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A celebrant for all seasons

Much to the horror of my mother and several close friends, I have taken great pleasure in broadly planning my own funeral. I’m not talking about the type of coffin I’d like to be buried in, and whether or not my plot is north facing, I’m talking about the details of the funeral itself. While it’s not yet certain as to how I’ll eventually bow out, as death’s as sure as taxes, it’s frankly nice to have a little certainty (control?) over how my last great shin-dig should play out!

Picture this: a lovely big hall, an open casket, with tables for food, and a large, three-tiered black fondant chocolate mud cake with a little coffin on the top, with a little fondant caricature of me popping the lid with a big smile and a wave. Totally tasteless, but it doesn’t end there…

The invitations will urge guests to bring a plate of food that reminds them of me, and for guests to be prepared to share the story or memory of their dish, as the entire event will be a pass-the-mic affair! It’s definitely a bit silly, but I really want to go out in a way which is congruent with other celebrations I’ve planned and enjoyed throughout my life, and not your usual kind of stuffy, formal funeral which is not very me at all. Besides, my preference is for a great wake more than a funeral, so why not combine the two?

While I’m keen to be carried out to “Don’t Rain on my Parade” by Babs Streisand, one thing I’m still stuck on is who to ask to host/officiate the event. It’ll all depend on a couple of factors, like who of my family or peers will outlive me, where I’ll be living when I die, etc. Not being morbid here, just considered and practical. If my funeral were happening tomorrow, I’d want someone warm and humorous, with good improv skills to take the reins and bring about my total vision for the day.

This is why it’s a wonderful consideration to have a civil celebrant officiate your funeral.

The beauty of choosing a celebrant to officiate your funeral is to create and hold a ceremony which is entirely authentic to you and your loved ones. This is not dissimilar to a wedding in many ways, and professionally, I approach funerals with the same earnest focus and importance. They are both public, sacred and gorgeously memorable events which highlight the love, the stories and the unique personalities of those standing in the spotlight. And there’s plenty of room for laughter and tears at both events too.

A large part of my responsibility in planning a funeral is to simply listen. To stand knee-deep and toe-to-toe with families and friends as we muse and celebrate the lives of those to whom we must goodbye. To grieve and laugh and breathe together – in short, to welcome all the feelings great and small that ebb and flow in their full grandeur on days like these.

As a funeral celebrant, I can collaborate with you and your family to create a beautiful and unforgettable ceremony, and to hold that space in accordance with the desires and beliefs of your beloved. Whatever your vision for the day, we can find a way to create its authentic expression.