Funeral Ceremonies or Memorial Services

We attend a funeral because of the ties of love or friendship, to show respect, to give support or because we feel it is the right thing to do. We hope that our presence and expressions of compassion will bring comfort to the bereaved. But we also have an unexpressed hope that we are doing something comforting and beneficial for the deceased. Funeral ceremonies provide a time and space for remembrance and reflection, an opportunity to express not only why our loved one will be missed but also express our humanity. It is my experience that most people need to come away from a funeral with some hope in their hearts. If the funeral lacks integrity, honesty, humour, graciousness and a loving atmosphere, then people walk away with an emptiness inside. If people say goodbye in a positive way, they can move forward in their grieving.

I believe a spiritual approach makes a funeral more meaningful. It views the person as more than a physical body by asking questions such as: what motivated them, what hurt them, what gave them joy, were they stubborn, were they embracing of life, were they a giver or a taker, did they live true to their heart’s desires and passions? We can present a eulogy of dates, times and places; where they lived and what work they did, but in the end the important questions to ask are: did they love enough? Did they use their time on earth well?

Practicalities:

When we first make contact by phone, in most cases, you will have already been in touch with a Funeral Director. They will have helped you make important decisions regarding the way you wish to say goodbye to your loved one.

When it comes time to plan the ceremony itself, I will usually meet with you in your home at a time convenient for us both. My aim is to make you feel at ease with the questions I need to ask and the information I need to know.

Together we discuss ways to ensure you say goodbye to your loved one in an honest and meaningful way, and in a way you believe your loved one would have liked.

Music; live or recorded, photos, colour, mementos, perhaps candle lighting or involvement of grandchildren along with the eulogies, all have an important place in a ceremony. Every one of us is an individual. Each ceremony should reflect that individuality.

Whether the service is conducted at a funeral chapel, at the crematorium or cemetery or whether you wish to have a service in a park or by the sea, I will help you make the ceremony personal, beautiful, memorable, respectful and loving, and always conducted with dignity.