Having been to several ceremonies where I came away distressed and embarrassed at how my loved one was portrayed, I felt that I could offer a service to bereaved families that was a true story and celebration of their loved one's life and achievements.
I don't believe that every service needs to be absolute doom and gloom and that with respect, dignity, warmth and sensitivity and maybe a touch of humour, I can provide a highly personal and memorable service to honour the memory and life of the person.
You are welcome to call when you are ready to plan a service for your loved one. I will come to you or we can meet online to make these plans.
I work independently of any Funeral Directors but I do also work directly with many of the companies in the Melbourne area. Services can now be done in the park, by the river, in a Directors Chapel, or at any venue of your choosing.
The modern service does not need to be as solemn as in the past. We can design a respectful service that is only limited by your imagination. Many people ask for a “Celebration” but I am also aware that this is not the case for all services.
Working closely with you and your family, I can produce a ceremony that will help in your grieving process and honour the memories you have. I am very keen to offer you a personal story and am happy to talk to you all at length to craft this story.
Providing an authentic service with stories, music, photos and quotes about your loved one, while showing love and compassion, is what I absolutely strive for.
I will discuss with you a complete version of the service before the day so you can have input into the ceremony format while checking the accuracy of all details.
Offering support and advice to family and friends that may want to speak at the ceremony is an important part of making sure everyone is okay and comfortable on the day.
I want you to leave the ceremony I have conducted with not only tears of sadness, but also a feeling of joy that you will have so many great memories and stories to remember for ever.
I am happy to work with you to devise any rituals eg: candle lighting, balloon release, bubble blowing, guard of honour, etc. and to help you if you would like to place items within the casket, or create a "Memorial Table" of items for the mourners to look at while at the service.
I am also able to offer a service to those people that may want to discuss their personal ceremony in the context of pre-planning before the actual time of death. This can be discussed at an individual level should this be what a person wants to do.
I have trained with Sally Cant and Dudley Raine at The Celebrants Training College in Melbourne, and I am always updating my knowledge on being a Celebrant and on the funeral industry as a whole.
I am available to discuss other ceremonies or celebratory occasions that life presents to us but I am not qualified to perform weddings.