“A unique farewell, crafted with love.”
A ceremony with compassion and meaning
Saying goodbye to someone you love may be the most painful thing you ever do. For many, the day of the funeral feels like a second heartbreak. But it doesn’t have to be only sorrow. It can also be a time to honour, to reflect, to tell their story, and to celebrate the legacy they leave behind. A funeral is more than an event—it’s a moment of truth, love, and remembrance. I’m here to help you mark that moment with warmth, integrity, and heart.
Support
Please move at your own pace. When you feel ready, I’ll be here to support you. In a time of deep and sometimes overwhelming emotion, it’s important to feel secure, supported and reassured that you're not alone. My role is to walk alongside you – and I will do that with kindness, understanding and gentle guidance - to create a ceremony that truly honours the character and soul of the person you’re remembering. My hope is that when the service ends, you are left with a deep appreciation for the love you shared and the bond that will always remain.
Together, we’ll shape a ceremony that captures the essence of your loved one - bringing light, healing and perhaps even moments of laughter. Grief is rarely linear. It moves, shifts and unfolds in its own time. I offer a calm, compassionate space where you can remember, express and begin to process your loss through story, music and reflection.
Every person is one of a kind - and the farewell they receive should be too.
If you require any support at this difficult time, please take a look at my links page, which provides suggestions of organisations that may be helpful for you and your loved ones.
Funerals
A funeral led by an independent celebrant is a personalised and meaningful ceremony that honours the life of someone who has died, in a way that truly reflects who they were. Unlike a traditional religious service, a celebrant-led funeral is not tied to any specific faith or format - it’s shaped entirely around the person, their story, and the wishes of those who loved them.
For as long as we have memories, we are never truly alone.
As an independent celebrant, I work closely with families to create a ceremony that feels genuine, respectful and heartfelt. It can include readings, music, personal tributes, poems, prayers, rituals, or moments of quiet reflection - whatever feels right for you. Some families choose to include spiritual or religious elements; others prefer a completely secular tone. The choice is always yours.
These ceremonies can take place in a crematorium, burial ground, woodland site, hall, home, or any location that holds meaning.
In fact, many people now choose to hold a celebrant-led funeral after a direct or pure cremation. In this case, the cremation happens privately and without a service, allowing more time and space to plan a gathering that is calm, thoughtful and truly reflective of the person’s life. This option can offer greater flexibility, less pressure and more opportunity to create something deeply personal.
Above all, a celebrant-led funeral is about honouring your loved one with authenticity, compassion and care. It's a moment to share memories, acknowledge your loss, and celebrate the life that was lived - with dignity, warmth and meaning. Please let’s get started if you would like to discuss this further.
CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE
A Celebration of Life is a personal and meaningful ceremony held to honour and remember someone who has died. Unlike a traditional funeral, which often follows a more formal or religious structure, a Celebration of Life focuses on the individual’s personality, achievements, values, and the memories shared with them. It's usually less solemn and more reflective of the person’s unique spirit, often including stories, music, photos, readings, and contributions from friends and family.
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These ceremonies can be deeply emotional, uplifting, or a blend of both, and they’re shaped entirely around the wishes of the person who has died - or those who loved them.
Importantly, a Celebration of Life can be held anywhere and at any time - it doesn’t have to take place in a chapel or crematorium. Many families choose to hold one after a direct or pure cremation; this means the cremation happens privately and without a service, allowing family and friends to gather later - when they’re ready - to celebrate their loved one in a way that feels right for them.
Whether held in a garden, a village hall, a family home, a pub or somewhere else meaningful to the person being remembered, a Celebration of Life gives people the freedom to say goodbye on their own terms, with warmth, creativity, and love.
Wherever it takes place, I will be by your side from the moment you make contact, to ensure that you feel supported and informed - every step of the way.
If you would like to discuss this type of ceremony further, please do get in touch.
LIVING FUNERALS
A living funeral is a beautiful, heartfelt gathering held before someone dies, giving them the chance to hear the words, stories and love that might otherwise be saved for after they’re gone. It’s a deeply moving way to celebrate a person’s life while they are still here to feel it - to be present, to laugh, to cry and to connect with the people who matter most.
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As an independent celebrant, I support individuals and families in creating living funerals that are entirely personal, uplifting and meaningful. These ceremonies can be joyful, reflective, spiritual or informal - they can include music, readings, storytelling, symbolic acts, or simply heartfelt words spoken from the people who care.
There are no rules or expectations. A living funeral might feel like a celebration, a quiet gathering, or something in between. It can be held at home, in a garden, a hall, a pub or hotel - or anywhere else that feels right. The focus is on honouring a life while it is still being lived, recognising its value and sharing appreciation in the here and now.
Living funerals are often chosen by those nearing the end of life who want to be active participants in their farewell. For some, it offers a sense of peace, closure or joy. For others, it’s a final chance to express love, gratitude and legacy in their own words.
With gentle guidance and warmth, I will help you to shape the ceremony into something that feels right for everyone involved – in an honest, heartfelt and human way. Saying goodbye doesn’t have to be only about grief - it can also be about connection, meaning and celebrating a life well lived.
Please get in touch if you would like to explore this option further.
MEMORIALS
A memorial ceremony is a meaningful opportunity to remember and celebrate someone’s life, held after their death - often days, weeks, months or even years later. Unlike a funeral, which typically takes place shortly after someone passes, a memorial gives families and friends the freedom and space to plan a more personal tribute without time pressure. It may follow a burial or cremation, or take place after a direct or pure cremation, when no formal service was held at the time.
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As an independent celebrant, I will work with you to craft a ceremony that truly reflects your loved one’s character, values and the impact that they had on the people around them. Memorials can take many forms: a relaxed garden gathering, a heartfelt event in a community hall, a quiet woodland remembrance or a vibrant celebration of life. There’s no fixed format – we will create it together, your way.
These ceremonies can include stories, music, poetry, rituals, symbolic gestures, candle lighting and contributions from family and friends. Some may incorporate spiritual, religious or cultural traditions, while others are entirely secular. What matters most is that it feels authentic and comforting - a space where grief can be shared, love remembered and life celebrated.
Holding a memorial allows people to gather at a time when they’re ready - whether that’s soon after the loss or months down the line. It gives everyone a chance to pause, reflect and honour the life that was lived, in a way that feels right for them.
With my support, you’ll have the time and freedom to shape something unique - a ceremony that doesn’t just say goodbye, but says thank you, we remember you and we carry you with us.
Please click here if you would like to arrange to talk about an idea for a memorial.