Funerals and Celebrations of Life
We are all unique and end of life ceremonies and funerals should reflect that. To celebrate, honour and commemorate a life well lived
There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach to planning a ceremony, we are all different and therefore every funeral should be unique, to reflect the personality of the deceased. However you choose to mark the death of a loved one, it is part of your grieving process and it is very important. I understand how hard this time can be. Organising a funeral or memorial for a loved one is often one of the most challenging things we can do. I also firmly believe a good funeral or celebration of life ceremony can do YOU a lot of good too.
You may know exactly what you want or you may feel totally overwhelmed.
I will be there to support, guide and hold your hand as we navigate this together
Personal
and truly unique
I will support you and your family to create a personal and unique ceremony. One that truly reflects your loved one and retells their life story with compassion but also with humour and laughter.
I will spend time learning about your loved one; what their favourite song was, interests, passions, sports teams and more and work with you with compassion and empathy to create a ceremony that really captures their essence and celebrates their life.
All of the choices are yours, and I will be there to support you throughout.
Choosing a funeral celebrant is a deeply personal decision
I will provide you with choices, flexibility, and a glimmer of light on a dark day
To let you mourn but also to encourage you to see joy as you remember, pay tribute, reflect and delight in the life, stories and feelings of the person who has died.
A funeral ceremony is part of the healing process and can be, formal, informal, semi religious, non-religious, spiritual, modern, or include rituals such as a handfasting or tree planting. Rituals drawing people together are widely recognised as helping the healing process.
I am trained as a mental health first aider and am empathetic, supportive, and kind. I will hold space for you, your family, and your friends so that you can say the perfect goodbye.
How it works
Honest & transparent
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Let’s talk
When you are ready, we can arrange a time to talk, in person or over the phone. This is a time for me to get to know you and hear about the person you have lost. I won’t come with a list of questions and will try to make our meeting as informal as possible. I know how hard this is. I will be empathetic, kind and a good listener.
You may know what you want or you may feel totally overwhelmed- I will be there to support and guide you. There may be tears during our meeting there may also be laughter, but it will all be done with me holding space for you. -
If you would like me to be your celebrant- we can meet again
We will arrange a mutually agreeable meeting time and place, and start co-creating a ceremony that truly reflects your loved one.
During our discussions, I will ask certain questions, but the most important part is your memories. I want to hear about your loved one's passions, hobbies, and all those special things that made them unique.
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I will be there for you every step of the way
I will hold your hand if it helps, share in your laughter at the funny things they did, and together, we will lay the foundation of a ceremony that truly celebrates their life.
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I will then take all of your stories and weave them in to a ceremony to honour your loved one
You can choose to write your own eulogy, include any readings, poems, music that you/they loved or you can leave that to me. If you would like to include a symbolic element or a ritual I can help find something that resonates with you. I want the ceremony to be right for you, your family and friends and a truly meaningful reflection of the person who has passed, so that it makes the experience of saying goodbye, as good as it can possibly be under the circumstances. Many families like to have a video montage of photos and music, this is also something I can help you with.
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It’s the day of the funeral/Celebration of Life
I will arrive early, ready to meet all the key people and ensure the setup is perfect. I will hold space for you, your family and friends to say the perfect goodbye. I will share your loved ones story with empathy and heart. Today will be a day full of meaning and one that honours the memory of your loved one.
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Keepsakes
I will send you a copy of your ceremony as well as a ceremony certificate
Fees agreed with Funeral Directors
* additional charges for symbolic rituals may apply
* I am happy to travel anywhere in the UK. Anything over 20 miles from Whitstable will be charged at 50p per mile.
Get in touch
If reading my website has given you butterflies then get in touch! Just pop me a message to arrange a free, initial consultation via Zoom or telephone and we can figure out if I am the right celebrant for you. You can also email me directly at kate@figtreeceremonies.co.uk.
Kind words
Testimonials
