End of Life Services
Traditionally, the end of a person's life is only spoken about in hushed tones or behind closed doors and not as a matter of course with family members or those outside the family. Times are slowly changing, and I, along with many others who believe that we should take control of 'all' parts of our lives, offer the following services to empower anyone, young or old, who wish to enquire about how this can be done.
Pre-Death Meetings
More people are choosing to meet with a celebrant before the end of their life—a deeply personal and empowering decision that allows them to have a say in how they are remembered. Whether they wish to shape their own eulogy, ensure their farewell reflects their personality or simply find comfort in knowing their wishes will be honoured, these conversations can be incredibly meaningful.
Some may want to add their own words, stories, or messages of love and goodbye, creating a lasting gift for family and friends. Others may find peace in discussing arrangements, ensuring everything is in place exactly as they envision.
Whatever the reason, I offer these meetings with warmth and gratitude—it is a privilege to listen, to learn, and to honour a life well lived.
We would arrange for me to meet with you wherever you wish and go through all elements you want to, such as:​
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Personal Organisation - Leaving your affairs and estate in order, so that the Executor of your Will has all details to hand, can be a little overwhelming, but for this service, I can assist you with the compiling of a document which will include everything from online passwords, organ donor wishes, Property Documentation, Insurance Policy's held, Financial Details and Contact numbers, Contact List of who to inform of your death and post-death/funeral wishes
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Funeral/Celebration of Life discussion - Here, we can have a conversation so I can understand how you would like your ceremony to be created, the elements, such as music, readings and tone. Surprise messages from you to your loved ones are perfect for inclusion here
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Eulogy Writing - You can give details or wording to be included in your Eulogy or we can write the whole thing together in readiness for your funeral/celebration of life service
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A chance to get to know you - Having the ability to meet and choose your Celebrant before you die is so very special, not just for you, but for me, as your Celebrant. It is a chance to talk, gain insight into your personality and character, to understand your ideas and wishes, your sense of humour and love for those you will be leaving behind.
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The chance to meet me and commit to having your ceremony created and conducted by me, as your chosen Celebrant.
If this is something you or a loved one would like to explore, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Death Cleaning
The term ‘Death Cleaning’ may be quite bold and perhaps brutally blunt, but it is something we are becoming far more aware of in modern times. The basic fact is that we need to form a more common sense approach to dying, alongside our wants and wishes, where our will and funeral are concerned.
Clearing one's home of material items by either gifting, donating or removing, although difficult at times, will release you from a difficult task later, when you may be less than able to do so, and also release your family from such a responsibility when you’re gone.
I can assist you with plotting a path towards getting practically organised, in readiness for your last years, months or days. Death Cleaning can be carried out simply because you feel the time is right or you may have received a terminal prognosis. No matter the reason or time, I can offer you a structured way to complete the task in an eight-step process, carried out over an agreed period of time.
This process will start with an initial consultation and then seven-step sessions, booked into your calendar and planned across a timeframe of your choosing. With each session, we will discuss and connect each next step with focus and clarity to your belongings, so you will know exactly what needs to be completed. We will also discuss the various advantages of what is being done and why, so it helps you feel grounded in the task. Alongside each session and step of the process, I will be contactable in case you have any difficulties, to encourage you, discuss or even have a timeout, if you feel it is too hard.
Some may find these step sessions logical and helpful and get on with the tasks straightaway, but I know there will be many who find it difficult to clear their home of a lifetime of memories, and reminders of people, places and moments dear to them.
REMEMBER: We can’t take anything with us and what has meaning to us, may have none to our children or friends, so the best thing you can do, is get it organised before you go.
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Stuff Idol
by Rachel McAlpine
On shelves and hooks, it hangs and hovers
always verging on too much,
and next year and every year,
there will be more of such and such
and more. More stuff.
Gently, gently let us unstuff
all our aggregates of things;
too dull, too bright, too wrong, too tight.
Every item needs a vote
or out it goes.
Gently, gently let us unclog
all our mucked-up super-shelves
of yellow books and speckled nouns,
and safety pins and rusty crowns.
Someone else may want that stuff.
Someone else may vote for it.
And when we die, remainers
will bless the day we started
on the road from heap to hollow,
gently gently pondering
every item in our selves,
and gently, gently holding on
or letting go.
Grief Mandala Session
This Mandala Ritual is the perfect way to help you work through your grief or any other difficult moment in life.
This soothing ritual which consists of gathering from nature, offers a structured way to channel your emotions and express your grief. A guided ritual which helps to ground you and offer a way to reflect on your emotions in a calm and effective way.
Contact me for more information.
