​
The choices we have to celebrate the life of our family and friends is ever-changing. Families are fully engaged with the way a celebration of life ceremony is conducted.
There are several choices in the way you can celebrate your loved ones life.
Probably the most common way outside of religion is with a celebrant.
Celebrants work in conjunction with funeral directors and are carefully selected by the funeral director to suit the needs of each individual family.
However in some cases the family might prefer to choose their own celebrant, in which case the funeral directors are more than happy to liaise with your chosen celebrant.
The role of the celebrant is to meet with the family at a time and place convenient to the family to discuss the celebration of life ceremony.
​
I am constantly moved by the outpouring of grief I share with the families of beautiful loved ones who are lost.
It is very important for me to sit with a bereaved family and gain an understanding of someone’s life because it is then that we can start to put together a truly unique ceremony.
Sometimes it is very hard to imagine the words death, funeral and grief associated with celebration, but as the conversation flows and we talk about happy times, achievements, family gatherings, inspirational moments, quirky habits and much, much more it soon becomes very clear to the family that a loved one’s life is worthy of celebration. Families then concentrate on making sure every element of their loved ones treasured life is celebrated.
Part of the discussion will include:
-
Music
-
Readings
-
Additional Ceremonies
-
Tributes
-
DVD Reflections
-
Any other elements that is important for the family to include.
I will also be able to give some suggestions to some additional touches that reflect the personality or the lifestyle of the deceased person.
The celebrant then establishes the
-
Order of Service
-
Writes the ceremony
-
Liaises with the funeral director giving them enough time if it is desired to have booklets printed and the music ready for the ceremony.
All of this happens within 48 to 72 hrs after a death.
​
Several types of ceremonies can be considered for family and friends to come together to say goodbye.
​
-
Funeral This is usually a formal ceremony at a funeral home, a chapel or a church and is sometimes followed by a graveside burial known as a dual service. If a cremation is to follow the funeral service it is normally done privately and the funeral concludes at the close of the service.
​
-
Graveside A graveside burial can be the sole venue for a funeral service and can still include music, readings, eulogies, prayer and additional ceremonies.
​
-
Interment A ceremony for a graveside interment can have all the features of a traditional service including readings music, readings, eulogies, prayer and additional ceremonies.
​
-
Memorial A memorial service is becoming more and more popular as a way of family and friends celebrating the life of a loved one.​ It can be held at any time after a cremation or burial, at a church, a garden, a home, a beach, a mountain top or at any location of that might be of significance.
​
-
Scattering Ashes A scattering of ashes ceremony is often based on your loved ones wishes, which often includes a favourite place or has significance to a favourite interest. This ceremony can be performed at any time.