“I strongly believe that every funeral should be different, reflecting the life of the person who has died, through words and music. Non religious funerals offer an opportunity to completely personalise this final farewell”

 

I live in the Urmston area of Manchester and I conduct non-religious funerals and memorials in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and wider areas of the North West.

It wasn’t until the death of my husband in 2000, when he had specifically asked for a non-religious funeral, that I really gave any thought to becoming a humanist. We had a Humanist UK celebrant conduct his funeral, and it was so personal and fitting for him, it helped me, my children and his many friends, to come to terms with his death at just 42 years old.

After his funeral, so many people, (some embarrassed by their comments), told me it was the best funeral they had ever been to, so personal and caring, it made them feel happy at such a sad time. (comments I now get at the funerals I conduct).  Both myself and my family, felt that the service had truly been a celebration of his relatively short life, which reflected his character so closely, and we still look back and feel we gave him the best goodbye possible.

It took me a number of years and attendance at a good number of very impersonal funerals, including my own Mother and Father’s, both had religious funerals, which were terrible and impersonal but what they wanted.  However, it did spur me on to know that I could produce a memorable and meaningful funeral for those who didn’t want religion, and I decided to train to become an accredited Humanists UK celebrant.

It was the best thing I have ever done.  Sometimes people ask ‘doesn’t your work make you sad?’ well the simple answer is yes sometimes it does, but it also makes me happy.  I feel privileged to be able to spend time with the family/friends of a person who has died, to help them create a funeral for a loved one that is just right and leaves them feeling they have had a perfect goodbye.  I hope that like me, in years to come  when they think back to the time of the funeral of their loved one, there will be some happy memories, out of what is usually a time of great sadness.

If you would like to book a humanist funeral or if you would just like further information on non-religious funerals, please do contact me on 07887724591 or email: janet.humanist@gmail.com

Funeral Reviews

Just a few of the lovely comments I have received, thank you to all, even if your comments aren’t published here I really do appreciate them.

Janet was wonderful. She met with family and friends and spoke with those that she couldn’t meet with face to face. She helped out in anyway she could and provided support. She phoned and e-mailed regularly to check that all details were accurate. The day was beautiful and since then there has been lots of feed back from those that attended to say it was one of the nicest services they had been to. Thank you Janet 

‘I’ve just watched the service again.  Thank so much the way you delivered the eulogy was perfect’ 

‘I did a Google search and up popped Janet. Immediately, I liked her, nothing was too much.   She was Fabulous. She was extremely perceptive and eloquent, a very sensitive person who I felt was extremely Honest A+’

“Thank you so very much for the moving and fitting service to Dad. So many people had never been to a Humanist funeral before but said to me how lovely it was.”  

“Thank you for the lovely funeral, we were worried that we wouldn’t be able to find too many good things to say, but you managed to speak truthfully about Dad in such a sensitive way. It was great.”

‘I just wanted to thank you again for conducting the service for my father yesterday. It was such a lovely service and so many people said to me afterwards how much they had enjoyed it.

‘Thank you for making such a difficult time so special.’ 

‘Janet made it all so personal and relevant. I cannot recommend her highly enough.’

‘Our celebrant worked hard to encompass specific family members’ requirements. Well done, Janet’

‘I wanted a more personalized ceremony. My wife specifically requested a humanist funeral and a religious ceremony would have been inappropriate.  Janet was lovely and made it seem personal.’