A Civil Funeral

Ann's role as an Independent Celebrant offers you the opportunity to create a service that reflects the loss you are experiencing.  You can then mourn the loss and celebrate the life of someone close to you, whether a member of your family or friend.  In working closely with you and also any family and friends involved in the arrangements, you can build on memories, anecdotes and recollections to ensure the memory of your loved one continues. 

There will be a lot for you to be thinking about at this difficult time and you may find the below aide memoire helpful:

  • Facts about the person who has died, date and place of birth, family tree, early life information, what your favourite memories are 
  • Any interesting stories that come to mind
  • Favourite or appropriate music for the funeral, to be played when you arrive and leave or to reflect on during the service
  • Favourite poems or sayings, or any particular passages to read
  • Did the person who has died or you have a favourite hymn, or would you or they want some religious content, for example The Lord's Prayer?
  • Do you know all the family connections - if not, do you know who to ask?
  • Think about their career, jobs, hobbies, special talents
  • Involve children if possible - they have such a special way of demonstrating lightness and love

What happens next...

Ann will make contact with you, by prior appointment, to talk to you in person at a venue convenient to you, or over the phone, FaceTime, Teams or Zoom, so that you can discuss the life of the person who has died and the type of funeral they would want to have.  During these discussions, you and Ann will plan the actual funeral ceremony itself and from the information you provide, Ann will provide a draft script for you to approve before finalising it for the service itself.  It is worth remembering that Ann is your voice so it is important that the service itself reflects what you want to say.  If you have your own tribute you want to deliver, that's fine too or Ann can deliver it on your behalf.  By working in conjunction with your Funeral Director and members of staff at the Crematorium or the burial ground, Ann will be there to greet you, conduct the ceremony and ensure the service runs exactly as you would wish. 

If you are stuck for poems or readings, don't worry as Ann has a compilation you can go through to find the right ones for you.

Where Ann officiates:

  • Crematoria in the region
  • Cemetery chapels followed by burials
  • Graveside or Woodland Burial only services
  • Interment or the Scattering of Ashes