Creating the Ceremony
Planning the funeral or memorial service for a loved one can feel overwhelming. Even when we believe we are prepared, the reality of losing someone important to us can come as a shock and put tremendous strain on many aspects of our lives. As your Celebrant, I am there to walk beside you to design a unique and personalized Celebration of Life event that will honour your family member in a way that reflects their personality and lifestyle and ultimately, help you begin your grief journey in a meaningful way.
Where To Begin
The process of creating the ceremony begins with us meeting either in the comfort of your home or via a phone or video conferencing call. Here together we will discuss your overall vision for your service. It is important to use this time so that we may get to know who your loved one was and what your unique family’s needs are. The goal is to understand what stories and emotions you want to have present at the event and during the service.
Together we will also select poems, readings, music, video tributes, prayers and/or other ceremonies to ensure that your loved one’s life will be honoured in a way that reflects the life they have lived. I am able to make a wide variety of suggestions on the types of components you could include, but ultimately you have full and final approval of your ceremony. Whether your preference is to include religious or spiritual aspects or none at all, we will help put together a service that will truly be unique to your loved one and your family’s needs.
Designing the Ceremony
With information from the family meeting, I will then spend several hours writing, researching and weaving your memories into a meaningful, one-of-a-kind service. If desired, I can also compose a eulogy that will reflect who your loved one was and what they meant to others, not simply the things they accomplished during their life.
Conducting The Ceremony
As the officiant, my responsibilities include ensuring the various elements of the service are delivered according to your family's wishes. Of course I will always welcome and encourage participation from loved ones and am happy to coordinate the contributions of those who are interested. However, if there is no one who desires to speak, I can present the personal reflections that represent your memories and conduct the entire ceremony on their own.
Ultimately, my aim is to help ease the pain of your loss by helping lift the burden of putting together the funeral or Celebration of Life service. No matter your needs, we will work together to co-create your final goodbye and make it a truly fitting tribute.
““Sara, you continued to give us options throughout the meeting which ensured that we were not going to receive a “standard” service. We were impressed even more when you delivered the eulogy. You have a true gift with your public speaking skills.””