Funeral celebrant's role

The role of a Funeral Celebrant is to meet the family of the deceased to help them plan, organise and deliver a funeral or memorial service for their loved one. Together the funeral celebrant will help the family to write a highly personal, professional and dignified service that family, friends and loved ones will be proud of and which is representative of the unique character and life of the individual. The funeral celebrant officiates at the service but family and friends are encouraged to take an active role in both writing and presenting the eulogy, choosing and or delivering readings, adding or taking part in special rituals during the service if desired. Services may have religious elements if preferred or be completely non-religious. All generations of a family are encouraged to be involved in preparing and delivering a funeral service with the funeral celebrant acting to assist at all times.

Types of services include cremation services, burial services, memorial services and scattering of ashes.

Funeral locations

The funeral location and venue is a matter for the family to decide together with the nominated funeral organiser. Most funerals tend to take place at a Funeral home of the families choosing. Burials take place at  cemeteries. Services can also take place at chapels, parks, family homes or other special locations.

Providing information about your loved one

Understandably, this can often be a difficult task for loved ones. The funeral celebrant will visit the a family to find out more information about the deceased. The celebrant will help you to personalise and design a fitting eulogy and ceremony using information about them such as their birthplace, school life; family and work life; accomplishments; personality traits; interests; anecdotes and special memories from family and friends and much more.

Communication when you most need it

As well as being able to communicate in person when your celebrant visits, additional assistance and the utmost care is given to the family via phone and email to plan, develop and finalise the ceremony details.

Funeral ceremony order

The order of ceremony may be altered to suit your needs, but usually the service involves the following: music as the mourners enter the chapel; the introduction and welcome; a reading; the eulogy; tributes from family and friends; the reflection; a second reading and or The Lord's Prayer; the committal and lastly, music on the mourner's departure.