Celebrant Funerals

Celebrant funerals are essentially about having exactly the kind of service to honour the passing of (usually) a member of the family, or someone to whom you have been close.

The celebrant's task is to ensure that this honouring the person is done in a way that is proper to the person, and to their family and friends.

The aim is to be able to provide a dignified and respectful occasion, which honours the memory the person who has passed on.

Being dignified and respectful does not mean that there should not be humour in the service . . . some of the best eulogies and tributes always contain elements of humour, which allows those present to relax, enjoy what is going on, and to truly celebrate the life which is now over.

There are a number of things that need to be asked . . . ideally in a non-intrusive way, because the answers to these questions what the service will be like.

The first question is the kind of service. Will it be a humanist service, a religious service, or somewhere in between? Most people tend to choose the "somewhere in between."

These are personal choices, and the things that need to be taken into account when answering them are the worldview of the person who has passed on, and of course the worldviews of by the immediate family. The answers to these questions tell me things that I may say, and things that I may not say, and they help avoid offending people.

As well, for those who choose either a religious ceremony, or and "in-between" service that is at the religious end of the spectrum, there can be religious readings, prayers, or whatever the family wants . . . it will be their choice. In a celebrant service, nothing is compulsory. I recall one service that consisted of a series of songs, each of which was specially selected by a family member as a tribute to the deceased.

Wedding
Renewal of Vows
Naming Ceremonies