The sadness I have witnessed at some non religious and even humanist funerals which were not representative of the person's life made me train to became a life rite celebrant - ensuring even through sadness, life eternal is celebrated.
Standing at the heart of a farewell to a life is both a responsibility and a privilege.
A traditional and non-traditional funeral does not have to follow the familiar scripts and rituals. Instead I listen deeply to the life that was lived, to the values that shaped it, and to the people who remain.
It's an act of trust when a family opens their stories and their grief to you, asking you to help write them into something meaningful, honest and true.
Every element - music, words, silence and setting becomes intentional.
Celebrating Life
It's a chance to honour individuality, to celebrate creativity, and to acknowledge the love and loss felt by family and friends.
I stand beside people as they navigate some of their hardest hours, helping them find words when words feel impossible.
You can hold space for laughter and tears, for memory and meaning. It allows us to celebrate not only how someone lived, but how they wished to be remembered.
And to be invited into the raw beauty of a real, human goodbye is a privilege beyond measure.