Funerals
Ashes - Memorials - Living Funerals
Every ceremony I create is hand-written and bespoke.
I will work closely with you to help create a respectful and meaningful ceremony to honour your loved one and ensure that your ceremony reflects your wishes with warmth and dignity.
I am a fully-trained accredited Professional Celebrant with The Celebrant Circle, based in Sussex. I work Nationally and Internationally, as well as throughout the Southeast, including London.
I conduct ceremonies at Graveside, Creamatoria, Woodland Burial Sites, and at Sea, as well as private estates and other meaningful locations of your choosing.
If you have any questions or, would like to talk further, please don’t hesitate to get in touch - I will be happy to help, and there is no obligation.
In the meantime, please accept my sincere condolences for your loss.
Cremation
Following an initial meeting at a location of your choice, I will liaise closely with you and your Funeral Director to create a memorable memorial. You will always have final approval of the ceremony.
On the day, I will greet you and the guest of honour outside of the crematorium, guide you and lead you through the ceremony and accompany you to the flower terrace for those final reflections.
Graveside
After the funeral service, I will accompany you to the grave side. Whilst the guest of honour is laid to rest by the pallbearers, I will say a few words and invite you to place flowers or earth into the grave. I will then step aside to give you some private time with your own memories, thoughts and the guest of honour.
Woodland Burial
Most woodland burial sites have a small building where ceremonies can be held or, I can lead the ceremony at the burial site.
Burial at sea
You may choose to have the funeral service on a boat with a small number of family and friends, or on land before the committal. I will be happy to lead the service on either at Newhaven in East Sussex, The Needles Spoil Ground near the Isle of Wight or Tynemouth in Tyne and Wear as these are the only designated locations around the English coast where burials at sea can take place. There are two designated areas in Scotland off John O’Groats and Oban West Coast.
Living Funerals
Living funerals, sometimes called a celebration of life service, are becoming an increasingly popular way to honour someone’s life while they are still alive.
In many ways, a living funeral is like a traditional funeral, but the main difference is that the person being celebrated is still alive, and often present at their own funeral.
Like a traditional funeral, living funerals can be personalised to reflect the guest of honour it is being held for. Guests often bring mementos such as photographs or letters, to help prompt the sharing of memories about the guest of honour.
Living funerals can be held almost anywhere. You may opt for a tranquil space in nature or choose somewhere full of good memories such as your family home or a favourite pub. Whilst black and muted colours are often considered appropriate for traditional funerals, there is no accepted dress code for a living funeral.
I know that everyone deals with death differently, so whether you are planning ahead for yourself or creating a fitting tribute for a loved one, it would be my utmost privilege and pleasure to help and support you at any time
Interment of Ashes
An interment of ashes ceremony can provide families and friends of the guest of honour with an opportunity to say final goodbyes and condolences and offer a permanent resting location to visit in the future.
Like a traditional funeral, an interment of ashes ceremony can be personalised to reflect the guest of honour it is being held for. You may choose a formal service alongside family members and friends or an intimate or informal interment ceremony. It doesn’t take place at the same time as the funeral, so you may choose a time either close to the funeral or even months and years later on a memorable date.
You may choose to inter ashes in a churchyard, cemetery, woodland, forest, columbarium (an above-ground physical structure, such as a wall, room or building where cremation urns are kept) or in a sentimental location on private land, including your garden.
The interment of ashes is where cremation remains are placed in a permanent resting place as opposed to the scattering of ashes.
Scattering of Ashes
You may choose to scatter the ashes of your loved one in a place with a personal connection, such as a park, garden of remembrance, over the sea, a sports ground or private land, including your garden.
Whilst there is no law against the scattering of ashes, you do need to get the permission of any private landowner before doing so. If choosing your garden, you will need to notify the new owner of the ashes or get an exhumation order if you would like to relocate them, if you move home.
Most airlines will allow you to travel with ashes on a plane as long as you have the death and the cremation certificate.
You will also need the Funeral Director declaration stating that the guest of honour has been cremated and that the urn/container only holds their ashes and carry the ashes as hand luggage using a non-metallic urn/container so that the ashes can be x-rayed. Make sure the urn/container is properly sealed.
You may choose to commemorate the location where you have scattered your loved one’s ashes with a tree or rosebush, but the acidity in ashes may damage the surrounding soil, making it more difficult for plants to grow. By adding a special compost mix to the ground will help to neutralise the ashes.
It is also now possible to scatter your loved one’s ashes from the sky with the use of specially adapted drones.
You may choose to hold a small ceremony, which can offer a special moment to say some words for your loved one or to say a short prayer as you lay your loved one to rest. You may want to share personal stories, read a poem or lyrics from a favourite song. Whatever you choose to say, it would be my utmost privilege and pleasure to help and support you at any time.
I would love to hear from you
Whether you are looking for a celebrant for a funeral, wedding, naming ceremony or other occasion, it would be my utmost pleasure to help and support you. Please do get in touch to discuss your needs, and there is no obligation.
Best wishes
Paul Goddard and Stevie
T: 07984 160893
