Melissa Jane Ceremonies

Melissa Jane Ceremonies Fenland based Civil Celebrant offering bespoke funeral and memorial ceremonies tailored to the individual.

Covering Fenland, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Kings Lynn and beyond.

Sometimes this role takes me to places I never expected.Last week, I found myself in Loughborough, leading a service for...
07/11/2025

Sometimes this role takes me to places I never expected.

Last week, I found myself in Loughborough, leading a service for a vibrant young woman. Her family and friends arrived in a colourful array of hats and outfits which was a beautiful reflection of her spirit. It was an honour to hold that space with them and to help shape a farewell that felt 'just right' for her.

And in the coming weeks, I’ll be travelling to Colchester Crematorium to support another family as they say their goodbyes.

Although most of my work is here in Cambridgeshire, every service is unique and sometimes that means stepping a little further afield. No two days are the same, and that’s one of the many reasons I feel so privileged to do what I do.

If you, or someone you know, needs support in planning a heartfelt and personal farewell, whether near or far, I’m always here to help. 🤍

03/10/2025

I was really touched after this morning’s service to receive the most wonderful compliment from the Manager of The Gables Care Home in Chatteris, who told me I was the best celebrant she’d ever heard and that the service was absolutely amazing.

Coming from someone who has attended many services, those words truly meant a lot.

I never take such feedback for granted, every family, every goodbye, and every story deserves to be treated with care and heart. I’m just so grateful to be trusted to help make those moments meaningful. 💛

01/09/2025

✨Sometimes, words stay with us long after we first hear them.

At a recent service, I was asked to read this beautiful passage from The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I found the sentiment touching, as did many of those present, because it captures so honestly what grief can feel like.

“ I miss him. I know in my head that he has gone, but I still still keep looking. The only difference is that I’m getting used to the pain. It’s like discovering a great hole in the ground - to begin with you forget it’s there and keep falling in. After a while, it’s still there, but you learn to walk around it.”

Grief doesn’t disappear. Instead, we slowly learn to live alongside it. ❤️

Direct Cremation and the Importance of GoodbyeAs funeral traditions evolve, more people are choosing a direct cremation,...
09/08/2025

Direct Cremation and the Importance of Goodbye

As funeral traditions evolve, more people are choosing a direct cremation, a simple, unattended farewell. While this may honour an individual’s wishes, it can sometimes leave family and friends without the closure they need.

If you choose a local funeral director to carry out a loved one’s wishes for a direct cremation, there can still be the opportunity to say goodbye.

A celebrant can attend with a small gathering of family, speaking words of farewell and offering the comfort that comes from marking their passing.

Sometimes it’s these moments, however small, that help us begin to heal. 🌿

01/08/2025

“The Next Place” - A Poem of Peace and Hope

I read this poem at a service today, after suggesting it to the family during our conversations about their loved one. As soon as I shared the words, they felt right. His sister shed some tears and said it was beautiful. Sometimes, the right words find us when we need them most.

This is The Next Place by Warren Hanson, a truly beautiful reading. I hope it brings peace to you too. 💛

Last week, just hours before a funeral, I received a phone call from the granddaughter of the gentleman who had passed a...
29/07/2025

Last week, just hours before a funeral, I received a phone call from the granddaughter of the gentleman who had passed away. She had just gone into labour!

There was a flurry of phone calls between the funeral directors, the crematorium and the music company, and a livestream was arranged so that she and her partner could watch from home.

As the ceremony began, I gave them a mention, waved to the camera, and wished them all the very best for the arrival of their new baby.

Today, I heard from the funeral director that the very next day, they welcomed a baby boy into the world 😊

A reminder that even in the midst of loss, life finds a way forward.

The presence of a baby or young child at a funeral can bring an unexpected lightness to the room.I recently led a servic...
24/07/2025

The presence of a baby or young child at a funeral can bring an unexpected lightness to the room.

I recently led a service at Fenland Crematorium, and during the reflection music, the sweetest baby girl sat down in the sunlight that had flooded the centre aisle of the chapel.

She was holding an order of service as if reading it, while the music played gently in the background. It was such a heartwarming sight, a quiet and beautiful reminder that even as we say goodbye to one life, we are always making space for another.

Moments like that stay with you. 💛

Some people stay with you.Today I led a funeral service for a gentleman whose wife's service I also took, only a few mon...
15/07/2025

Some people stay with you.

Today I led a funeral service for a gentleman whose wife's service I also took, only a few months ago.

Over that time, I’ve grown close to their daughter and I truly hope our connection continues beyond the chapel doors.

After the service today, I was invited to join the daughter and the family at the wake. It was lovely to sit and chat with them in a more relaxed setting. I heard stories, saw their smiles, and got to be part of a little bit of lightness after a very emotional goodbye.

In both ceremonies, I was able to include words from Winnie the Pooh — beautiful words that bring comfort and calm.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
Those words feel especially true today.

✍️Writing a Eulogy or Tribute - Even When You're GrievingWriting a eulogy or tribute can feel overwhelming, especially w...
15/07/2025

✍️Writing a Eulogy or Tribute - Even When You're Grieving

Writing a eulogy or tribute can feel overwhelming, especially when you are grieving. But it doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to be real.

Here are three tips if you've been asked to speak at a funeral.

🕊Start with one story.
Think of a moment that captures their spirit - a holiday, a saying they always used or something that made people laugh. Stories bring people closer than lists of facts ever can.

💛Speak from the heart.
It's ok to be emotional. In fact, it's expected. Just say what you feel, whether a sentance, a memory or a poem that resonates with you.

🌿Keep it simple.
You don't need to cover their whole life, just share the parts that mattered most to you. There's no right or wrong way to remember someone you love.

And, if it feels too much, that's okay too. Someone else, including myself, can read it for you.

You're not alone in this.💛

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