A Loving 'Farewell'
I know that saying 'Farewell' is not easy. I understand the importance of creating a ceremony that truly reflects the life and personality of your loved one. I will meet you and work closely with you, to agree a personalised and meaningful tribute, that celebrates a life, well-lived.
I will dedicate my time in supporting you and your family, in producing a dignified and personal funeral service for your loved one. My commitment is to honour their memory with heartfelt care and sensitivity during this difficult time. My services are inclusive, respecting your beliefs, whether religious or secular.
Please do not worry, I am here to help. From our initial contact and your responses to the 'Discovery' questions I will send you, I will respond to your needs, listen carefully and support you with empathy and compassion. I will help relieve the worry of conducting the service, so that you and your family, can take comfort and have a special memory when we say 'Farewell'.
Is a Funeral a Celebration of Life?
Yes, it can be. Whilst there is still a place for a traditional funeral and a separate Celebration of Life, increasingly, families wish to say 'Farewell' at the funeral, in a less sombre way, than a traditional funeral may imply. If your loved one had special requests or a plan firmly in place, I can deliver that service for you. Equally, together we can create a bespoke and fitting 'Farewell' that reflects the family's wishes, which makes your service unique.
A funeral serves as a formal ceremony to commemorate the life of the person who has passed and allows the family and friends, a final opportunity to pay their respects before a burial service or cremation. Funerals tend to follow established rituals and have been traditionally religious in nature.
Increasingly, families are choosing secular services, which may include, for example, favourite music, poetry, reflection through photographs and a range of other ways to celebrate your loved one. Both traditional and modern can be finely mixed together. I am here to help you create your blended service and loving tribute.
Memorial Services
A memorial service is a gathering held to honour and remember your loved one, usually happening after the funeral. It can be formal or informal, religious or secular, and focuses on celebrating their life. It often provides an opportunity for friends and family to come together and support each other, during a sad time.
The service can happen anywhere (as long as we are not trespassing or breaching any land usage regulations), and many families choose a meaningful place, or even their garden, to hold the service. The occasion is highly personalised and less formal than a funeral. It is a celebration of your loved one's life.
Your family, friends and guests are invited to contribute through sharing stories, experiences, photographs, readings, poetry and music. You may wish to dedicate a bench, or plant a tree in honour of your loved one. There is a lot of flexibility, and I will create a heartfelt tribute and host the service with sensitivity and compassion.
Scattering of Ashes
Ashes scattering is a ceremony where your loved one is 'rested' in a location of their, or your family's choice. This is often a place of personal significance. My family chose to scatter our parents in the place where our Dad asked our Mum to marry him. This place also has a deep family importance, as we spent many happy times there when growing-up. They now 'rest' together under their special willow tree, which we visit in loving family union and remembrance.
This deeply personal act can be intimate or a larger event and serves to say 'Farewell' and create a lasting connection to a cherished place.
