Meaningful Funerals Throughout Yorkshire

Funerals

So, you want to arrange a humanist funeral? You won’t be disappointed. Humanist funerals have been conducted in England and Wales since 1896! They are not a newfangled idea.

A humanist funeral is a non-religious ceremony (service, if you like) that is both a dignified farewell and a celebration of a life. If the deceased lived his or her life without religious belief, a humanist ceremony may be the most appropriate way to reflect them and their life.

We recognise the profound sadness of saying goodbye, at the same time as the importance of celebrating the life and legacy of the loved one with appropriate humour.

“I am very grateful to you for your kind and sensitive treatment of the process of PW’s funeral. Many people said to me how much they appreciated the service, and the way you presented it. And thank you for the amount of time and attention to detail you gave to me, too…And I was glad you have a sense of humour!” VW, York

I like to see a photo of the deceased if possible. We will talk about his/her life and achievements, likes and dislikes, favourite music, memorable events – all the things that made the person. We will consider the ceremony itself, whether family members or friends wish to contribute by giving a reading, what music to have (if any, it isn’t compulsory) and so on.

Once I have drafted the ceremony I will email it to you (or we’ll find some other solution if you don’t use email) so that you can check it’s as you would like it. Please feel free to suggest changes – the ceremony is about the deceased and family, not me. You can call me as many times as you need, it really isn’t a problem.

I will meet you at the crematorium/burial site/venue on the day of the funeral. Unless you ask me to do otherwise, I will wear a dark suit. If you are having a cremation, ceremonies generally last about twenty minutes (some crematoria allow longer but, if you are having a lot of music and longer contributions from family members, we will need to talk to the funeral director about perhaps booking an extension.)

The ceremony will celebrate the life of the deceased. We will remember his or her achievements, look at the serious and lighter events that mean so much to you, hear favourite prose or poetry, and listen to much-loved music. I may, in my introduction, say a few words about humanism – if you want me to, I can put greater emphasis on this. During the ceremony there can be a moment for each person to reflect on the deceased’s life in their own way, either in silence or to music.

At the end of the ceremony I will make any announcements you wish, for example if you are having a collection, or inviting people back home or to a local venue. Before we all leave I will give you a presentation copy of the ceremony for you to keep.

My main areas are the postcodes YO, HG, LS and HU – but I will travel anywhere – including overseas – if it is practical.

I work regularly at the crematoria in York, Thirsk (Maple Park), East Riding (Octon), Harrogate, Hull, Scarborough, and at cemeteries and burial grounds across the region.

“I have been asked by all to send you a thank you for the sermon you put together which was spot on, as I said after the service to you, all were impressed, as most we have been to get a lot wrong, my mother’s Funeral was 50 % right he could not have been listening when we went through the information, we were please you did. All the very best don’t take this the wrong way but hope we don’t meet too soon.” PM, York

You can contact me by email or phone:

Email: steve-emmett@steve-emmett.com
Phone: 07804 450742