FUNERAL AND CELEBRATION OF LIFE CEREMONIES
A beautiful farewell that truly honours a life
Saying goodbye to someone you love is one of life's hardest moments. Their funeral or celebration of life should offer comfort, share cherished memories, and create space for everyone who loved them to mourn together and celebrate the life they lived.
As a funeral celebrant, I work with compassion and sensitivity to create ceremonies that feel personal, meaningful, and true to the person you're saying goodbye to. Whether you're planning a traditional funeral service, a woodland burial, a celebration of life in a favourite place, or a memorial gathering, I'll guide you through the process and help you create a farewell that brings comfort and honours their memory.
Why choose a celebrant for a funeral?
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Completely personal
Every life is unique, and every funeral should be too. As an independent celebrant, I'm not restricted by religious frameworks or standard scripts. We can create a ceremony that genuinely reflects the person you're remembering—their personality, values, passions, quirks, and the impact they had on those around them.
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Inclusive and flexible
Whether the person you're honouring was deeply spiritual, quietly agnostic, passionately secular, or somewhere in between, I'll create a ceremony that feels right. We can include prayers and religious elements, focus on natural or humanistic themes, or create something entirely unique to them.
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Your choice of location
While many ceremonies take place at crematoriums or traditional funeral venues, you're not limited to these spaces. We can hold services in woodland burial grounds, at the beach, in gardens, at sports clubs, in community halls, or anywhere that held meaning for your loved one.
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Supportive guidance
Planning a funeral while grieving is overwhelming. I'll walk alongside you through every decision, offering gentle guidance and taking care of the practical details so you can focus on being with family and processing your loss.
Creating your loved one's ceremony
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First conversation
When you first contact me, we'll arrange a meeting—in person, by video call, or by phone, whatever feels most comfortable for you. This initial conversation is low-pressure and compassionate. I'll listen to what you need and explain how I can support you.
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Gathering their story
If you'd like to work with me, we'll arrange a longer meeting where I'll ask questions about your loved one. Who were they? What mattered to them? What made them laugh? What were they passionate about? What memories do you treasure? What legacy have they left?
This conversation often becomes a cathartic part of the grieving process—a chance to remember, reflect, and celebrate their life with someone who's truly listening. I'll take careful notes and, with your permission, may record our conversation to ensure I capture every important detail.
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Crafting the tribute
Using everything you've shared, I'll write a ceremony that tells their story with sensitivity, warmth, and respect. You'll receive a draft to review, and we can refine it together until it feels exactly right. Nothing goes into the ceremony without your approval.
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The service
On the day, I'll arrive early to coordinate with the funeral director and venue, ensure everything's arranged as you want, and then deliver the ceremony with compassion and dignity. I'll speak clearly so everyone can hear, maintain a pace that allows the words to sink in, and hold space for all the emotions present.
My goal is to honour your loved one beautifully while creating an atmosphere where family and friends feel held, seen, and able to begin processing their grief.
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After the ceremony
You'll receive a printed, keepsake copy of the full ceremony—a treasured reminder of the day and the life you celebrated together.
What's included
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Civil Funerals & Celebrations of Life - £210
A complete ceremony including our initial consultation, an in-depth life story meeting (in person or by phone), a fully customised ceremony script, coordination with funeral directors, delivery of the ceremony, and a beautifully presented keepsake order of service.
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Memorial Services - £150
For gatherings held after the funeral, whether a few weeks or months later. Memorial services give loved ones another opportunity to come together, share memories, and mark the loss. These are often held at community halls, family homes, or places with special significance.
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Scattering or Burial of Ashes - £75
A shorter, intimate service when you're laying ashes to rest. This can be at a crematorium garden of remembrance, a natural burial ground, a favourite walking spot, or a meaningful location.
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End of Life Planning - £180
Some people wish to plan their own funeral in advance, ensuring it reflects their wishes and relieving family of difficult decisions during grief. I'll meet with you to discuss your vision and create a ceremony plan for your family to follow when the time comes.
Types of ceremonies
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Traditional funerals
A classic funeral service at a crematorium or cemetery, with structure and dignity while still being deeply personal to your loved one.
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Celebrations of life
A less formal gathering that focuses on celebrating the person's life, character, and achievements. These often feel more like a party or gathering than a traditional funeral, with music, stories, and sometimes even laughter alongside the tears.
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Woodland or natural burials
Ceremonies at natural burial grounds, surrounded by trees and nature. Perfect for those who loved the outdoors and wanted an environmentally conscious farewell.
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Memorial services
Held weeks or months after the funeral, giving people time to process their grief before coming together to remember and celebrate.
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Direct cremation follow-ups
If the family has chosen a direct cremation without a service, we can hold a memorial gathering afterwards that gives everyone a chance to say goodbye together.
Incorporating what mattered
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Music
From classical pieces to indie rock, from traditional Welsh hymns to uplifting dance anthems —whatever your loved one would have chosen, we'll include it. Music has a powerful ability to evoke memories and emotions, and I'll help you select pieces that honour them authentically.
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Readings and poetry
We can include favourite poems, meaningful readings from books they loved, passages from religious texts, or words written specifically by family members.
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Symbolic rituals
Lighting candles in memory, planting seeds or bulbs, inviting guests to place flowers on the coffin, creating a memory table with photographs and treasured objects—these small rituals create powerful moments of connection.
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Family participation
If family members wish to speak, read, or play music, we'll build that into the ceremony in a way that feels supportive and manageable.
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Natural themes
For those who loved nature, we can weave in themes of seasons, the circle of life, returning to the earth, or connections to the landscape they loved.
Serving South Wales with compassion
I work throughout South East Wales, including:
- Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Newport
- Vale of Glamorgan, Powys
- Forest of Dean, Wye Valley, Usk Valley
I'm familiar with crematoriums, cemeteries, natural burial grounds, and meaningful locations throughout the region. Wherever you need me, I'll be there.
What people say
While building my testimonials, I'm honoured to share words from Rosalind Miles, who mentored me during my training:
Let me support you
Losing someone you love is painful beyond words. While I can't take away that pain, I can ensure their farewell is everything it should be—personal, meaningful, and filled with love.
If you're planning a funeral or celebration of life, please get in touch. I'm here to help.