Funerals – Celebrations of Life

Creating Memories, Delivered With Love.

Reach High

“The greater damage for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it it too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo

I Have Not Failed

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison

You Only Live Once

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West

Try, Try Again

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it. – W.C. Fields

I Like Nonsense

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.” – Dr. Seuss

Be Yourself

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde

Explore, Dream, Discover

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from...

Dance Like Nobodys Watching

You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching, Love like you’ll never be hurt, Sing like there’s nobody listening, And live like it’s heaven on earth.”...

Don’t Cry Because It’s Over

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

Mind Over Matter

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” – Bernard M. Baruch

To understand grief, we need to understand the process of grieving, the fact that it is natural to weep, to fall apart, to scream, to be angry, to be inconsolable at times, because, as difficult as it may be to recognise, experiencing this, within the grieving process, is actually an important step towards healing. Then, in our own time, we can begin to heal, but only when the time is right for us, and not before. Disrupting this process can lead to feeling of being cheated and having the right to grieve taken away.

The role of the Celebrant at this time, is to support, to listen and to understand, and then to tell a story. A story of life and love. To ensure that every wish the family may have for telling this tale are fulfilled, and to give the story a voice, when grief may have taken that voice, from the very people who need to have it heard the most.

Taking all of these things together and considering time and place and loved ones, the funeral, done well, can deliver a safe place, filled with safe people and a moment for the healing to begin.

The value of participation in the funeral planning and consideration, should never be underestimated. The inclusion of family members is not only important, but common sense, in that, who knows the deceased better than family members. Ensuring the family members have the option to participate in the funeral planning process, gives them the opportunity to say yes, or in other circumstances, the freedom to say no, but also the right to change their mind with time. This is a stressful time, and patience and understanding are key. The process can begin well before death, but with the understanding, that these things are not set in stone and can be changed if needed. Discussing with a loved one, the various components of the service, including speakers, choice of music, type of coffin, even location and style of service, and then implementing their wishes, can create a feeling of great comfort.

Every life, well lived, has a course to run, a path to follow and a destiny to fulfill. As we are born, so must we die, we cannot fear death, as without death, there can be no life. The life we lead cannot be infinite, but what is left, after death, will be everlasting. The memories of a life are as real as the life itself. and the memories of a love are as real as the love itself.