeral, Celebration of Life or Memorial, through creating a 'Living Wish', and even hold a 'Celebration of Life' ceremony while you are still here in person! Afterall, how many times have you attended a wake or a Memorial and heard others say....he/she would have loved to be here with all their family and friends!; this is your life, and your choice on how you remember, recognise or celebrate it!
Release me to the Stars...
One of the most uplifting Funerals I have taken to date was STAR WARS themed and it would have meant so much to the beautiful soul I was there to celebrate whose love of STAR WARS was a huge passion in their life. I truly believe the loved ones we gather to remember, would have wanted to us remember them with smiles not tears. There will never be a 'wrong way' to do that, where we place that individual at the very heart of their service, honouring them in the way that they would have appreciated.
Peace be with you...
If faith or spirituality underpins your life, or the life of the person you are remembering, weaving those traditions into a Funeral or Memorial will likely be important to you. Independant Celebrant led services allow you to bring these sacred elements into a service, but continue to place the individual we are gathering to remember or honour at the heart of their service, making the celebration of their life, deeply personal and reflective.
What can you expect from me?
...Rather than define your loved one by the sadness of their loss, you can expect a service that celebrates your loved one in a way that honours how they themselves would have wanted to be remembered, because that is no less than they deserve.
Whether you are arranging your loved ones funeral independently or using an established Funeral Director, the Celebrant you choose is absolutely up to you; your Funeral Director will be used to families requesting a specific Celebrant of their choosing, so you can book me directly or via your Funeral Director; if you haven’t chosen a Funeral Director, I may be able to recommend some highly reputable ones to you and will be honoured to create and deliver services across Sussex, the UK and Overseas (upon request).
My fee for Funerals and Celebration of Life Services start from £250, however please get in touch for a personal quotation for alternative (second) venue Memorial services, double slot services, Interment of Ashes and Scattering Ashes at Sea Ceremonies, or services further afield from Eastbourne and the surrounding areas