Capturing a person’s essence from begining to end.
A story to be told.
The euology is a soul sketch. This important piece of the funeral service is often just an outline of events, dates and information in a person’s life. However, the magic is in the way it is told. The hallmark of a Celebrant’s work is to weave the individual’s life story and to deliver it effectively –no matter how simple or complex, long or short.
Areas of Specialization
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End of Physical Life
We can talk about your life and the transitional doorway that you are about to go through. We can arrange the plan for your departing words, story, wishes, legacy. Through a collaborative process, we can craft your ceremony: location, eulogy, readings, music, media, rituals, aesthetics and keepsakes that will be entirely your creation. You, with my aid, can design a funeral, graveside committal, memorial and/or ash scattering. Perhaps a living funeral is your style in that you desire to have your “funeral” before you pass on, in order to express in person –good bye, peace out, cheerio, until later…a true celebration of life! I will gently guide you and go at your pace. Most often clients in this mindset are terminally ill and sometimes have declared a “decision to die”. I welcome working with your end-of-life doula, if one is present. This farewell planning can be a fulfilling and anxiety-reducing process as part of your preparation for death transition offering closure on many levels.
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Pregnancy & Infant Loss
I offer a compassionate companioning from the first moment that you discover a need to create meaningful action through ritual or ceremony within the hours, days or months of the loss of your baby due to miscarriage or perinatal death. My role is to help you and your family design a service, whether publicly or privately, to honor, grieve and celebrate the beloved short life gone too soon. Please note, any aged child’s death is one in which I can be there for you. Together, we can discover the appropriate funereal expression needed. With as little or as much input and guidance from me, I can conduct and hold the sacred space for your baby’s very special service. Perhaps significant time has passed since the loss of your baby and you are now ready. No time is too short or too long in your path of coping with such a tender loss.
The ceremony creating process.
Meeting with you
After our initial phone conversation to check for my availability and to get basic information from you such as location and services needed, I can quote you an estimated fee. The next step is to set a time for me to visit you and your family in the comfort of your home or setting that you prefer. If desired, a phone call or virtual meeting can be arranged alternatively. I will gather information and stories about your loved one from everyone present that wants to contribute. The Agreement is to be reviewed and signed at the meeting, if securing my service. Note: If the date for the service is months out, a deposit may be needed to hold the date. There is no obligation to commit that day and the signed Agreement may be sent to me after the meeting. This family meeting generally takes approximately 60-90 minutes.
Gathering information
The family meeting will evoke many emotions. It is generally the first gathering after the death to share stories of your loved one. I understand these dynamics and aim to guide the time accordingly in order to gather the information that I need to craft a highly-personalized ceremony. I am your loved one’s story teller, so I will, respectfully, have questions to ask! Additionally, please feel free to show me anything that was important to the decedent –this will aid in my development of his or her character. This is the time to instruct on likes and dislikes for a service, elements and the overall vision or vibe desired.
Creating the ceremony
The next step happens in my home office where I integrate all of the information, elements and moving parts into a polished draft to be presented to you and your family. If desired, I can read you excerpts to get the feel over a phone call. Otherwise, I may need to call you to double check name pronunciations and other critical information. Then, I email the entire ceremony to you for your review. Adjustments will be made until you are completely satisfied. Often this process must be done efficiently and swiftly due to the time-senstive nature.
Finalizing with
your approval
My aim is to discover and honor the uniqueness in each life that comes to my care. However, your approval is my goal. You will know what I am going to say and how the ceremony will flow. You will be able to proof as many times as we need to to get it perfect. Together, we can achieve a beautiful, meaningful ceremony.