“I thought the service was very well put together and Deborah did a great job. Very professional from start to finish.  I’ve been working at the crematorium for 26 years, that’s 45,000 funerals give or take.  Nice to meet dedicated people.”

Paul, Crematorium Manager

(For ceremony conducted by Poetic Endings)

“Deborah was incredibly diligent but also very warm and supportive.”

“Everyone attending commented on what a pleasant difference it was from the more traditional religious ceremonies they’d attended and that it was the perfect positive send off for our mum.”

Sons T and H for their mother S.

(Cooperative Funeralcare Sidcup. Ceremony at Eltham Crematorium)

“Deborah took the time to speak to me, B’s family and friends and really got to know his personality. Everything was passed by me to give the final ‘say so’ and Deborah gave lots of potential readings, poems, lyrics etc. for us to choose from. There was a lot of care taken over the content and it made it a very special individual funeral service, with quite a lot of people saying it was the best funeral that they had attended.”

For H for her partner B. 

(Albins & Hitchcock, Plaistow. Ceremony at East London Crematorium)

“Deborah led a really lovely service for a very difficult occasion. She made the experience really memorable and delivered a very fitting tribute to my dad.”

Daughter K for her father P.

(Coop Funeralcare Selsdon. Ceremony at Croydon Crematorium)

“Deborah was fantastic, she spent time with myself and my husband’s friends and family to really understand the man that he was. She kept in contact, sharing ideas and memories and produced an order of service that truly was a celebration of M’s life in every way. Her attention to detail was unbelievable. We cannot thank her enough.”

D for husband M

(Albins, Deptford. Ceremony at Hither Green Crematorium)

“Deborah produced an amazing warm, accurate, and uplifting account of my mum and her family’s life and belief systems. It was both historically accurate and at the same time managed to capture mum’s spirit. Deborah also managed to find a way through some tricky dynamics amongst mum’s three daughters and produce a tribute which was more than acceptable to everyone’s memory of my mum. 

Everyone said Deborah’s celebration was amazing, both in terms of the style, its content, and they learned things about mum and her family that hadn’t previously known. When I looked around the congregation I could see people listening intently. Everyone said Deborah presentation and tribute was something they would consider for their own passing and that they would tell others about Humanist funerals.

Deborah was incredibly professional and compassionate and personal at all times. She also had ideas that we had not previously considered and offered them to us without bias. She kept us within parameters too and would gently urge us to think about and complete an aspect of the service. 

From my first contact with Deborah I felt instantly assured that she had all the qualities I was looking for at this time, understanding, skills, compassion, leadership, and the Humanist philosophy, so important.  She took a huge amount off my mind, and I knew I could trust her implicitly. Thank you again Deborah.”

L for her mother M.

(Coop Funeralcare Eltham.  Ceremony at Eltham Crematorium)

“I just wanted to thank you again for everything you did on Thursday and, of course, all the prep that preceded it.

Thank you also for taking on this ceremony – I’m sure it must have been challenging for you and I can only express my gratitude, as I’m sure C would, too.”

“I don’t think I can fully express my gratitude for what you did for dear C today. Your beautiful words delivered in a calm, measured and reassuring tone absolutely made today so special. The quiet dignity you afforded your friend C meant a lot to me and I’m sure to all of his other friends. 

Thank you for your generous and thoughtful words ahead of the ceremony. I felt cradled and comforted knowing that were I unable to carry on, you would step in and scoop me up.  Your manner encouraged and sustained me and I know with much certainty that had I not felt able to speak, that is something I would have lived to regret for a long time.”

A for husband C, and L for her friend.

(Poppy’s Funerals. Ceremony at St Marylebone Crematorium)