Funerals and celebrations of life

Image by Dorset Scouser Photography

Our final gift of love to someone who has died is a personal, meaningful funeral. It’s our precious time to celebrate their life and express our feelings of loss and gratitude.

I specialise in authentic, meaningful funerals – tailored to each individual. It can be religious, spiritual, humanist or secular/non-religious. As an independent celebrant, I’m free to use whatever wording feels right for you. There are no rules, no restrictions.

I’m a compassionate, very experienced funeral celebrant. I’ve led all different kinds of ceremonies, from very traditional to eclectic – all highly individual.

I help making planning a funeral a simpler, more positive experience at a difficult time.

Losing someone you love is always painful, even if their death is expected and they’ve lived a long life. When someone dies young, unexpectedly, or in traumatic circumstances, grief can make everyday life seem completely overwhelming.

I bring kindness and and expertise, to help you plan the funeral service. I spend time listening to you, learning about your loved-one’s life and character. We talk about their wishes and how you want to remember them in a funeral service. You may have ideas already or need suggestions and advice. I encourage you to trust your instincts and do what feels right to you. I’ll give you as much support and guidance as you need.

The result will be the most beautiful and fitting funeral service or celebration of life. It will be something you you can look back on with pride.

For me, it’s a huge privilege to be a funeral celebrant and to be able to honour someone’s unique life and character. I look after you, with empathy and professionalism from our first meeting to the day of the funeral.

“I just wanted to thank you so much for a memorable and uplifting funeral for A. I've had so many positive comments. It really reflected who she was and I know it’s what she would have wanted, so that makes me happy.”

"Mum's service, of tribute to her life and our chance to say goodbye formally, were so discreetly facilitated by you - it helped us all so much"

I just wanted to thank you so much for your assistance in delivering a wonderful send off for J. It truly was a memorable and uplifting funeral. I have had so many positive comments about the ceremony and it seems to have converted few people as well. It really reflected who she was and I know it’s what she would have wanted so that makes me happy.

"I am very grateful indeed for the care that you took and the advice you gave. So many people commented, what you said was just right. We ended up with a simple and very appropriate mix of prayers, reflection and music. Thank you so much for your sympathetic and professional planning and conduct of the service."

"I just wanted to let you know how pleased I was with the service. You certainly made it feel like a joyous occasion. So many people commented on how lovely it all was and some even said it was the best funeral they had been to!!"

"A quick note to say thank you. Everything you did was perfect. It was a wonderful ceremony full of love; your words were much appreciated by everybody. Your job is tricky! And you do it so well:) Thank you from all the family."

"I cannot express fully in words how comforting and protective your company felt on that emotion-laden day. Mum's service was so discreetly facilitated by you it helped us all so much and I want to offer a very sincere acknowledgement to you and my deepest thanks."

"Just to say a very big thank you for conducting Mum’s service. You did a great job and really captured the essence of what an exciting and fun person my Mother was. We had so many comments on how beautiful the service was."

"Thank you so much for conducting F's funeral in such a warm and beautiful way, I couldn't have wanted for anything better. You made a difficult day bearable. Thanks for capturing her spirit in your words I will cherish the memory."

"Hi Alicen - Yesterday was exactly the send off for mum we were hoping for. She would have loved it, we had so many comments on what a lovely service it was. We really appreciate everything you suggested to make the day so special. With many thanks."

“I cannot express fully in words how comforting and protective your company felt on that emotion-laden day. Your presence was invaluable in leading us all along in our grief and celebration. I cannot thank you enough for the work you put in and your patience and understanding of our situations prior to the event."

"What you said was just right and the whole service was perfect. Thank you so much for your sympathetic and professional planning and conduct of the service.”

"I am very grateful indeed for the care that you took and the advice you gave for the organisation of the funeral service for J.E. The time you allocated in preparation and speaking to those who knew her meant that, as so many people commented, what you said was just right. And the whole order of service, and its component parts, were perfect, so that we ended with a simple and very appropriate mix of prayers, reflection and music. Thank you so much for your sympathetic and professional planning and conduct of the service.”

"I just wanted to let you know how pleased I was with the service at Whimple on Tuesday taken by yourself. You certainly made it feel like a joyous occasion. So many people commented on how lovely it all was and some even said it was the best funeral they had been to!”

"I cannot express fully in words how comforting and protective your company felt on that emotion laden day. Your presence was invaluable in leading us all along in our grief and celebration. I cannot thank you enough for the work you put in and your patience and understanding of our situations prior to the event. Mum's little service, of tribute to her life and our chance to say goodbye formally, were so discreetly facilitated by you it helped us all so much and I want to offer a very sincere acknowledgement to you and my deepest thanks.”

"Thank you so much for conducting F's funeral in such a warm and beautiful way, I couldn't have wanted for anything better. You made a difficult day bearable and I know F would have been pleased that her wishes had been fulfilled in every way. She was a remarkable person who touched many hearts, only today I received a card from the team at DCH medical day unit who wrote she was a very special person and they all looked forward to her weekly visits for blood transfusions. Thanks for capturing her spirit in your words I will cherish the memory.”

Mum's gathering was perfect and exactly right. I came away feeling very proud and content. You have a gentle and caring way about you and I felt guided by you and your wonderful suggestions that gave us exactly what we asked for.

I wanted to thank you for the care and time you took in preparation for Mum’s gathering yesterday. It was perfect and exactly right. I came away feeling very proud and content. You have a gentle and caring way about you and I felt guided by you and your wonderful suggestions that gave us exactly what we asked for. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.

Mum’s gathering was perfect and exactly right. I came away feeling very proud and content. You have a gentle and caring way about you and I felt guided by you and your wonderful suggestions that gave us exactly what we asked for.

Planning a funeral or celebration of life

Image by Aimee Joy Photography for Bridge House Flowers

How I work with you

When someone dies, I’m often contacted by local funeral directors and families are also welcome to contact me directly.

I visit you at home and spend time finding out about your loved one and what kind of ceremony will be right. Planning a funeral service involves:

A meeting with you for 1-2 hours
The writing of a personal ceremony including a eulogy if required.
Regular contact with you and liaison with the funeral director up to the funeral date
Leading the service on the day
Travel in the West Dorset, East Devon and South Somerset area.
My funeral fee starts at £300 for a 30 minute crematorium service.
I work regularly with many superb funeral directors in Dorset, Devon and Somerset

Living funerals are typically planned weeks or months before someone dies. It’s their chance to say what they would like to happen at their funeral. Everyone is different and I’m guided by you. My fee starts at £350, which includes our first meeting and the funeral service, as outlined above.

Memorial services tend to be longer and more complex. They involve extra planning and more liaison with the different people involved. My fee starts at £400, which includes:

Face-to-face meeting with you, for up to 2 hours
Creation of the bespoke ceremony, up to 60 minutes
Liaison with all the speakers and the venue
Leading the ceremony on the day
Travel costs in the West Dorset, East Devon, South Somerset area

Scattering or interring of ashes is often a very special, reflective time after the busyness and impact of the funeral. Wherever or whenever you choose to scatter or inter ashes, I’ll write a personal and meaningful ceremony to fit the occasion. My fee is £100.

Aftercare and bereavement support is time to talk in confidence about how you’re feeling. Do you feel stuck, overwhelmed, emotionally drained? Just talking to someone you know, outside your family or frienship circle can make all the difference. I offer confidential one-to-one, in-person bereavement support. You can have as few or as many sessions as you want. My fee is £40 per hour plus travel.

Contact me

If you’d like to find out more, or have any questions about my funeral services, please feel free to contact me, in complete confidence, with absolutely no obligation.