Tracy Ward Celebrant

There’s nothing like the feeling of connection after having a rich, important conversation with someone you love.

Learn more at Thedeathdeck.com

What a beautiful thing. Baby loss is so isolating. Just seeing these shows someone else understands.

Dozens of knitted cribs for babies who have sadly died prematurely have been donated to help grieving families.

The tiny beds are used when parents spend precious moments with their babies who have died. They can ensure they look comfortable and are treated with the dignity they deserve.

Volunteers have been working since February on the project organised by the team at W. Storey Funeral Service in Guisborough.

Read more: http://ow.ly/FgE750Lwx5P

May you sleep in perfect peace your Majesty. The most beautiful and caring soul who brought such dignity to the world. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family and all those you touched ❤️

Rest in Peace Your Majesty 💙

Such very very sad news . Our Gracious Queen 👑🇬🇧 Rest In Peace Your Majesty.

There is a lot of variation in costs at crematoria even premium times. Get all this information together before you need it.

We've taken a look at crematorium prices on today's blog - it's a long piece with a whole load of numbers, but we've discovered some very interesting results.

For example, we found that one company (Dignity, but with a fancy new name) charges a cremation fee of £675 in an area where there are a number of alternative, similarly priced crematoria operating, but for some reason have decided they need to charge £1,070 for the same service at 11 of their other crematoria. All 11 being in areas with limited choice for bereaved people.

Other private crematoria operators appear to be similarly sensitive to competition, meaning that the answer to the question of how much does a cremation cost in 2022 took around a week of research to explore.

For the answer(s), read on:

https://www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/2022/08/how-much-does-cremation-cost-in-2022/

Gorgeous photo from Veronika Robinson - Celebrant & Author - to see more of what is possible Veronika edits the Celebrant magazine

Katie arrived on horseback for her celebrant-led ceremony to Paul.

Celebrant: Veronika Robinson

Venue: Appleby Castle

Photographer: Esme Whiteside

Florist: Appleby Flower Basket

It’s worth considering this question. Is it ok to laugh at a funeral. In my experience some people specifically request a few laughs. That’s when you need a skilled celebrant able to perform as well as write the ceremony.

Always check your celebrant is trained by a nationally recognised body and insured 👍 many are not. That doesn’t mean they are not good celebrants but it does offer you some comfort at a difficult time. Civil Ceremonies Ltd Death Cafe Marie Curie UK

There is no right or wrong way to celebrate a life - don’t be judged be happy with the ceremony that it is a reflection of the person you are saying goodbye to.

But stay close by

There are always people who love to give advice. That's true even for child loss. "You're grieving too long." "You're grieving too hard." "You need to put this behind you." "Your child would have only continued to suffer." "God needed one more flower." "You need to get out with friends and start living again." ..............My advice is to NOT LISTEN to anyone's advice unless they've felt the life-long pain of child loss themselves.

If we have the conversations about death and how we want to end our lives these things can be considered carefully.

Rest in peace - your work here is done and it will continue.

We are saddened to hear about the death of Dame Deborah James

Such an inspirational woman who lived life to the max. She taught us to smash taboos and to live life with a big streak of rebellious hope.

Rest in peace Deborah. You will be missed by so many.

If you are able, please consider donating to Deborah’s fundraiser to support research and treatment into bowel cancer.

I use these and have found them to be really helpful when even I don’t know what to say. Death Cafe Carlisle

Order limited-edition sympathy cards Get cards & expert tips

So very true. Worry less, live more

On the day I die a lot will happen.

A lot will change.

The world will be busy.

On the day I die, all the important appointments I made will be left unattended.

The many plans I had yet to complete will remain forever undone.

The calendar that ruled so many of my days will now be irrelevant to me.

All the material things I so chased and guarded and treasured will be left in the hands of others to care for or to discard.

The words of my critics which so burdened me will cease to sting or capture anymore. They will be unable to touch me.

The arguments I believed I’d won here will not serve me or bring me any satisfaction or solace.

All my noisy incoming notifications and texts and calls will go unanswered. Their great urgency will be quieted.

My many nagging regrets will all be resigned to the past, where they should have always been anyway.

Every superficial worry about my body that I ever labored over; about my waistline or hairline or frown lines, will fade away.

My carefully crafted image, the one I worked so hard to shape for others here, will be left to them to complete anyway.

The sterling reputation I once struggled so greatly to maintain will be of little concern for me anymore.

All the small and large anxieties that stole sleep from me each night will be rendered powerless.

The deep and towering mysteries about life and death that so consumed my mind will finally be clarified in a way that they could never be before while I lived.

These things will certainly all be true on the day that I die.

Yet for as much as will happen on that day, one more thing that will happen.

On the day I die, the few people who really know and truly love me will grieve deeply.

They will feel a void.

They will feel cheated.

They will not feel ready.

They will feel as though a part of them has died as well.

And on that day, more than anything in the world they will want more time with me.

I know this from those I love and grieve over.

And so knowing this, while I am still alive I’ll try to remember that my time with them is finite and fleeting and so very precious—and I’ll do my best not to waste a second of it.

I’ll try not to squander a priceless moment worrying about all the other things that will happen on the day I die, because many of those things are either not my concern or beyond my control.

Friends, those other things have an insidious way of keeping you from living even as you live; vying for your attention, competing for your affections.

They rob you of the joy of this unrepeatable, uncontainable, ever-evaporating Now with those who love you and want only to share it with you.

Don’t miss the chance to dance with them while you can.

It’s easy to waste so much daylight in the days before you die.

Don’t let your life be stolen every day by all that you’ve been led to believe matters, because on the day you die, the fact is that much of it simply won’t.

Yes, you and I will die one day.

But before that day comes: let us live.

John Pavlovitz

【PS】

For some Fathers Day is a hard reminder. Be thoughtful and reach out.

A lovely reminder of an old poem. Grace and love never go out of fashion.

I thought this gentle poem might strike a chord - do feel free to share it if you wish.

‘A Beautiful Life’

You left quietly, without a fuss
You always had a smile to share
A laugh, a joke, a time to care

A wonderful nature
Warm and true
These are the memories I have of you

A beautiful life
Came to an end
You died as you lived - Everyone’s friend

You gave me years of happiness
Then sorrow came with tears
You left me lovely memories I will treasure through the years

Dorothy Frances Gurney (1858 – 1932)

I’m not sure about this but it is a reminder of how many different ways you can say I’m thinking of you https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/lottieshaws/product/bereavement-hamper

Bereavement Hamper By LOTTIE SHAW'S | notonthehighstreet.com Bereavement Hamper by LOTTIE SHAW'S, the perfect gift for £26.95! Explore more unique gifts in our curated marketplace.

Choice is a right

Euthanasia could be legal in South Australia within weeks South Australia could legalise voluntary assisted dying within weeks as Premier Steven Marshall prepares to fast-track debate in the lower house after the bill passed the upper house 14 to seven.

Beautiful space to rest and visit the dead

Hello folks hope you are all keeping well. For funeral celebrants it is our award season. This year celebrant directory is making funeral celebrant awards. If you have had a great ceremony or service please consider nominating myself or another celebrant as even a nomination is appreciated.
Thank you.

There should be a choice - it will come eventually.

Prue Leith calls for assisted dying to become key issue ahead of Scots elections Prue said it's inhumane to rob the terminally ill of the choice to end their own life after her brother David died in agony from cancer.