How do I work?

Most people have very little experience of arranging a funeral and I am here to help you make a unique ceremony which reflects and captures the special qualities of your loved one.

Do call me to discuss what you would like and if you decide to go ahead, we can meet. The “family visit” takes around one to one and a half hours and after this I will craft a tribute in a personalised, positive and sensitive way. I produce a draft script for your ceremony which we can discuss and amend as you wish: I always remember it is your ceremony.

The service can contain music and prose or poetry and photo tributes, often set to music– whatever is appropriate. Your friends and family may want to be involved: We are all different – some families have lots of people who want to take part, speaking, reading or making music. Others prefer me to speak for them.

On the day, I will take the lead, conducting the service and speaking as much or as little as is required. Although Humanist funerals are non-religious, so do not usually have hymns or prayers, I also aim to make your ceremony as inclusive as possible and to give everyone opportunity to say goodbye in their own way, whatever their beliefs. There can be a time of reflection so those who do have religious beliefs can say a silent prayer.

A Humanist funeral is the celebration of a life and an opportunity to say goodbye in a caring and personal way. Whilst the ceremony can be as formal or informal as you would like, it will always be respectful and dignified. Your ceremony will be one that is memorable and one that will help you, your friends and your family through this difficult, yet vital part of the grieving process.

I write unique funeral ceremonies to offer a personal and meaningful farewell. I believe that it is a privilege to conduct a funeral ceremony, and I am always more than happy to work closely with people to make sure that the ceremony is perfect for them.

“Thank you for eveything you’ve done to organsie and lead E’s funeral. It was a beautiful ceremony. We particularly cherishes scattering petals and rosemary from the three gardens into her grave- a lovely idea. It gives us solace to have offered E a “proper” burial and ceremony, personal to us.”

“Dear Sheila, Thank you so much for everyting… for making this sad process so much easier to bear.”

“I should like to thank you immensely for taking the funeral service for our dear K. It was exactly as she would have wished. I am so glad I found you.”

“Thank you so much for all the effort you made to ensure the ceremony for A was exactly as we wanted. although it was the worst day of our lives, the fact that the ceremony was flawless helped us all to say goodbye to him.”