Kate Hobson Humanist Funeral Celebrant

12/11/2024

The first time I planned a funeral (before I trained to be a celebrant) I did what many people do – I went to a local firm who, I realise with hindsight, gave us a conventional package of services, according to ‘how it is done’, some of which we didn’t want or would have done differently had we known we could. I recall we were asked leading questions such as, ‘What sort of flowers do you want?’ and ‘How many cars will you have?’ – and we were certainly never asked if we wanted our father to be embalmed – which we didn’t (it happened anyway).
But it doesn’t have to be like this, and in a podcast from the Lymphoma Society one London firm of funeral directors gives very clear explanations about the questions families can ask any funeral director they approach. It also gives guidance on what families can ask themselves – or, even better, discuss with their loved one before their death.
You’ll find the podcast here: (choose from the episode list: ‘All you wanted to know about funerals (but were afraid to ask)’ at

Lymphoma Voices is a series of podcasts for people living with lymphoma, and their family and friends. In each podcast, we are in conversation with an expert in their field, or someone who has been personally affected by lymphoma, who shares their thoughts and experiences. Available on Apple Podcast...

31/03/2023

See the latest animation from Humanists UK explaining Humanist view of life in a simple way. Suitable for children and adults!

10/03/2022

I came across this poem recently which struck a chord: Hearses
by Jonathan Steffen

Like regrets drifting through consciousness,
They glide through the streets of our cities,
Untouchably themselves,
Silently intent on their purpose,
Counting eternities with each corner they turn.
Belonging to no time or place,
They appear in our hearts,
Offering up the flowers we never sent
And the words we never spoke,
Only to disappear once more
Into the great flow of life
And the great flow of death.
I wonder what obsequies
Are spoken over them
When they at last
Reach the end of their own road,
These discreet and faithful guardians
Of all that we have failed to be?

22/11/2021

Stephen Fry has narrated four short, concise videos that explain humanism quite neatly. Do have a look if you're interested.

We've teamed up with our patron Stephen Fry, to explore humanist ideas about some of life’s big questions in four animated shorts.

11/05/2021

Humanists UK blog on funeral wishes by me!

Humanist funeral celebrant Kate Hobson tells us about the conversation that prompted her to make her own funeral plans. Perhaps this will get you thinking about yours...

10/05/2021

Dying Matters Awareness Week (10−16 May 2021) this year focuses on the importance of being in a good place to die. I was asked by Humanists UK to write a piece on 'My Mortality'. Here it is:

Mortality – that’s a tricky one. I find it difficult enough to think about a lovely summer's day in the depths of winter, or vice versa, without trying to envisage something of which I can have no experience, at first or second hand. The only tool I have for tackling my own mortality is my imagination, which is not helpful, as it inevitably dwells on the awful ways I could die rather than the fact of dying. Like many people, I like the idea of quitting the party while it’s still going on, quickly and without warning. But that is really not good for the people left behind.

Sudden death is a physical as well as an emotional shock. And it’s messy. Even the most prepared people won’t have thought of everything and may not have updated their will or their funeral wishes very recently. That can be difficult enough to cope with, but the worst thing is not being able to say goodbye.

A ‘good death’ allows for that. Beyond making sure the important people have your computer and email passwords, there may be the doing of the as yet undone, the mending of relationships, the reallocating of priorities, the saying of things not yet said. It may be preparing loved ones for a life without you, or it may simply be creating or stashing away a store of good memories that will provide sustenance in the dark days to come.

I hope I can be lucky and brave enough to have a good death.

What is the theme for Dying Matters Awareness Week 2021? This year, the week will focus on the importance of being in a good place to die.

20/09/2020

I don’t get out to natural burial grounds as much as I would like, as most are outside London, but it is a joy when I do.

Land set aside for natural or woodland burials varies enormously, from a bit of scrubby ground within an existing urban cemetery to a managed wood out in the countryside. Facilities vary from absolutely nothing to purpose-built ceremony halls with catering facilities attached.

Far away from the traditional trappings of a funeral, families are free to create, supported by their celebrant, a very personal and meaningful farewell to their loved one, and to take inspiration from the surroundings, be it mature oaks or swathes of meadow flowers.

However, beautiful sunny days like the one below cannot always be guaranteed!

09/06/2020

Tomos Roberts writes under the strapline 'ProbablyTomfoolery'. His response to the events surrounding the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has a much wider application, encompassing both this, and many other, tragic stories.

These words are my own. I hope you find yours. Tom.

22/05/2020

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. The fact that we are asked to be aware of all mental health in one week - as opposed to specific conditions or diseases affecting our physical health - is symptomatic of how much catching up it has to do in the national consciousness. But it's a start. And it's a very good message! For a psychologist's view, see Professor Peter Fonagy in the Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/17/kindness-can-work-wonders-especially-for-the-vulnerable

13/05/2020

I was invited to write a blog post for Humanists UK during Dying Matters Awareness Week. It's hard to plan for when we die, but it makes so much difference to others if we do.

Humanist funeral celebrant Kate Hobson tells us about the conversation that prompted her to make her own funeral plans. Perhaps this will get you thinking about yours...

28/04/2020

I am very torn about humanist funeral ceremonies during the Covid-19 lockdown. On the one hand I feel that it is very important for people to have a ceremony to properly and respectfully mark a death, and humanist celebrants being very flexible, we can tune that to whatever is most appropriate – be it a very short committal with a few family members, a crematorium ceremony with webcast, or an online memorial ceremony done from home. On the other hand, there are so many things about the restrictions that militate against what we are trying to do.

As humanists, we don’t have an ‘out of the box’ ceremony to fall back on – each one is created from scratch, which involves time and effort for family and friends, and for some this cannot be matched in the crematorium, with restricted numbers and time slots. How can they properly share meaning, give testament to their feelings for their loved one together, either then or after the ceremony? I have stood in the car park of a crematorium, standing apart from friends and family, each of us not knowing how to say goodbye – just waving and leaving felt so, so wrong.

It is understandable that many people will have a memorial celebration later - with or without a celebrant. I hope some will engage a celebrant - a neutral third party who can help shape it, manage contributions and lead on the day, freeing participants to enjoy the memorial in full, without the stress of being master of ceremonies as well as everything else.

03/04/2020

As an accredited humanist funeral celebrant I offer

* Funeral ceremonies (cremations or burials)
* Memorial ceremonies
* Pre-need funeral ceremony consultations
* Scattering of ashes ceremonies

In all my work I help to support people through difficult times. During the Covid-19 crisis this is more important than ever, as deaths, and the circumstances around them, may be more distressing than they would be in normal circumstances. I can still offer initial emotional support even if the ceremony itself has to be postponed to a future date. See my website for further details: https://humanist.org.uk/katehobson/