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Arranging a funeral or memorial service can be a very challenging  experience for those recently bereaved. There’s so much to think about and plan at the same time as having to come to terms with the reality of your loss. That’s why it’s important for you to have all the help and support you can get from an experienced professional whom you feel comfortable working with.

Having left my own father-in-law’s funeral at a crematorium some years ago, I found myself wondering if I’d been to the right service. I didn’t recognise the person they were talking about. I now know first hand how different a good celebrant-led service can be. I firmly believe that the most beautiful and moving ceremonies are achieved by the celebrant listening very carefully to those planning the funeral and allowing them to have ultimate control over what is said and done.

Louise Goode – A Celebrant Plus

Imagine this funeral, as the last few rays of the sun slip away and the flames of a hundred candles flicker and dance and you say your goodbye’s to the sound of evening birdsong as dusk falls.

Or, just close friends and family members gathered in the garden that he loved and tended since he was a lad. The scent of his beloved sweet peas filling the air on a balmy Sunday afternoon before the local brass band plays Bring Him Home…

I am a celebrant-plus – which means I am part of an amazing movement to de-industrialise funerals and encourage a return to a world where we are all empowered to choose what’s right for “US” and our loved ones when they die.

As a celebrant my main focus is on the funeral ceremony. But as a celebrant-plus I am also trained to advise and guide you at an earlier stage of this journey.

In the Western world, when somebody dies, the expectation is that a funeral director will arrive very promptly to remove the body. This haste is not really necessary, or in fact very helpful in accepting what has happened or in processing grief. When you have shared your life with someone, it can be deeply traumatic to be rushed into saying goodbye; to offer the final bit of care to them; or be able to see them without an appointment. As a celebrant-plus I can enable you to have that time and help you decide “when”, and more importantly “if” it’s appropriate for you to engage the full services of a funeral director. I can also recommend a genuinely caring and flexible local funeral director.

I can offer advice on end of life care too. Such as arranging an end-of-life Doula who can help in whatever way suits the needs of the dying and their families – they can assist in the process of dying and the period just after – be it emotional support, help with household chores, doing the shopping or just being someone to hook up with for a cuppa and chat and share your fears and feelings with. A Doula is on hand to answer any questions about the process of dying. They can also support families who may wish to keep their loved one at home (just long enough to be ready to say goodbye or even until the funeral).

I will spend as much time as you need discussing ALL the options. There is so much more available to you than the church, other place of worship or crematorium. You might choose a woodland, a hotel, a village hall, or even your back garden! I can advise on coffins and shrouds, types of transport and even caterers and florists and will work with you to create, write and deliver a genuinely personal ceremony that really reflects your feelings and everything that was wonderful about the person you loved and leave you feeling like you really paid tribute to their life and how valued they were in the best possible way.

I am on hand every step of the way to support and facilitate, co-ordinating the very best of local professionals and suppliers, whilst making sure you feel as involved and in control as you want to be – and always working to get the very best value for your available budget.

Of course, I’m also happy to work with your chosen funeral director for a traditional crematorium service. Just contact me directly to confirm I’m free.

How much do I charge? Prices start at £320.00 or £220.00 when booking through my regular funeral directors.

Advice, a listening ear, expression and creativity, humour, organisation, professionalism, kindness, quality, impartiality, great value, care, style, beauty, freedom, CHOICE!

Services Included

Here’s a breakdown of the services included in your booking and a step-by-step guide to how the process works:

• Initial phone call within 24 hours of enquiry or booking.
• Helpful information by email to help you gather your thoughts prior to my visit.
• A planning meeting at the venue of your choosing (average duration 2 hours). Funerals can also be planned via email or telephone or video call if preferred.
• Advice on all aspects of planning a funeral and wake.
• A draft copy of the script for approval in advance and a beautiful commemorative bound copy after the funeral.
• Content for the order of service within 12 hours of the meeting to be sent to the funeral director.
• All music arranged at venue or graveside
• A courtesy call the night before to run through the final arrangements.
• A copy of the script sent to the funeral director to ensure the service can still be delivered should any unforeseen circumstances arise.
• I arrive well in advance and remain after the service to say goodbye to you and see everyone out.

Charges and other Services

Service of up to 60 minutes with 50 mile radius of B74 costs £320.00. Extra time £50.00 per hour. Mileage over 50 miles @.50p per mile.

• Scattering of ashes: £50
• Double slots and burials: £50
• Mindfulness and hypnotherapy recordings
• As a fully trained solo singer I can lead the singing free of charge when booked as a celebrant but can also be booked separately for hymn leading or as a soloist at churches, crematoriums and burial grounds. Fees start from £120.00

My Style