Helping you say goodbye

A civil funeral is a funeral that focusses on the wishes, beliefs and values of the person who has died and their family. This means that the ceremony will focus entirely on the person who has died and you can include anything in the ceremony that makes it unique and personal. 

There is nothing that you ‘have to’ include in a civil funeral service and the ceremony is created using whatever feels right for you. This might include a tribute, music, readings and other symbolic acts of remembrance. It is your choice whether to include prayers and hymns.

Civil funerals can include almost anything you like. Some people plan big celebrations that focus on the interests and passions of the person who has died. Others prefer a simple service with a few readings and a bit of music.

You can have a civil funeral ceremony for either a cremation or a burial.

If you choose a civil funeral, you can rest assured that the ceremony will focus entirely on the person who has died, and that the tone and content of the ceremony will reflect their personality and the life they lived.

As a civil celebrant, I will help you to make decisions but I will not have fixed ideas about the way the ceremony should be.

If you’re planning a civil funeral with me, I’ll meet with you before the service to talk with you about the person who has died. I will share ideas and give you guidance, but I won’t try to impose anything on you. You will be in charge of the structure and content of the ceremony.

If you’re planning a civil funeral, think about what the person who has died would have liked. You might want to ask yourself:

• would they have preferred a big send off or something quieter?

• did they have favourite pieces of music or favourite pieces of writing?

• could you theme the ceremony around something they were passionate about or a hobby they had?

• could you hold the service in one of their favourite places?

• is there something special you could do at the service that could serve as an act of remembrance?