Helen Smith

I’ve been conducting Humanist funerals across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and East Lancashire since 2007. I really enjoy listening to people’s stories and feel privileged to be alongside them at an important time in their lives.

As a child I thought a lot about life and death and I actually planned a rather impractical burial for myself when I was eight. My parents were members of the British Humanist Association (now Humanists UK) and I used to listen in on their discussions. I became  a History teacher, and I always enjoyed introducing children to local history, and using oral memories to help them explore the past. On holiday I often seemed to end up exploring ancient burial mounds and I also wrote short stories and had some published.

It’s as if my life was preparing me to become a Humanist celebrant; preparing me to provide funeral ceremonies which are fitting and true and which do justice to those who have died.

I often feel sorry that I have not met the person who has died as their friends and family speak about them with such affection; there is often laughter, as well as tears, at the family meeting. I know from my own experience that when stories are shared, and then shaped to create the Life Story of the person who has died, that it brings comfort and is a helpful step in the grieving process.