Funerals

Yes, you can and I suggest it is a wise thing to do. When someone you love is close to dying, appointing an experienced funeral celebrant can alleviate stress and worry.  

It will give you and your family the freedom and space to focus your time and energy on your loved one. The celebrant can work quietly in the background to set up all the required processes and procedures for the upcoming funeral or memorial allowing you to be with and support your loved one, family and friends.

A funeral service should last between 30 to 45 minutes. This is sufficient time for the service to be conducted in a thoughtful way that is not rushed or confusing.  It allows people in attendance a good amount of time to reflect on the life and achievements of the deceased but not so long that it becomes emotionally draining or people struggle to maintain attention to the service.

It is common practice to ‘open-the-floor’ near the conclusion of the funeral service for anyone that wishes to speak, share a memory or a reading in honour of the deceased. Some people are intimidated by being included in the formal part of the service but feel more comfortable speaking in a less formal manner near the end of the service.

Not at all. It does need to be respectful and heartfelt as a tribute to the deceased. Mourners find significant comfort in a ‘good’ funeral as it confirms the reality that someone they love has died and it commences the process of mourning which is a critical step in acceptance of that death.

There are no legal requirements in a funeral ceremony. You can include whatever you wish into the ceremony for your loved one, as long as it is respectful and appropriate for a funeral.  There are some key elements that help to make the service flow smoothly and Bronwen can ensure those are included in the order of service in consultation with the family.

As your selected funeral celebrant Bronwen will take the time to meet with the family and learn the life story of the deceased including their values, achievements, personality and wishes. Bronwen then writes a personalised ceremony that captures the life of the deceased, celebrating their achievements and honouring their life story in an authentic, meaningful and respectful way. The eulogy is usually written by a close family member or friend, someone with an intimate knowledge of the deceased, however Bronwen is skilled at writing eulogies with the family providing input and approval of the eulogy prior to the service.

As your chosen funeral celebrant, Bronwen provides a critical service in guiding and supporting a grieving family. The funeral celebrant is the conduit between the family, the funeral home and the venue for the service (if away from the funeral home chapel) and represents the family to ensure every element and factor of the funeral service is exactly how the family and their loved one want it to be.

A funeral celebrant writes the service with input from family and friends and introduces each speaker providing context and ensuring a smooth flow to the service. 

Every family is unique and Bronwen tailors her services to meet their specific needs.  Bronwen’s empathy and understanding enable her to connect quickly with families and support and guide them through the entire process.