Previously, I enjoyed working creatively with patients for 6 years in a day hospice and gained a certificate in end of life care and Dementia.
It seemed a natural step to think about becoming a Funeral Celebrant and trained with the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants and gained my certificate in Funeral Celebrancy. This means that I do not have any affiliation with a particular Church or the Humanist organisation but am able to lead the ceremony in accordance to your own beliefs, but as a Christian you can approach me to ask me to also deliver a Ceremony that is fully based on Christian customs. I am professionally trained to write and deliver personalised ceremonies full of meaning and heart and adhere to their vision and values and hold appropriate Insurances with the Fellowship. I believe ongoing professional development is a very important part of my journey and I look to engage with appropriate training to help me deliver my very best for you.
My most recent training was completed in November 2019 with Jennifer Claire Coaching, award winning author, speaker and blogger and I now feel confident to also offer you a new service and advice on how to renew your vows using other creative ideas such as hand fasting, unity candles and blessing of rings.
Other services I can offer: End of life: planning a Ceremony in advance with loved ones so they have a say in what they would like included after their death.
I offer scattering of Ashes free of charge if I have also officiated at the Funeral. Otherwise there is a small fee to cover expenses.
I can also help you with pet loss as I understand that when a pet dies it can also feel overwhelming and can have a profound affect on the whole family-there are several options that can be considered.
I have also worked with people who suffer with Dementia and gained insights in to how to create a Dementia friendly Ceremony. You may need a little help or guidance in how to involve and include people with dementia in attending the funeral perhaps. Everyone needs the opportunity to say goodbye and there are ways to help make this happen. I am also a Dementia friend and like hundreds of others find their site invaluable. Alzheimer's society website www.alzheimers.org.uk you will find excellent advice on supporting the person with dementia to grieve.
Like everyone, I have experienced sadness and grief through familial bereavements and I know how important it is to get things right on the day of the Funeral. You will only get one chance to say goodbye and I want your day to be as perfect as possible. During our family meeting, I will listen very carefully and gather all the information which is so precious to you, and taking time I will make sure I get everything right by sending you drafts of the content of Eulogies, Tributes, readings and Poetry and will offer advice on music. I can also help with the design and order of service for the booklets and will work closely with you every step of the way by sending you drafts for approval and amendments.
As an Independant Funeral Celebrant, I consider it a privilege to now walk with others who are making difficult decisions and feel my own personal and professional experience gives me deeper insights into death and dying and the important part that ceremonies and ritual can play in saying the final goodbye.
Sometimes the circumstances surrounding the death are difficult, it is then that you would take comfort from a trained Celebrant who can draw alongside you and help you through the process.
I am able to offer you the freedom of choice that will create an individually designed service that will reflect your loved ones personality, interests, hobbies and beliefs. I will work with you on everything because you know your loved one like no one else can. My responsibility is to you and I want you to be completely happy with the outcome, its very important to me and in how I will officiate on the day, and knowing that afterwards you can say honestly “ that was the best send off-and “I can look back knowing everything was just right on the day”
I can offer you a contemporary approach or one that has no religious element or equally I can work with you to include a more Christian or religious flow to your ceremony including Hymns, prayers and Bible readings.
Other symbolic elements that can be included during the ceremony are lighting of candles and placing a single flower on the coffin. You may know someone who would like to sing or play an instrument during the service or you may bring along your own recorded music. There is also an opportunity to include photo Montages during the reflection music. You may wish to include creative opportunites like handing out personalised Funeral seed packets like Forget me not from a nice basket to the mourners to be planted for the first anniversary. Most things can be considered, or you may wish to release doves or balloons and I can help you arrange this.
As an Independent Funeral Celebrant, I can work with you to compose an uplifting service which uniquely reflects and celebrates the life of your loved one.
Please feel free to contact me to have an informal chat without obligation.
Jan.
07507 547757
0118 348 0177
