Funeral and Memorial Ceremonies Bunbury Busselton Dunsborough Ferguson Valley
Funeral Ceremonies
We all respond in different ways when we experience the death of someone we love and each one of us may have different beliefs and needs in terms of the ways in which we honour the deceased and manage our grief.
Nothing can take away the shock of death, but a beautifully constructed and presented ceremony can ease the pain and offers the opportunity not only to express your grief but also to honour and celebrate your loved one’s life. I ardently believe that the ceremony is the most important part of the funeral process. In my many years spent writing and presenting funeral ceremonies I have come firmly to the conclusion that a worthy life should not and cannot not be dismissed by a cut and paste ceremony prepared in a few minutes.
Unlike a religious ceremony, a civil ceremony has few rules and can be written with appropriate wording based on the life and the beliefs of both the deceased and the bereaved, perhaps with the emphasis on celebrating the life rather than focusing on the death. A well written and delivered eulogy, appropriate readings, a time for reflection, appropriate music and recalled stories and memories are powerful tools that can open the way towards healing and acceptance.
I will be happy to include religious content if that is your wish. Many people, while having no special church affiliation, take comfort from some religious content in the ceremony. Others feel that a religious component will comfort other family members.
Nothing can take away the shock of death, but a beautifully constructed and presented ceremony can ease the pain and offers the opportunity not only to express your grief but also to honour and celebrate your loved one’s life. I ardently believe that the ceremony is the most important part of the funeral process. In my many years spent writing and presenting funeral ceremonies I have come firmly to the conclusion that a worthy life should not and cannot not be dismissed by a cut and paste ceremony prepared in a few minutes.
Unlike a religious ceremony, a civil ceremony has few rules and can be written with appropriate wording based on the life and the beliefs of both the deceased and the bereaved, perhaps with the emphasis on celebrating the life rather than focusing on the death. A well written and delivered eulogy, appropriate readings, a time for reflection, appropriate music and recalled stories and memories are powerful tools that can open the way towards healing and acceptance.
I will be happy to include religious content if that is your wish. Many people, while having no special church affiliation, take comfort from some religious content in the ceremony. Others feel that a religious component will comfort other family members.
You may or may not have a vision of what you want your ceremony to contain and there may be family members or friends who want to contribute. Perhaps the deceased has asked for certain things to be included or there may be a family tradition to respect.
A few suggestions and ideas can be found here.
A few suggestions and ideas can be found here.
Memorial Ceremonies
A memorial service is different to a Funeral in so much as it is held without the body of the deceased being present. Perhaps the body has been cremated or buried elsewhere and you were unable to be there because of distance or unable or unwilling to attend for whatever reason, a person may have donated their body to science, could have been lost at sea or is a missing person.
The service could be held as an additional ceremony or could be held a short time later or on the anniversary of the funeral or a significant day a number of years later.
Memorial services may be held in any setting, a private garden, a favourite park, a beach, a golf club, in a forest, a funeral chapel, reception centre or anywhere that may have special memories or meaning.
Memorial services can be a powerful healing tool and can be planned and crafted over a long period of time with input from many family members and friends.
The service could be held as an additional ceremony or could be held a short time later or on the anniversary of the funeral or a significant day a number of years later.
Memorial services may be held in any setting, a private garden, a favourite park, a beach, a golf club, in a forest, a funeral chapel, reception centre or anywhere that may have special memories or meaning.
Memorial services can be a powerful healing tool and can be planned and crafted over a long period of time with input from many family members and friends.
I am an industry trained, very experienced Funeral Celebrant of long standing and will work together with you and your Funeral Director to create and present a service that will not only mourn a death but will also pay tribute to the life and the spirit of the deceased.
My fee can be included in the cost of your ceremony and paid to your Funeral Director.
We can’t know why some things happen….but we can know that love and beautiful memories outlast the pain of grief. And we can know that there’s a place inside the heart where love lives always….and where nothing beautiful can ever be forgotten.
Anon
Anon
