Catherine Gwinnett

Hello.

I’m Catherine and I offer an alternative to traditional, formal funerals.

I decided to become a Humanist Celebrant because I felt that some of the traditional funerals I had been to didn’t seem to be about the person who had died.

Each of us lives our own unique life. Our experiences, interests, beliefs and relationships shape our life and make us the individual we are. All too often, these aspects of a person’s life are not reflected in their funeral ceremony.

I believe that a funeral can be as unique as the person whose life it celebrates.

The death of a loved one can be a challenging time. There are so many things to arrange, while coping with the loss of someone dear to you. I can guide you through the process of creating a deeply personal, memorable ceremony which can help you to say your goodbyes and ensures that your loved one is at the heart of things.

Choosing a Humanist funeral means you can decide what you want the ceremony to include; there is no set format. My role is to talk to you about the deceased so that together we can find the best way to celebrate their life. You may already know the music, poetry and readings you would like to include or you may be looking for suggestions. You may know people who wish to speak at the ceremony or you may prefer to leave the speaking to me. The ceremony can be as formal or informal as you wish. Whatever you decide, I will offer calm reassurance and professional guidance from our initial meeting right through to the ceremony itself.

Afterwards I will make sure you have a presentation copy of the complete ceremony. I can also send an electronic version which may be useful if there are people who are unable to attend the ceremony in person.

Please contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to discuss preparations for a funeral ceremony.