Moments to honour the cherished memories of your loved one's life
For each of us there is a time to be born, a time to live and a time to die.
Celebrating and honouring a life well lived when someone dies is such an important moment for everyone who knew and loved them. The world is changing and how we choose to say goodbye when someone leaves it, is changing too. Funerals no longer have to take place in a church or crematorium, a person’s life can be honoured in a place and way that truly reflects their life, personality, pleasures and beliefs.
As an independent funeral celebrant working throughout Dorset, I can help you make those choices and create a ceremony that uniquely reflects the life that has been lived. I am free to deliver a ceremony that is non- religious in a Humanist or secular style, but I can also include any religious or spiritual elements you would like too – a prayer, a hymn, a reading or a meaningful ritual. I am here to reflect your beliefs and those of your loved one.
Whether you would like a burial, cremation or celebration of life in a venue that means something to you, I am here to help, guide, support and care.
“So it’s true, when all is said and done, grief is the price we pay for love.”
E.A. Bucchianeri
I believe that every life is for living, laughing, loving, feeling and sharing. As we go through life, we each experience the joy of being with and pain of being apart from the people we love. A life well lived will be full of cherished moments and stories to be remembered and on losing a loved one I am here to help you create a goodbye ceremony to celebrate and remember them in a way that is uniquely for them and you.
Why choose ME
Having experienced the grief of losing loved ones many times in my life, I can appreciate how painful and daunting the prospect of organising a funeral or Celebration of Life can be.
By choosing me as your celebrant, I will be there to help guide you through this most difficult of times, I will listen to what you tell me and hear what you are saying so that together we can create a truly fitting way to say a final goodbye. One that truly captures the life that your loved one lived, the person they were and their legacy. I can help you to choose the type of ceremony, words, music and rituals to do just that while helping you to heal as you grieve and mourn.
I have worked throughout Dorset and the Midlands supporting families as they say their final farewell in crematorium, natural burial grounds, village halls, meeting rooms and a football stadium. It really is possible to celebrate a life anywhere.
In Dorset, embracing the beauty on our doorstep for an outdoor ceremony is a beautiful way of saying a very personal farewell. It could be at sea, by a cliff top, on the beach or in the forest, wherever is meaningful to you and your loved ones.
So, what will happen if you choose me?
Price for a burial or cremation service £245
Price for a Life Celebration ceremony at a venue from £290
Price for a private farewell in a chapel of rest from £100
Price for an interment or scattering of ashes available on request.
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First, we will have an initial telephone conversation to arrange a suitable time to meet either face to face, by a video or telephone call to discuss who you would like me to meet with and your wishes for going forward.
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Next we will meet to have a chat so that we can start to get to know each other and I can learn all about your loved one; their character, life, wishes and passions. I will ask you lots of questions and answer any you may have too. We will even start to share a few ideas for honouring their life in a way that truly reflects who they were.
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I promise that I will listen to you and your family and hear what you are saying as I produce a draft script and advise and support you in the process. I will help you to choose the words, music and rituals that are perfect for saying goodbye to your loved one. You will have a chance to discuss the draft script with me and we can alter things as necessary.
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I will be there on the day of the ceremony to support you and your family and deliver a farewell to cherish.
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Please contact me to arrange a chat.
Saying a private farewell with a direct cremation
A meaningful way to say a final goodbye to your loved one
Times are changing and many people are choosing to have a direct cremation rather than a traditional service in a crematorium saying, "I don't want any fuss" or "It's simpler for my family" and yes those things are true and a choice you can and should make if it is what you would like. However, in grieving the loss of a loved one, healing and comfort can be found in being able to say a final farewell. It allows you to express your love and gratitude for their life and love.
Many funeral directors are now offering families the chance to say a private farewell in their chapel of rest, the perfect yet simple way to honour, grieve and say goodbye. If having a celebrant there to guide you, support you and hold the space for you is something you would like then please do get in touch so we can discuss how we can create the simplest yet most moving of farewells for you or your loved one.
Celebrating Their Love, Life and Cherished Memories
Even in death, there are choices to make and for many families, a traditional funeral or cremation is not the most appropriate way to say goodbye to their loved one. Natural burials, direct cremations, an ashes scattering or a Celebration of Life ceremony are all possible choices. I am here to support you in whatever you decide to do. Please call to arrange a goodbye full of cherished moments, crafted just for your family.
Celebrating You and your Life after you're gone
For some people, planning their own funeral or farewell service is an important part of accepting their mortality and preparing for their own death. Talking things through with someone outside of the family who is experienced, compassionate and informed may help. I have experience of doing exactly this and know that it can bring great comfort and a sense of control at a time when people often feel powerless and scared.
You may feel that I am the right celebrant to lead your celebration of life for you once you have died and if this is the case, it would be an honour for me to ensure all of your wishes are carried out, exactly as you wishes. I will of course also be there to support your nearest and dearest as they grieve for you.
Please contact me if this is something you would like me to help you with or just want to discuss things you are worried about.