It’s not every day you need one. But when someone passes away, most people are at a loss for words and how to organise a funeral. The loss can be traumatic and devastating. Your mind does not think straight or coherently when a death occurs. A good Funeral Celebrant can and will lighten your burden and help you through this difficult time.
The Funeral Director will do the ‘physical things’. He or she will take the person that has passed away in to their care. Show you various coffins, order flowers, provide the hearse, a limousine, Pallbearers and so on and so forth. However, they won’t help you with the organisation of the service and all that that entails. That is the job of a Funeral Celebrant.
Did you know if you run over your time limit in a Crematorium, you will be fined. Crematoria are busy places (literally one service after another all day, five days a week). They will not think twice about issuing a fine.
To be fair to them, running-over your allotted time does hold-up or delay the next family waiting to enter the chapel. A few minutes late finishing can escalate to be an hour late towards the end of the day for families. Put yourself in that position. It can be heart-wrenching.
Do you know how long your allocated time is? 30-minutes in total from the moment you walk into the chapel to the moment the last person leaves. 30-minutes.
A Funeral Celebrant is a person who is trained to create and conduct personalised and meaningful funeral services. 
It could be it at a Crematorium, a burial (cemetery or Natural Burial Ground), scattering of ashes or an Interment of Ashes.
They are a valuable addition to a funeral planning team (the Funeral Director or Arranger). They help to create a service that reflects the personality, beliefs, and values of the person that has passed away.
They will look after the timings, the Order of Service, the music, the poems, the readings, and the organisation the Funeral Director cannot do. He or she is your personal Organiser, secretary, planner, helper, confidante, writer, MC as well as timekeeper.
Here are some reasons why having a good Funeral Celebrant is important:
- Personalisation: A good Funeral Celebrant will work with the family to create a service that is personalised and meaningful. They will take the time to get to know the deceased and their family, and will incorporate their personality, beliefs, and values into the service.
- Guidance: A good Funeral Celebrant will have experience and knowledge of funeral traditions and rituals. They can guide the family through the funeral planning process and help them to make informed decisions. Offering suggestions, ideas and ways to make the service more intimate, sensitive and very special.
- Communication: A good Funeral Celebrant will have excellent communication skills. They will listen to the family's needs and wishes and will communicate clearly and effectively with them throughout the process. They will liaise with the Funeral Director, the Crematorium and anyone else needed.
- Creativity: A good Funeral Celebrant will be creative and innovative in their approach to creating a service. They will be able to suggest unique ways to honour the deceased and make the service memorable.
- Emotional Support: A good Funeral Celebrant will provide emotional support to the family during a difficult time. They will be compassionate and understanding as well as help the family navigate the grieving process.
- Professionalism: A good Funeral Celebrant will be professional in their conduct, appearance, and communication. They will be reliable and responsible making ensure the service runs smoothly and according to plan.
In conclusion, having a good Funeral Celebrant is important as they can help to create a personalised, meaningful, and memorable service. A service that reflects the personality, beliefs, and values of the deceased.
They can provide guidance, communication, creativity, emotional support, and professionalism to the family during a difficult time. A good Funeral Celebrant can make a significant difference in the funeral planning process and can help to create a service that honours and respects the life of the deceased in a meaningful way.
My first service was in 2014. I have been helping families since then. I have been fortunate to have been asked back many, many times to conduct services for other family members that have passed away. This is extremely humbling and a great honour to help entire families in this way and have got to know.
As I say to every family I look after, I am here for you, not the other way round.