What does a funeral celebrant do?

Описание: When people ask me what a funeral celebrant does, I usually say that it is an alternative to having a priest leading a funeral service according to the procedures of a church or other religious organisation. There is no set format to a service led by a celebrant. Each part of the service is intended to fulfil the wishes of the family and to be a very personal remembrance of the life of their loved one.

This could include some religious elements, such as hymns and prayers, if that is what the family wants, or it could be completely non-religious.

What will the celebrant's role be in arranging the funeral? Usually, a family will go to a funeral director first and meet the funeral arranger. If the family has decided that they want me to lead the service, they let the funeral arranger know. Otherwise, if they decide to have a celebrant but do not have a specific celebrant in mind, the funeral arranger will choose one who they feel is best suited to the family.

If I have been asked to lead the service, I will contact you as soon as possible and arrange to visit. During this visit, we will talk about what you would like in the service, including choices of music, and whether anyone else wants to speak at the funeral. None of this has to be set in stone on the day we meet, but by the end of my visit you will have a much clearer idea of how you would like the service to be.

During my visit, we will also talk about the life of your loved one. In the days after our meeting, I will write a personal tribute and a service and send you what I have written, so that you can change anything you like, and make sure you are completely happy with it. I will keep the funeral arranger informed. Then I will lead the service on the day.

The service will be a reflection of the life, personality, achievements and values of the special person we are remembering. It is such a privilege to help a family through this difficult time, to put together a service and to perform that service for that person, so that their family and friends feel that their loved one has been appropriately honoured and remembered just the way they were.