What Does a Funeral Celebrant Do?

A Funeral Celebrant is an individual who is creative, passionate and trained in being able to offer a bespoke rite of passage ceremony which is a true reflection of their loss and of that client's needs and wishes. They should bring exceptional listening skills into their job along with empathy and compassion and be able to gently lead the planning of the ceremony whilst totally respecting and engaging with all the families wishes.

 

As your Celebrant, either engaged through a Funeral Director or directly with yourselves I will first have a chat with you, via phone or WhatsApp at a mutually convenient time to introduce myself, to check with you the logistical arrangements made with your Funeral Director, i.e. time and date of the ceremony, location and ensure that I have the name of the deceased absolutely correct – including not just the given name but the name by which they have been known and the family wishes me to refer to them by. This is not a long call, just a base touch so you can hear my voice.

 

Then following this little chat, I send you out an email with lots of helpful ideas for you and your family and indeed anyone else involved in the arrangements to talk over, every single ceremony is unique and bespoke, this is in contrast to most religious ceremonies which follow a preordained script, (almost) anything goes, and I will guide you all the way, with regards Order of Service, durations (which varies from Crematorium to Crematorium, Burial Ground or Natural site) but I will make everything very clear and of course will have given you my contact details so that any questions can be easily addressed.

 

Then we’ll have a meeting, informal, comfortable and no ceremony required, (although a cup of tea might be welcome!) either face to face or equally easily on WhatsApp or Zoom, we chat through everything and I’ll make notes to ensure I get details correct, particularly in relation to the Tribute (or Eulogy as you might know this) – if I am writing this on your behalf I will send you a draft and ask you to check it carefully but I don’t send full delivery scripts in advance. I go away and begin to work on the writing of a fully bespoke script.

 

I liaise with the Funeral Directors at all times and if needed with any Crematorium or Burial site staff.

 

We stay in touch throughout the development process of the ceremony, whatever format this is taking and on the day I arrive at the venue at least 30-45 minutes in advance to make all the final checks with the chapel or burial site.

 

I then welcome any early arrivals to the venue and ensure they are comfortable before awaiting the cortege with the Funeral Staff and the Chapel attendant.

 

During the ceremony I am your voice when you need me to be, the Master of Ceremonies and I hope the warm and comfort of familiarity as I deliver the ceremony – I have been frequently told that “it was life you really knew them” and I take that as a tremendous complement with regards to my delivery.

 

I remain available to the family following the ceremony should they wish for as long as they need support.