At a time when you will have so much to do and to think about, I want to make sure that the funeral service is all that you want it to be.

Naturally, you may be feeling great sadness and loss. A humanist ceremony helps you celebrate your loved one’s life, paint a rich picture of their personality and what they meant to you, your family and friends,  remembering them together as they truly were.

The service we design together will be unique and deeply personal, a time for bringing you together to share memories and comfort.

A humanist ceremony differs from a religious one in that it is a celebration of the person’s life, with time to talk about a person’s achievements, hobbies, views of the world – whatever tells their story – and with space for the music, readings and poetry you choose. I can conduct the whole ceremony or we can make as much space as you wish for members of the family or friends to contribute.

The aim is to create a true picture of a their life, reflecting and celebrating what made them the person you knew and loved.  To build as full a picture as possible, I will visit you, to learn about the person who has died.  During our discussions, I will listen, ask questions and make notes. You may want to show me photos or other mementoes to colour the picture further. From these discussions, I will prepare an initial draft of a script for you to review.  I’m also happy to chat over the phone or on zoom calls.  We’ll agree the final script, which may take a few conversations to get it absolutely right for you.

Every service is different, reflecting your loved one’s life.

Typically, the service may take the following format:

• entry music,
• words of welcome,
• thoughts of life and death,
• tributes and a celebration of the person’s life, including other speakers or music if you wish
• a time for reflection,
• committal
• closing words of comfort
• exit music

This is just a guide; I will also tailor the ceremony in the way that you want.

You may have many other questions, which I will be more than happy to answer. Good endings are so important in our journey through life and I believe it is a real privilege to help you design a ceremony that adds to your memories.