‘Advance confidently in the direction of your dreams.’Henry David Thoreau

What is a Celebrant?

A Celebrant is a new type of Officiant trained in the rites of passage and the art of ceremony. A Celebrant knows how to put together a ceremony that will be meaningful, heartfelt, intelligent and up-to-date. A Celebrant gives new life to our traditions and with reverence brings them into the new millennium.

Life Celebrations (Funerals and Memorials)

How do I contact you?
Give me a call on my cell, 541-292-4985
I am usually available to talk right away.
My Business hours are Monday to Friday from Midday to 8pm.

What if I'm directed to voice mail?
If you are transferred to voice mail during my business hours, then know that I will call you back as soon as I am available. Please leave your name, phone number and some details of your ceremony time, date and place.

What if I call outside of your business hours?
If you call outside these business hours and please leave a detailed message and then please Email me the same information, that way when time is short we have two opportunities to connect!

Do you give a firm quote?
Yes!
I will give you a firm quote over the phone, before we meet in person.

Where do we meet?
As funerals and some memorials are usually scheduled about 48 hours from your call, we need to move quickly! We’ll arrange to meet, with as many family members as practicable the same evening, preferably in your home, as this gives me a sense of the person for whom the ceremony is being created.

How do you write the ceremony?
This can be a painful time for you and your family. I am aware of this and will be gentle and compassionate.
As a funeral/memorial is a Life Celebration, we will need to talk about the life and loves of your relative, how he or she lived, what their values were, some anecdotes that represent your memories of them.

When will you write the ceremony?
Once all the information is gathered, we will complete the contract and payment. I will return home and write the ceremony the next day.

Will it be a Personalized Ceremony?
I will write a personalized ceremony that will provide a unique experience and become an irreplaceable memory.

What Structure does the Ceremony take?
The ceremonial structure can be guided by these elements. It can be expanded on or condensed to suit the wishes of your relative.

Prelude Music
Welcome
Poetry or Reading or Music
Eulogy
Family Readers
Poetry or Reading or Music
Blessing or Silence or Prayer
Announcement
Post Ceremonial Music

How do I know the words of the ceremony ahead of time?
When the ceremony is complete I will call you and read it to you over the phone. This gives you control over correcting my intonation and pronunciation as well as the structure, sound and flow of the ceremony.

Will the ceremony run smoothly?
Yes.
On the day I will arrive early, coordinate either with the Funeral home or venue staff to facilitate and deliver a graceful ceremony. I will check with the Funeral Home or management of the venue, check the sound, plus consult with your readers, musicians and with you. If you would like I can hold a moment of silence with the family just prior to the ceremony, to allow you to unite and be present during the ceremony itself.

Will you deliver the ceremony in a respectful manner?
I will ensure that the ceremony flows well and that any hitches that come along are smoothed over. I will deliver the ceremony in a heartfelt, compassionate way and will be available for consultation up to 20 mins after the ceremony.

Do I invite my Celebrant to the Wake?
In days past the custom was for the funeral taking place in our family church, the minister had known us all our lives and as he was almost a part of the family naturally we invited him to the wake.
Today things have changed. I am honored to deliver the funeral/memorial ceremony and that is where it seems right to step aside. I do sincerely thank you for the thought.

Thank you for this invitation.
It is an honor for me to serve you.