Funerals and Memorials

A Funeral Ceremony

Do you want a celebrant to write and deliver a funeral, ceremony that truly captures and honours the person who has died? Do you want a celebrant who will listen attentively, understand your wishes and do all possible to meet them? I may be the celebrant for you. We can create a ceremony that will hold space for people to meaningfully express their love and loss.

Please contact me directly if you would like me as a celebrant for a funeral, ash scattering or ash burial. I can guide you through the ceremony process. I prefer to connect with and work for people directly so I have not marketed myself to funeral directors. Funeral directors know people are free to choose their own celebrant, so I can work with whichever funeral director you choose.

A civil ceremony is usually non-religious and I do not represent any organised religion or faith. I am passionate about ensuring people get a fitting goodbye that reflects them and their lives. To be inclusive of the beliefs of the person who has died, I am happy for religious or spiritual content to be included. We can discuss all the music, readings or prayers that work best to create a truly personalised service.

This funeral procession shows two women and two men carrying a wicker casket in a crematorium. They are being followed in by a lone woman. Thank you to the Good Funeral Guide for making this image freely available on Unsplash.
This image of a hotel function room shows the kind of setting where a memorial service could take place. The luxurious setting is light-filled, has chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and three rows of chairs set up for a gathering.
This image of a community hall is provided to show the kind of setting where a memorial service could take place. The hall has parquet flooring, many rows of blue chairs and natural light coming in through windows with blue curtains.

A Memorial Service

If a private funeral or unattended / direct cremation has taken place, you may want a memorial service in the days or weeks that follow. A memorial service may be a particularly good option for somebody well known in the community.

With ample time to celebrate a person’s life and legacy, a memorial service can be a beautiful way to bring comfort to family, friends and the wider community. It would be my pleasure to talk with you about your memorial service ideas and create a meaningful celebration of life ceremony together. Every memorial service is different and there are many choices around format and structure.

A memorial service can be held anywhere that people gather - a function room at a hotel, community centre, social club or sports club. It is especially lovely to be able gather somewhere meaningful to the person being remembered.

Kate is standing outside a crematorium in front of trees. She is wearing a dark blue dress for a funeral and her name badge from the International College of Professional Celebrants. She is holding a folder containing funeral script.

Are You Planning Your Funeral?

I specialise in working with people to plan their own funeral ceremony. I can support you through whichever option you are considering.

You may want to plan your own funeral ceremony to help your family members after you have died. This can give you peace of mind. Planning ahead can also spare your loved ones any anguish at having to guess at what you would have wanted in your ceremony. We can go through the details together so you can design a ceremony to bring comfort to your loved ones.

If you want to see all the people that are important to you while you are still alive, a living funeral may be an ideal choice. A living funeral is like a funeral or memorial ceremony, but the guest of honour is present in living form. This gathering may be a good choice for somebody with a terminal illness, who feels well enough to enjoy the company of others.  A living funeral can be fully scripted or have more of an open structure. We can work together to find the tone that feels right for you and your living funeral.

This close up photo shows two hands writing in a note book, to depict eulogy writing. The hands have painted finger nails in a dark colour and golf rings. They are not Kate's hands (she doesn't paint her fingernails). It is just a good image.

Eulogy Writing Service

Have you decided to hold a funeral, memorial service or celebration of life without a celebrant present? Are you struggling to find the right words for your loved one’s eulogy?  It can be especially difficult to organise your words when you are grieving and busy making the arrangements need. I can help.

I offer a eulogy writing service which you can make use of from anywhere in the world.  During an online meeting I help you call to mind special memories with your loved one and the characteristics that make this person unique. I will then craft a heartfelt eulogy capturing the person you love and knew so well. 

Writing a eulogy for a loved one can be difficult, as you know so much about them. I will take the essence of what you tell me about their life, achievements and personality. I will use words that are natural to you, giving you confidence when you present it aloud.

Places for Funerals

This generated image shows what an alternative funeral service could be like in a country hotel venue. A coffin is placed in front of a set of double doors leading out to a country garden. The room is decorated with fairy lights and candles.

A civil funeral ceremony is most likely to take place in a local authority run crematorium. People tend to use the crematorium in their own area, although you are free to use a hold the funeral a different local authority. This is useful to know if you need for example, a large venue, or a venue with good public transport links.

Many people don’t know that a funeral ceremony can take place in different types of venues. In fact, a funeral can be held wherever the site owner gives permission and wherever it is safe to bring in a coffin. Just as with a memorial service, choosing your own funeral venue can allow mourners to gather in a place that provides meaning and comfort. This can be a hotel, community centre, sports club or social club. The burial or cremation taking place afterwards can either include all mourners or be held in private.

Following a cremation, you may decide to arrange a simple ceremony to scatter or bury your loved one’s ashes.  For comfort you may opt for a place of beauty which holds happy memories. I can help with these ceremonies, if you wish.

Natural burial is more environmentally friendly than conventional burial and cremation.  A natural burial site can provide a beautiful, comforting woodland or meadow graveside setting. Many woodland burial sites also offer conventional burial and cremation.

Natural burial is not as widely available or well known as other options. If you would like a natural burial, it is important to plan ahead. A charity called the Natural Death Centre has information on natural burial grounds. You can find more details online or by visiting the social purpose section of this website.

Woodland trees cover a caret of bluebells in this woodland burial site.

Prices and Packages

Funerals

It would be a privilege to create and deliver a unique, personalised funeral ceremony for you when the time comes, or for your loved one. I will listen attentively to your wishes, provide helpful guidance as to what is possible. I will plan and deliver an inclusive ceremony that reflects with the values and identity of the person who has died.

A funeral package from £230 includes:

  • A planning meeting with you before the ceremony (face to face or online)

  • A bespoke ceremony script, including personalised readings and music

  • A eulogy to honour your / your loved one’s life

  • Communication throughout the preparation phase by telephone, email or WhatsApp

  • Revisions and changes whilst preparing the script

  • Liaison with the Funeral Director to coordinate the ceremony

  • Travel within thirty miles of South Shields. Additional fees are charged for mileage beyond that at 45 pence per mile. Additional transport required (boat, train, plane, etc) will be charged accordingly.

  • Variations to Charges: Double time slot at crematorium: £250; Double funeral (two people): £330. If I am working with you to plan your funeral in advance, there may need to be additional charges, for example, for repeated script revisions over time. This is something we can discuss as we go. Similarly, living funerals are priced according to your specific requirements.

Other Ceremonies and Services

  • Memorial services are priced according to your specific requirements

  • Burial or scattering of ashes, if I have delivered the funeral ceremony, from £50.

  • Burial or scattering of ashes, if I have not delivered the funeral ceremony, from £230

  • Eulogy writing service from £100